G
Guest
Can you restart your computer in MS-DOS mode? Or even better can you in a sense "downgrade" your computer to 98 from XP without wiping your whole hard drive? I would love to know considering I would have a LOT to loose!!! Grrr!!
L
Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]
There's no more DOS in Windows XP (or NT, or 2K). You can start in safe
mode, to troubleshoot problems. To 'downgrade' to Win9x you'll have to
format/reinstall entirely.
If you tell us what problems you're having, perhaps we can help you?
mode, to troubleshoot problems. To 'downgrade' to Win9x you'll have to
format/reinstall entirely.
If you tell us what problems you're having, perhaps we can help you?
P
Pegasus \(MVP\)
If your partitions are FAT32 then you can install DOS7 (i.e. the DOS part of
Win98). You will be able to see all your files and folders, in 8.3 format.
If you write what exactly you're trying to achieve then someone can probably
help you.
drive? I would love to know considering I would have a LOT to loose!!!
Grrr!!
Win98). You will be able to see all your files and folders, in 8.3 format.
If you write what exactly you're trying to achieve then someone can probably
help you.
sense "downgrade" your computer to 98 from XP without wiping your whole hardFirerose said:
drive? I would love to know considering I would have a LOT to loose!!!
Grrr!!
C
cranky dude
Why assume the poster has a problem, it doesn't sound
like it.
Sounds like they want to know if they can dual boot 98
with XP.
So if you don't know why post at all.
Need to keep your count up eh.
like it.
Sounds like they want to know if they can dual boot 98
with XP.
So if you don't know why post at all.
Need to keep your count up eh.
J
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
The poster did not say anything about dual boot.
The OP asked about downgrade to Windows 98 and booting to DOS.
Both of the questions were answered.
You on the other hand also made an assumption.
You condemned another for making an assumption but he answered it
where you just complained.
There is a word for that type of behavior...
Why did you post if you did not know?
The OP asked about downgrade to Windows 98 and booting to DOS.
Both of the questions were answered.
You on the other hand also made an assumption.
You condemned another for making an assumption but he answered it
where you just complained.
There is a word for that type of behavior...
Why did you post if you did not know?
J
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
There is no DOS in Windows XP.
There is no downgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 98 unless it was
an upgrade to begin with:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303661
There are possibilities of dual booting depending on your specific
configuration:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306559
--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/
whole hard drive? I would love to know considering I would have a LOT
to loose!!! Grrr!!
There is no downgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 98 unless it was
an upgrade to begin with:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303661
There are possibilities of dual booting depending on your specific
configuration:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306559
--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/
in a sense "downgrade" your computer to 98 from XP without wiping yourFirerose said:
whole hard drive? I would love to know considering I would have a LOT
to loose!!! Grrr!!
P
Pegasus \(MVP\)
I have followed the notes posted by Lanwench for more
than two years, and found them invariably helpful and
well-informed. This one is no exception. Let's keep it
nice and peaceful, shall we?
than two years, and found them invariably helpful and
well-informed. This one is no exception. Let's keep it
nice and peaceful, shall we?
C
Cranky Dude
Hey Jupiter (or whatever your name really is)
Don't feed the trolls, aint you lurn'd anything yet boy.
Luv
CD
Don't feed the trolls, aint you lurn'd anything yet boy.
Luv
CD
G
Guest
Check the compatibility mode properies on executables too.
That can help with some things. Old programs that have
overlays (specifically, games that do their own memory
magic) tend to not work on any of the new windows, for
example the real version of wizardry 7.
That can help with some things. Old programs that have
overlays (specifically, games that do their own memory
magic) tend to not work on any of the new windows, for
example the real version of wizardry 7.
B
Bruce Chambers
Greetings --
Not to put too fine a point on it, you don't.
There is no way to reboot a WinXP PC into Real Mode DOS unless
you've set up a dual-boot system. The WinNT family of 32-bit
graphical operating systems, of which WinXP is the latest generation,
has never used or included MS-DOS. The closest they have is the
Command Prompt window.
