How to Adjust MS-DOS Application Environment Size (161564)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q161564

SUMMARY

Some MS-DOS applications may require specific allocations of environment space. In some cases, it may be desired to trim or expand this resource for troubleshooting purposes. Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 allows for this setting to be customized.

MORE INFORMATION

The environment size for a single application may be adjusted via the desktop or via the Config.nt file.

To adjust via the desktop:
  1. Right-click on the application shortcut.
  2. Examine the properties for the shortcut and select the Memory tab.
  3. Type or select a value from the list if you wish to customize this setting. (The initial environment setting is set to AUTO by default. The value of AUTO causes the operating system to refer to the SHELL= line in the Config.nt file, if it exists.)
To adjust via the Config.nt file:

NOTE: Editing the Config.nt will change the default environment size.
  1. To use a specific Config.xx file for an application, specify the file to use by going to the Program tab of the shortcut's properties and clicking on the Windows NT button.
  2. Edit or create the SHELL= line in the Config.nt file accordingly. For example, to create an environment size of 512 bytes, the following may be used: 
       shell=%systemroot%\system32\command.com /e:512

    The default environment size is 256 bytes, with a maximum possible size of 32 KB.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/3/2003
Keywords:kbenv KB161564
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