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 device(CMD)                     19 June 1992                     device(CMD)


 Name

    device - load into memory the device driver you specify

 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.


 Notes


    Using standard device drivers

    The standard installable device drivers provided with MS-DOS are
    ANSI.SYS, DISPLAY.SYS, DRIVER.SYS, EGA.SYS, EMM386.EXE, HIMEM.SYS,
    PRINTER.SYS, RAMDRIVE.SYS, and SMARTDRV.SYS.

    The files COUNTRY.SYS and KEYBOARD.SYS are not device drivers.  MS-DOS
    loads these files whenever necessary.  Do not try to load either of these
    files with the device command.  If you do, your system locks up and you
    cannot restart MS-DOS.  For information about loading COUNTRY.SYS, see
    the country(CMD) command.  For information about loading KEYBOARD.SYS,
    see the keyb(CMD) command.

    Installing device drivers for other products

    When you purchase a mouse, a scanner, or a similar product, the manufac-
    turer 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.  Other-
    wise, the third-party device driver may disable DISPLAY.SYS.

 Example

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

       device=c:\dos\ansi.sys


 Related command

    For information about loading device drivers into the upper memory area,
    see the devicehigh(CMD) command.


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