How to Enable ANSI.SYS in a Command Window (101875)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q101875 SUMMARY
ANSI.SYS can be loaded and used from the command prompt, with the
restriction that it can run only in the context of the MS-DOS subsystem.
Windows NT does not support ANSI escape sequences in Win32 Console
applications. To load ANSI.SYS, add "device=c:\winnt\system32\ansi.sys" to
the CONFIG.NT file in the Windows NT SYSTEM32 directory.
MORE INFORMATION
Once ANSI.SYS is loaded, you can use any MS-DOS-based program that
makes use of this driver. However, if you want to use ANSI.SYS to
change the look of the command prompt, you may have to perform some
additional steps.
For example, to highlight the prompt in MS-DOS command prompt, you
must add "dosonly" to your CONFIG.NT file, and run COMMAND (not CMD)
from MS-DOS Command Prompt. You can then run a batch file that
includes the PROMPT command with ANSI escape sequences to highlight
the prompt.
NOTE: While this gives the command prompt the same appearance as an
MS-DOS prompt, you are now in a DOS-based command prompt, and you can
no longer start non-DOS programs from the command line.
ANSI.SYS, being an MS-DOS-based device driver, can be used only in the
context of the MS-DOS subsystem.
VT52.SYS may be used in the same manner as ANSI.SYS, with the same
restrictions.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 5/6/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kbhowto kbinterop KB101875 |
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