Setver

Sets the MS-DOS version number that the MS-DOS subsystem reports to a program. Used without parameters, setver displays the current version table.

Syntax

setver [Drive:Path] [FileName n.nn]

setver [Drive:Path] [FileName [/delete [/quiet]]

To display the current version table, use the following syntax:

setver [Drive:Path]

Parameters

[ Drive : Path ] : Specifies the location of the Setver.exe file.

FileName   : Specifies the name of the program file (.exe or .com) that you want to add to the version table. You cannot use a wildcard (* or ?).

n.nn   : Specifies the MS-DOS version (for example, 3.3 or 4.01) that the MS-DOS subsystem reports to the specified program file.

/delete   : Deletes the version table entry for the specified program file. You can also use /d.

/quiet   : Hides the message that is usually displayed when you delete an entry from the version table.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

• Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files. 

• This tool is not available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition. 

• Using the version table

  Many programs designed to run with a previous version of MS-DOS run correctly with Windows XP. In some cases, however, a program might not run correctly unless its name is included in the version table. The table indicates to the program that it is running with the MS-DOS version for which it was designed, even though it is running in the MS-DOS subsystem. By interpreting MS-DOS version 5.0 as the earlier version, the program should run correctly, however, setver does not solve the problem if the program is not compatible with Windows XP.

• Loading the version table into memory

  Before you can use setver, the version table must be loaded into memory by inserting a device command in your Config.nt file.

• Restarting after updating the version table

  When you update the version table by adding or deleting entries, you must start a new command prompt session to reread the version table.

• Updating existing entries

  If you specify a file name that is already in the version table, the new entry replaces the existing entry.

• Understanding setver exit codes

  To process exit codes returned by setver, use the errorlevel parameter on the if command line in a batch program. For an example of a batch program that processes exit codes using if, see Related Topics. The following table lists each exit code and a description.

  Exit code	Description
  0	Setver successfully completed its task.
  1	The user specified an invalid command-line option.
  2	The user specified an invalid file name.
  3	There is insufficient system memory to carry out the command.
  4	The user specified an invalid version number format.
  5	Setver cannot find the specified entry in the version table.
  6	Setver cannot find the Setver.exe file.
  7	The user specified an invalid drive.
  8	The user specified too many command-line options.
  9	Setver detected missing command-line options.
  10	Setver detected an error while reading the Setver.exe file.
  11	The Setver.exe file is corrupt.
  12	The specified Setver.exe file does not support a version table.
  13	There is insufficient space in the version table for a new entry.
  14	Setver detected an error while writing to the Setver.exe file.

Examples

To run Myprog.exe, a file that runs with MS-DOS version 3.30, create an entry in the version table that enables Myprog.exe to interpret the MS-DOS subsystem as version 3.30 by typing:

setver myprog.exe 3.30

To delete the Myprog.exe entry from the version table, without otherwise affecting the Myprog.exe file, type:

setver myprog.exe /delete

To list the contents of the version table on drive C, type:

setver c:

Formatting legend

If

Device

Command-line reference A-Z