Delay when Displaying Command Prompt (89720)


The information in this article applies to:
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q89720

SYMPTOMS

When switching from one drive to another from the command prompt, there may be a slight delay before the command prompt is displayed. This behavior may be due to a PROMPT command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

CAUSE

This delay may occur when using the PROMPT command as follows: 
   prompt $p$g
The $p parameter specifies the current drive and path to be included in the system prompt. When you use this parameter, the system has to read the disk every time it switches directories to determine the active directory, which will in turn be displayed as the command prompt. The $g parameter displays the greater than sign (>).

This delay described above is not a problem with the PROMPT command; the delay occurs while MS-DOS is checking the drive for the current directory.
Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 5/10/2003
Keywords: KB89720
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