Command: autoexec.bat / fdauto.bat
AUTOEXEC.BAT is a batch file that is run AUTOMATICALLY when FreeDOS
starts. (Exception: SHELL / SHELLHIGH is loaded in CONFIG.SYS /
FDCONFIG.SYS), then you have to load it there, see example in
CONFIG.SYS / FDCONFIG.SYS). FDAUTO.BAT does NOT start automatically,
you have to add it via SHELL / SHELLHIGH /p.
FreeDOS also accepts other .bat names instead of AUTOEXEC.BAT.
Batch files are text files, but with the .bat file extension. They can
be created or edited with a text editor such as EDIT or EDLIN.
To run a batch file, simply type its name at the DOS prompt, with or
without the .bat extension.
AUTOEXC.BAT must ALWAYS be in the root directory of the boot media.
Syntax:
- none - simply copy AUTOEXEC.BAT / FDAUTO.BAT into the root directory.
(A:\ or C:\).
Options:
- none -
Comments:
FreeDOS also accepts other .bat names instead of AUTOEXEC.BAT
that can be started automatically, e.g. FDAUTO.BAT. You have to
load it in in CONFIG.SYS / FDCONFIG.SYS e.g:
"SHELL=DRIVE:\PATH\command.com /p=DRIVE:\PATH\FDAUTO.bat" OR:
"SHELLHIGH=DRIVE:\PATH\command.com /p=DRIVE:\PATH\FDAUTO.bat"
Many FreeDOS fans use "FDAUTO.BAT" instead of "AUTOEXEC.BAT".
You can use AUTOEXEC.BAT to load different .com and .exe drivers,
e.g. keyboard driver, mouse driver, CD-ROM driver and so on,
but can you also use the commands that are internal to command.com.
Several of these internal commands are for special use in BATCH files,
e.g. beep, call, choice, cls, echo, for, goto, if, lh, loadhigh, path,
prompt, pause, prompt, rem, set and shift.
Examples:
In CONFIG.SYS / FDCONFIG.SYS:
...
SHELL=C:\FREEDOS\BIN\command.com C:\FREEDOS\BIN /E:1024
/P=C:\FDAUTO.BAT
In AUTOEXEC.BAT / FDAUTO.BAT (example with german settings):
SET LANG=DE
SET PATH=C:\;C:\FREEDOS\BIN
SET NLSPATH=C:\FREEDOS\NLS
SET HELPPATH=C:\FREEDOS\HELP
ALIAS reboot=fdapm warmboot
ALIAS shutdown=fdapm poweroff
LH display con=(EGA,,1)
mode con cp prep=((858) C:\FREEDOS\BIN\CPI\ega.cpx
mode con cp sel=858
mode con cp refresh
lh C:\freedos\bin\mkeyb.exe gr
lh C:\freedos\bin\ctmouse.exe
lh C:\freedos\bin\dz.exe (starts doszip)
See also:
alias batch files beep call choice
cls config.sys command.com echo edit
edlin fdconfig.sys for goto if
lh loadhigh path pause prompt
rem set shell shellhigh shift
Copyright © 2003 Robert Platt, updated 2007 and 2022 by W. Spiegl.
This file is derived from the FreeDOS Spec Command HOWTO.
See the file H2Cpying for copying conditions.