How to Disable MS-DOS Mode in Windows (120389)

SYMPTOMS

After you change an MS-DOS-based application, such as MS-DOS Prompt, to run in MS-DOS mode, you cannot find a way to exit and turn off MS-DOS mode (for example, ALT+ENTER does not work).

CAUSE

After you choose to run MS-DOS Prompt in MS-DOS mode, you cannot switch back to Windows until you exit MS-DOS Prompt. This behavior occurs because in MS-DOS mode, you are now running MS-DOS Prompt by closing all applications and effectively shutting down Windows.

WORKAROUND

Type "exit" (without the quotation marks) to quit MS-DOS Prompt and return to Windows. In Windows, you can change the properties of MS-DOS Prompt by performing the following steps:

Locate the .PIF file for MS-DOS Prompt. You can use Windows Explorer, My Computer, or the Find command on the Start menu to locate the file.

The filename for MS-DOS Prompt is either MS-DOSPR.PIF or the long filename MS-DOS Prompt.PIF.

NOTE: You may have multiple MS-DOS Prompt .PIF files in different folders. For example, there may be one in the Start Menu folder and another in the Programs folder. Be sure to change the correct one.
Right-click the filename, and then click Properties.
Click the Program tab, and then click the Advanced button.
Click the MS-DOS Mode check box to clear it, and then click OK.