WinXP, like its predecessors WinNT & Win2K, is a pure 32-bit GUI
OS, and does not include or "ride upon" any version of DOS, as did
Win3.x & Win9x/Me. WinXP does include a command-line emulator for
those times when GUI applets are unnecessary/redundant, but it cannot
be started in "DOS mode."
If you performed an upgrade from Win98/Me, elected to backup the
old system files, and didn't convert the partition to NTFS, then all
you need do is boot into Safe Mode and Start > Control Panel >
Add/Remove Programs. All of these conditions _must_ be met for the
uninstall option to be available.
Otherwise:
How to Manually Remove Win XP and Restore Win9x
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314052
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
whole hard drive? I would love to know considering I would have a LOT
to loose!!! Grrr!!
Not to put too fine a point on it, you don't.
There is no way to reboot a WinXP PC into Real Mode DOS unless
you've set up a dual-boot system. The WinNT family of 32-bit
graphical operating systems, of which WinXP is the latest generation,
has never used or included MS-DOS. The closest they have is the
Command Prompt window.
WinXP, like its predecessors WinNT & Win2K, is a pure 32-bit GUI
OS, and does not include or "ride upon" any version of DOS, as did
Win3.x & Win9x/Me. WinXP does include a command-line emulator for
those times when GUI applets are unnecessary/redundant, but it cannot
be started in "DOS mode."
If you performed an upgrade from Win98/Me, elected to backup the
old system files, and didn't convert the partition to NTFS, then all
you need do is boot into Safe Mode and Start > Control Panel >
Add/Remove Programs. All of these conditions _must_ be met for the
uninstall option to be available.
Otherwise:
How to Manually Remove Win XP and Restore Win9x
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314052
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
in a sense "downgrade" your computer to 98 from XP without wiping yourFirerose said:
whole hard drive? I would love to know considering I would have a LOT
to loose!!! Grrr!!
L
Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]
<thanks 
>
>
C
cquirke (MVP Win9x)
On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 19:27:26 -0700, "Bruce Chambers"
To the original poster: Before we get into detail, it would help if we
knew your "bigger picture". All we know is, you are running XP and
even though you have much to lose, you want to fall back to Win98.
From that, we guess maybe you:
- are having problems in XP that frustrate you into going Win98
- want to run Win98 instead of XP some times (or as well as)
- want to run a DOS mode instead of XP some times
Once we know what you are after, we can get medieval
Hold that thought for later...
Whenever I read that, I have to respond - not only is it a slight to
Win9x, it is also technically inaccurate.
Win9x do not "run on DOS" any more than the NT family do, but they do
share a common path with DOS through the earliest boot up stages, and
you can choose to run DOS mode instead of Win9x.
Even then, it can be a rocky road.
What you can do will be constrained by what you have already done.
As Bruce says, if you had a Win9x installation and upgraded that to
XP, you can take a shot at uninstalling XP as long as your file system
was not converted to NTFS. Else:
1) If you have C: as NTFS
Sorry, you are hosed. There's no conversion back to FATxx, and no DOS
mode nor Win9x can "see" NTFS.
You can use BING to shrink C: and then create an extended partition
with logical volume(s) formatted to FATxx, but you can't boot a Win9x
or DOS mode from there are these OSs still need some footprint on C: -
but you could copy files from XP to the FATxx volumes, re-format C: to
FATxx, install a Win9x there, and read the files you had saved off C:
on the other FATxx volumes.
Or, you can use BING to shrink your NTFS C: and create another FATxx
primary partition, into which a Win9x or DOS mode (or MSDOS, if it's
FAT16) can be installed. You'd have to use a third-party boot manager
such as BING to switch between the two primaries; the NTLDR/Boot.ini
system would not be able to manage this setup.
2) If you have C: as FATxx
You can retro-fix a Win9x DOS mode to the same C: as XP, without
having to fiddle with partitions at all. It's a rather fiddly process
that I've listed often enough in previous posts; I'll do so again if
your reply indicates this is where you want to go.
