MS DOS Command: MENUDEFAULT

Reference from Microsoft MS-DOS cmd help

Description

Specifies the default menu item on the startup menu and sets a timeout value if desired. You can use this command only within a menu block in your CONFIG.SYS file. If you do not use this command, MS-DOS sets the default to item 1.

The startup menu is a list of choices that appears when you start your computer. You define a startup menu by using special CONFIG.SYS commands. Each item on the menu corresponds to a set of CONFIG.SYS commands called a "configuration block." A startup menu makes it possible to start your computer with a variety of configurations. For more information about defining multiple configurations, see the chapter "Configuring Your System" in the MS-DOS User's Guide.

Syntax

MENUDEFAULT=blockname[,timeout]

Parameters

blockname	Specifies the default menu item by its associated configuration block. The block must be defined elsewhere in the CONFIG.SYS file. When MS-DOS displays the startup menu, the default menu item is highlighted and its number appears after the "Enter a choice" prompt.
timeout	Determines how many seconds MS-DOS waits before starting the computer with the default configuration. If you don't specify a timeout value, MS-DOS does not continue until the ENTER key is pressed. You can specify a timeout value from 0 to 90 seconds. A timeout of 0 forces automatic selection of the default, effectively bypassing the menu display.

Related Commands

The MENUDEFAULT command is one of six special CONFIG.SYS commands for defining startup menus and multiple configurations. The other commands are as follows:

• The MENUITEM command, which defines an item on the menu.
• The MENUCOLOR command, which defines the color of the menu's text and screen background.
• The SUBMENU command, which defines a submenu.
• The NUMLOCK command, which specifies the state of the NUM LOCK key when the startup menu appears. (Although NUMLOCK can be used anywhere in the CONFIG.SYS file, it is especially useful when defining a startup menu.)
• The INCLUDE command, which includes the contents of one configuration block in another. This command cannot be included in a menu block.

For an overview of the procedure for defining multiple configurations, see the topic Commands for Defining Multiple Configurations

Examples

The following menu block defines three menu items, sets the default item to "full_config," and sets the timeout to 30 seconds:

[menu]

menuitem=base_config,Base configuration only

menuitem=full_config,Normal configuration

menuitem=network,Normal configuration with network

menudefault=full_config,30

When MS-DOS starts and reads this menu block, it displays the following menu:

MS-DOS Startup Menu

===================

 

1. Base configuration only

2. Normal configuration

3. Normal configuration with network

 

Enter a choice: 2 Time remaining: 30

After displaying this menu, MS-DOS waits 30 seconds; if no other item is selected, MS-DOS then starts the computer using the commands in the [full_config] configuration block.