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  - Windows 2000
    - User Tips
      - Miscellaneous
        Command Interpreter Ansi Support

Section(s): Command Prompt, Command Prompt , Miscellaneous
Published on Apr 20, 2004.
Last Modified on Apr 20, 2004.
Last Modified by Wayne Maples.
Rated 3.9 out of 5 based on 42 votes.

If you want ansi support for Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you need to load the ansi.sys driver when the command.com shell interpreter loads. The best approach is to create a new shortcut for command.com such that the ansi.sys driver is available when it opens.

Create config file %systemroot%\system32\ansi.nt and include the following config commands:

dosonly
device=%systemroot%\system32\ansi.sys
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40
dos=high,umb

Create a shortcut to command.com on the desktop
Right-click the shortcut
Select Programs tab
For NT : click the Windows NT button
For Windows 2000 / Windows XP: click the Advanced button
Change the Config filename: from the default config file, %systemroot%\system32\config.nt to %systemroot%\system32\ansi.nt

Any DOS applications you run in this command shell will now have ANSI support.