MakeSys Hangs or Creates Invalid Files, Causing System Hang (104987)

This information applies to both Microsoft DoubleSpace and Microsoft DriveSpace. For MS-DOS 6.22, use DRVSPACE in place of DBLSPACE for commands and filenames.

SYMPTOMS

If Microsoft MS-DOS MakeSys (included in the downloadable version of MS-DOS 6.2 and 6.22 Step-Up) does not find a valid signature (FXPF) at the beginning of the patch file, it displays the following error message

Fatal error: MakeSys could not create the new <filename> file because it could not find the original MS-DOS 6 version of <filename>. For more information, see the README.NOW file in the directory that contains your MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up files.

where <filename> is IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, or DBLSPACE.BIN.

CAUSE

This error occurs when MakeSys is unable to create the new MS-DOS system files because:

One of the binary patch files (DBLSPACE.BI#, MSDOS.SY#, or IO.SY#) is damaged.

NOTE: If the patch file is severely corrupted, MakeSys may stop responding (hang). -or-
There are too many files in the root directory. -or-
One of the source files (DBLSPACE.BIN, MSDOS.SYS, or IO.SYS) does not match the file included with the MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2 Upgrade.

RESOLUTION

If the patch files are corrupted, download the MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up from the bulletin board again and re-run MakeSys using the new files.

If there are too many files in the root directory, move some of them to a subdirectory so that you do not have more than 500 files, including hidden and system files, in the root directory.

NOTE: To obtain a directory listing of all files in the root of drive C, including hidden and system files, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER:

dir c:\ /a

If your source files do not match the files included with the MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2 Upgrade, see the README.NOW file for instructions on replacing your MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2 system files.