You cannot easily add a full Win9x to share the same C: as XP, because
there are too many files and folders that overlap (e.g. "Program
Files", even if you avoid the disaster of a shared C:\Windows).
If you want a full Win9x, you'd do better to use a dual-boot strategy.
One way is via BING or similar, as described in (1), where each OS
lives in a separate primary partition and you use the 3rd-party boot
manager to select between the two OSs.
The other way is to use BING to shrink the C: on which XP is
installed, create an extended partition, create one or more logicals
formatted as FATxx, then install the Win9x there. The original C: is
still C:, so it's *crucial* to install the Win9x on D: or higher drive
letter by setting the installation path to D:\WIN98 or whatever. The
two OSs share C: aas their bootup point, with NTLDR / Boot.ini
offering the choice, but the bulk of the Win9x is off C:. Because the
Win9x's IO.SYS and similar have to be on C:, C: cannot be NTFS.
HTH
Market Research: ' What would you like us to be? '
To the original poster: Before we get into detail, it would help if we
knew your "bigger picture". All we know is, you are running XP and
even though you have much to lose, you want to fall back to Win98.
From that, we guess maybe you:
- are having problems in XP that frustrate you into going Win98
- want to run Win98 instead of XP some times (or as well as)
- want to run a DOS mode instead of XP some times
Once we know what you are after, we can get medieval
Hold that thought for later...
Whenever I read that, I have to respond - not only is it a slight to
Win9x, it is also technically inaccurate.
Win9x do not "run on DOS" any more than the NT family do, but they do
share a common path with DOS through the earliest boot up stages, and
you can choose to run DOS mode instead of Win9x.
Even then, it can be a rocky road.
What you can do will be constrained by what you have already done.
As Bruce says, if you had a Win9x installation and upgraded that to
XP, you can take a shot at uninstalling XP as long as your file system
was not converted to NTFS. Else:
1) If you have C: as NTFS
Sorry, you are hosed. There's no conversion back to FATxx, and no DOS
mode nor Win9x can "see" NTFS.
You can use BING to shrink C: and then create an extended partition
with logical volume(s) formatted to FATxx, but you can't boot a Win9x
or DOS mode from there are these OSs still need some footprint on C: -
but you could copy files from XP to the FATxx volumes, re-format C: to
FATxx, install a Win9x there, and read the files you had saved off C:
on the other FATxx volumes.
Or, you can use BING to shrink your NTFS C: and create another FATxx
primary partition, into which a Win9x or DOS mode (or MSDOS, if it's
FAT16) can be installed. You'd have to use a third-party boot manager
such as BING to switch between the two primaries; the NTLDR/Boot.ini
system would not be able to manage this setup.
2) If you have C: as FATxx
You can retro-fix a Win9x DOS mode to the same C: as XP, without
having to fiddle with partitions at all. It's a rather fiddly process
that I've listed often enough in previous posts; I'll do so again if
your reply indicates this is where you want to go.
You cannot easily add a full Win9x to share the same C: as XP, because
there are too many files and folders that overlap (e.g. "Program
Files", even if you avoid the disaster of a shared C:\Windows).
If you want a full Win9x, you'd do better to use a dual-boot strategy.
One way is via BING or similar, as described in (1), where each OS
lives in a separate primary partition and you use the 3rd-party boot
manager to select between the two OSs.
The other way is to use BING to shrink the C: on which XP is
installed, create an extended partition, create one or more logicals
formatted as FATxx, then install the Win9x there. The original C: is
still C:, so it's *crucial* to install the Win9x on D: or higher drive
letter by setting the installation path to D:\WIN98 or whatever. The
two OSs share C: aas their bootup point, with NTLDR / Boot.ini
offering the choice, but the bulk of the Win9x is off C:. Because the
Win9x's IO.SYS and similar have to be on C:, C: cannot be NTFS.
HTH
Consumer Asks: "What are you?"
