Our ms-dos program keeps giving us "not enough file handles" error boxes

You did reboot after the changes?
is this what you did?
WinMe has combined the autoexec.bat and config.sys as one file called environment which has put into the registry. You can go to Start-run, type msconfig and OK to open the system configuration utilities.
At the environment tab, it contains the lines contained in autoexec.bat.
In extra control of your system to override some defaults settings in Io.sys of WinMe, you can add the lines which you originally intended to put into either autoexec.bat or config.sys in the environment.
e.g.
(1) Go to Start-run, type msconfig and OK to open the system configuration utilities. At the Environment Tab, Click New button to enter New Variable:-

Variable Name: [LASTDRIVE]
Variable Value: [Z ]
OK.
Restart computer.
It is now showing like this in the Environment Tab : -
Variable Value
[x] LASTDRIVE Z

after making the changes, reboot and then check to make sure msconfig reflects the changes

Here is how I believe you can fix the problem in Windows XP (should work in Windows 2000 as well).  I do not have your software so I can't test it... but these steps should be worth a try.

-----
Go to Control Panel
Double click on System
In the box that appears (System Properties) click on "Advanced" tab
Click "Environment Variables" button
Under System Variables, Click "New" button
for Variable Name, type FILES
for Variable Value, type 151
Hit OK until all of the windows are closed
-----

Let me know if the software works after these steps.

psikic <http://cs.atu.edu/~bryan/>

I'd make it more than 151 files.  Try 300 or so to compensate for Windows doing stuff you don't want.

Hi Neal,

Also, keep in mind that on WinXP your DOS emulation environment reads from the CONFIG.NT and AUTOEXEC.NT files rather than the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

These files can be found in C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32

pb

OK.. thanks pbarrette... Neal, just change files=40 to files=151 or files=225 in the C:\windows\system32\config.nt file... that should work...

Give him the credit, I think he is right.

psikic <http://cs.atu.edu/~bryan>

nealdundas has emailed me and told me that the solution:
PerVMFiles=225 added to the [386Enh] section of the %windir%\System.ini file is correct.  Could this question be closed and the points awarded?  Thanks.

psikic <http://cs.atu.edu/~bryan/>

Hi psikic,

Normally I'd say no. You can understand how people could abuse the system by saying "So and so emailed me saying I was right. Give me the points." Yet there is no proof nor is there input from the user.

In this case, however, we have written confirmation that your answer was correct for his WinME configuration:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/MSDOS/Q_20547013.html

Put in a request at "Community Support" or in "Cleanup" and I'll back you up.

pb