Boot error Command.com

[JMBobeck]

When I boot the system instead of loading XP I get a DOS
screen, the PC begins to boot but then I get the following
message:
"Bad or Missing command interpreter Enter correct name of
command interpereter (eg c:\command.com)

My PC mfr support was useless. I tried repairing my XP
installation; reinstalling xp (including deleting and
creating new partition). I can run XP (the new install)
using the CD as my boot disk but without the cd the
command.com error reappears.

I have multiple partitions. Whats the next step?

 

[Mike Brearley]

You don't happen to have a floppy disk in your 3 1/2 drive, do you?

--
Posted 'as is'. If there are any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, they
were a direct result of my fingers and brain not being synchronized or my
lack of caffeine.

Mike Brearley

 

[Malke]

When I boot the system instead of loading XP I get a DOS
screen, the PC begins to boot but then I get the following
message:
"Bad or Missing command interpreter Enter correct name of
command interpereter (eg c:\command.com)

My PC mfr support was useless. I tried repairing my XP
installation; reinstalling xp (including deleting and
creating new partition). I can run XP (the new install)
using the CD as my boot disk but without the cd the
command.com error reappears.

I have multiple partitions. Whats the next step?

It sounds like your computer is not set correctly to find the device
with the boot files. Go into your BIOS and be sure the boot order is
set to something like 1) CD-ROM 2) hard drive 3) removable storage.
Then you'll be able to boot to the hard drive (be sure no bootable CD
is in the CD-ROM drive first).

Malke

 

[JMBobeck]

NO floppy. PC goes to DOS unless I actively bring up the
boot drive options and boot from CD.

 

[JMBobeck]

I don't think this is the issue. If I manually slect hard
drive boot from the boot option menu I still have the same
problem

 

[Mike Brearley]

Just wanted to make sure. Sometimes the simple things are overlooked even
by the best of us. The only other thing I can think of is that Windows
doesn't have the drivers needed to boot to your hard drive. What type of
hard drive do you have? ATA, SATA, SCSI?

--
Posted 'as is'. If there are any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, they
were a direct result of my fingers and brain not being synchronized or my
lack of caffeine.

Mike Brearley

 

[Alex Nichol]

I don't think this is the issue. If I manually slect hard
drive boot from the boot option menu I still have the same
problem

It sounds to me as if something has damaged the boot of a dual boot
system, after removing the original one. For example - a dual of XP set
up fro a Win98 system, into a different partition, puts the boot
initially in that 98 partition, but with XP boot files. If you delete
the 98's windows folder you will be able to boot the XP happily; but if
you do a SYS C: or FORMAT /S C: from a 98 floppy you will put the 98
(only) boot back. SImilar things could happen if the active partition
of the disk has been accidentally set to the wrong one

Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot the XP CD and, instead
of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair. Assume any password
requested is blank, and TAB over. Give
FixBoot
FixMbr

If that proves not enough, boot that way again and use
BootCfg /Rebuild