Market Research: ' What would you like us to be? '
B
Bruce Chambers
Greetings --
So, how would you suggest I phrase it to keep it both simple for
the prospective posters, and technically accurate enough to satisfy
you? ;-}
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
So, how would you suggest I phrase it to keep it both simple for
the prospective posters, and technically accurate enough to satisfy
you? ;-}
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
C
cquirke (MVP Win9x)
On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 09:47:01 -0700, "Bruce Chambers"
</swimmy back-in-time effect>
! WinXP, like its predecessors WinNT & Win2K, is a pure 32-bit GUI
! OS, and does not run on DOS, as did Win3.x, or include a DOS mode,
! as did Win9x.
Keeping it as general as "Win9x" saves you from having to dance around
the sordid details of WinME
I guess you could avoid the Charles Dickens blues (strings of
comma-delimited phrases; sometimes he can be worse than C function
calls in that respect) by (parenthesis), as in...
! WinXP, like its predecessors WinNT & Win2K, is a pure 32-bit GUI
! OS, and does not run on DOS (as did Win3.x) or include a DOS mode
! (as did Win9x).
Win3.yuk and Win9x in the same breath! Ewwww!
</swimmy back-in-time effect>
! WinXP, like its predecessors WinNT & Win2K, is a pure 32-bit GUI
! OS, and does not run on DOS, as did Win3.x, or include a DOS mode,
! as did Win9x.
Keeping it as general as "Win9x" saves you from having to dance around
the sordid details of WinME
I guess you could avoid the Charles Dickens blues (strings of
comma-delimited phrases; sometimes he can be worse than C function
calls in that respect) by (parenthesis), as in...
! WinXP, like its predecessors WinNT & Win2K, is a pure 32-bit GUI
! OS, and does not run on DOS (as did Win3.x) or include a DOS mode
! (as did Win9x).
Win3.yuk and Win9x in the same breath! Ewwww!
Hmmm... what was the *other* idea?
B
Bruce Chambers
Greetings --
I'll place your suggestions under consideration. And I'll avoid
any mention of WinMe, particularly since I don't recall ever having
seen a computer running it.
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
I'll place your suggestions under consideration. And I'll avoid
any mention of WinMe, particularly since I don't recall ever having
seen a computer running it.
Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
C
cquirke (MVP Win9x)
On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 16:17:02 -0700, "Bruce Chambers"
I built PCs running WinME <blush>
....actually, jesting aside; they were generally OK once a lot of work
had gone into them; retrofitting DOS mode, clubbing SFP and
auto-ScanDisk into shape, stomping SR etc.
But you're right; there are prolly as many or more XP PCs around here,
and prolly about as many pre-SR2 Win95 PCs. It was telling that WinME
vanished off pricelists pretty quickly, whereas Win98SE is still there
We may even have nearly as many Win2000 as WinME, even in my neck of
the woods (which is all sub-server land, mostly budget stuff)
I built PCs running WinME <blush>
....actually, jesting aside; they were generally OK once a lot of work
had gone into them; retrofitting DOS mode, clubbing SFP and
auto-ScanDisk into shape, stomping SR etc.
But you're right; there are prolly as many or more XP PCs around here,
and prolly about as many pre-SR2 Win95 PCs. It was telling that WinME
vanished off pricelists pretty quickly, whereas Win98SE is still there
We may even have nearly as many Win2000 as WinME, even in my neck of
the woods (which is all sub-server land, mostly budget stuff)
Our senses are our UI to reality
G
Guest
Many consider Win 98 se still a dependable and quality OS. I have many friends that still run Win 98 SE. I prefer Win2000 or XP.
L
Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]
It's better than ME, I think, but it is still nowhere near as stable as
NT-based OSes....nor can it be secured, of course.
NT-based OSes....nor can it be secured, of course.
