thank you for your replys.
I am by no means a computer genious, but here is what I think happened.
I think i installed the software for the robots before installing the "ansi.sys" driver in the proper root directory. There were files in the C Dir. that were not supposed to be there, i cycled the power, and then that's when i was not allowed back into the autoexec.bat, another file in the c: directory appeared called autoexec.syd, so I undid everything I loaded, still was not able to enter the autoexec.bat, so i wiped it out and opened the autoexec.syd, re-named it autoexec.bat, modified it for my needs, saved,and then placed the ansi file in the right directory, then loaded the robot software, and away it went. I can't explain why, but that's what happened.
These robots are from the 1980's and the software it-self is dos in nature, according to the manual the ansi driver is used as the device driver? The computer I installed this on is actually a dinosaur, the compact conturea with mono chromatic screen,believe me this stuff is old (pre windows 98), but it was free because they people I got it from could not get it communicating/running. It's funny to think that this type of programming has been forgotten by most, but not left behind by industry, I guess we have adapted to well to windows and pull down screens???? I knew my commadore 64 days would eventually come in handy

so now I am off to build a com. cable, a 220vac plug from my dryer and we will see what these things can do!
My money is on a large bang followed by sparks....