MS-DOS v6.22 Help: DEVICE

------------------------ MS-DOS v6.22 Help: DEVICE -------------------------
<Notes> <Examples>                                               <Index>
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                                   DEVICE

Loads the device driver you specify into memory. You can use this command
only in your CONFIG.SYS file.

Syntax

    DEVICE=[drive:][path]filename [dd-parameters]

Parameters

[drive:][path]filename
    Specifies the location and name of the device driver you want to load.

[dd-parameters]
    Specifies any command-line information required by the device driver.

Related Command

For information about loading device drivers into the upper memory area, see
the <DEVICEHIGH> command.

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<Syntax> <Examples>
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                               DEVICE--Notes

Using standard device drivers

The standard installable device drivers provided with MS-DOS are
<ANSI.SYS>, <DISPLAY.SYS>, <DRIVER.SYS>, <DRVSPACE.SYS>, <EGA.SYS>,
<EMM386.EXE>, <HIMEM.SYS>, <INTERLNK.EXE>, <POWER.EXE>, <RAMDRIVE.SYS>,
<SETVER.EXE>, and <SMARTDRV.EXE>.

The files COUNTRY.SYS and KEYBOARD.SYS are not device drivers. They are data
files for the COUNTRY and KEYB commands, respectively. Do not try to load
either of these files with the DEVICE command. If you do, your system halts,
and you cannot restart MS-DOS. For information about loading COUNTRY.SYS,
see the <COUNTRY> command. For information about loading KEYBOARD.SYS, see
the <KEYB> command.

Installing device drivers for other products

When you purchase a mouse, a scanner, or a similar product, the manufacturer
usually includes device-driver software. To install a device driver, specify
its location and name on a DEVICE command line.

Installing a third-party console driver

If you install both DISPLAY.SYS and a third-party console driver, such as
VT52.SYS, the third-party device driver must be installed first. Otherwise,
the third-party device driver may disable DISPLAY.SYS.

Installing multiple device drivers

Sometimes one installable device driver will require that it be loaded
before or after another in your CONFIG.SYS file. For example, EMM386.EXE
requires HIMEM.SYS to be loaded first. If the device driver requires that
another device driver be loaded before it, make sure the commands are listed
in the correct order in your CONFIG.SYS file.

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<Syntax> <Notes>
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                              DEVICE--Example

If you plan to use an ANSI escape sequence to control the screen and
keyboard, you should add the following command to your CONFIG.SYS file
(assuming MS-DOS files are in the DOS directory on drive C):

    device=c:\dos\ansi.sys

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