G
Guest
There are two ways to access DOS via winXP. Dont go telling me that it cant be done, because ALL windows can be reset into dos mode that I know of
Firstly theres the "majical F8" key, Give that a few bashes during POSTing and it should bring up an advanced startup screen with "shift+f5 - command prompt" down the bottom. Try that :
Secondly theres the old trick of using a windows 98 startup disk (windows ME if you can find one) and choosing to just boot into command promt (usually option #3 on the win98 boot menu if my memory serves
Hope that helps
Firstly theres the "majical F8" key, Give that a few bashes during POSTing and it should bring up an advanced startup screen with "shift+f5 - command prompt" down the bottom. Try that :
Secondly theres the old trick of using a windows 98 startup disk (windows ME if you can find one) and choosing to just boot into command promt (usually option #3 on the win98 boot menu if my memory serves
Hope that helps
G
Guest
On that question regarding "downgrading" to windows 98 without having to format, the only real effective way that I can think of you pulling it off is via a dual boot system with win XP and win 98. When installing windows 98, you will have to change the location it is installed to, say for argument sake instead of "c:\windows" use "c:\windows98" or something like that. The reason being is that windows XP and windows 98 both use the directory "c:\windows" as the default install path. Hopefully it should modify the boot.ini information automatically so that when your pc boots up, you can specify which windows to boot into. Idealy you should create a seperate partition altogether for windows 98, but that requires a bit more explaining. With that aside, once you have booted into windows 98, search foor the file "boot.ini" (obviously search everywhere) below is an extract off a boot file from windows NT
[boot loader
timeout=
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINN
[operating systems
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00 [VGA mode]" /basevideo /so
Now with a dual boot system with windows 98 and win XP, it will read something along the lines o
[boot loader
timeout=
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW
[operating systems
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS98="Windows 98 Special Edition
That is assuming that you have set up windows 98 under the directory "c:\windows98"
To make life easier, you can increase / decrease the value of "timeout". This gives you more / less time to choose between OS's. If you have created a seperate partition for windows 98 (which is a better practice) or you have installed windows 98 on a completely different hard drive, it will read something along the lines of
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows 98 Special Edition
o
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows 98 Special Edition
* assuming a clean install on that partition / hard drive with default value
Now the slightly tricky bit. Copy all data that you need that is accociated with windows XP (i.e. "My documents") basically anything that you want to salvage from windows XP other than program files. Those you will have to re-install. Once you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you have everything you require; from windows 98 (or DOS prompt if it wont let you). Delete the other windows (win XP).
I forgot to mention that you will have to modify the boot.ini file a touch before you delete windows XP, just delete the lin
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional"
and modify the lin
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW
t
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS9
or to the applicable value shown above in the different partition / hard drive exampl
Now I will tell you how to delete from DOS, incase you do not know. One of these two commands will work
"deltree c:\WINDOWS" or simply "deltree WINDOWS
o
"rmdir c:\WINDOWS" or simply "rmdir WINDOWS
Hope that helps
[boot loader
timeout=
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINN
[operating systems
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00 [VGA mode]" /basevideo /so
Now with a dual boot system with windows 98 and win XP, it will read something along the lines o
[boot loader
timeout=
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW
[operating systems
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS98="Windows 98 Special Edition
That is assuming that you have set up windows 98 under the directory "c:\windows98"
To make life easier, you can increase / decrease the value of "timeout". This gives you more / less time to choose between OS's. If you have created a seperate partition for windows 98 (which is a better practice) or you have installed windows 98 on a completely different hard drive, it will read something along the lines of
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows 98 Special Edition
o
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows 98 Special Edition
* assuming a clean install on that partition / hard drive with default value
Now the slightly tricky bit. Copy all data that you need that is accociated with windows XP (i.e. "My documents") basically anything that you want to salvage from windows XP other than program files. Those you will have to re-install. Once you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you have everything you require; from windows 98 (or DOS prompt if it wont let you). Delete the other windows (win XP).
I forgot to mention that you will have to modify the boot.ini file a touch before you delete windows XP, just delete the lin
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional"
and modify the lin
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW
t
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS9
or to the applicable value shown above in the different partition / hard drive exampl
Now I will tell you how to delete from DOS, incase you do not know. One of these two commands will work
"deltree c:\WINDOWS" or simply "deltree WINDOWS
o
"rmdir c:\WINDOWS" or simply "rmdir WINDOWS
Hope that helps