getting to ms dos??

[wigitz]

I want to reformat my hard drive. How can I get to ms dos
on startup so I can do it?? i am running xp.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

The XP CD is bootable and can be used to format your hard disk, although you
may have to change the boot-up sequence via the BIOS. If you still want to
access 'DOS', you can use a Win 9x EBD to boot your PC with and then select
'Minimal'. If you haven't got a Win 9x EBD, the files can be obtained from
here:

www.bootdisk.com

 

[Michael Stevens]

I want to reformat my hard drive. How can I get to ms dos
on startup so I can do it?? i am running xp.

You boot from the CD and do a clean install.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser address bar.
How to clean install XP.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Format XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/format_XP.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

There is no DOS in windows XP.
You can format and reinstall directly from the Windows XP CD:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm

 

[Bubba]

You don't want to use DOS. Set your BIOS to boot from CD and then insert
your XP CD into the CD-ROM drive. The XP install program has dos-like
appearing format command. If you use dos you won't get all the
security/performance XP offers with NTFS.

Bubba

 

[SlowJet]

If your PC's bios will not boot from the CD-ROM
you can get the XP boot disk ser from the MS site.
Search for them. You must get a specific set for HOME or PRO.
I think there is 4 in a set which you download to a HHD and then copy to
floppy's.

This is just like starting Xp from the CD.
It loads drivers to create an install O/S in memory.

SJ

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

There are 6 in the set:

"Windows XP Home Edition Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install"
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...68-6e4f-471c-b455-bd5afee126d8&displaylang=en

"Windows XP Professional Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=55820EDB-5039-4955-BCB7-4FED408EA73F

 

[Michael Stevens]

Hi

There are 6 in the set:

"Windows XP Home Edition Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install"
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...68-6e4f-471c-b455-bd5afee126d8&displaylang=en

"Windows XP Professional Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=55820EDB-5039-4955-BCB7-4FED408EA73F

Will,
Note there is a XP SP1a boot disk set, and I would assume a XP SP2 boot set
will be needed when the XP CD's with SP2 become available.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...74-76af-4c21-b853-d9f07cbfa559&DisplayLang=en
Shortened version of the above link.
http://tinyurl.com/mxy6
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Will Denny]

Thanks Michael. SP2 to follow - yes very possibly.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I want to reformat my hard drive. How can I get to ms dos
on startup so I can do it?? i am running xp.

Not to put too fine a point on it, you can'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, included, or "ridden upon" MS-DOS. The closest they
have is the Command Prompt window.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

--

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

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Bruce

Of course you can install XP via 'DOS' - I do it all the time using a Win 9x
EBD - so long as the hard disk/partition isn't using NTFS. WTF are you
talking about??

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi Bruce

Of course you can install XP via 'DOS' - I do it all the
time using a Win 9x EBD - so long as the hard
disk/partition isn't using NTFS. WTF are you talking
about??

I told the OP that he couldn't boot a WinXP machine into DOS. I
said nothing one way or another about using round-about installation
methods.

--

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

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Bruce

A Win XP can be booted into 'DOS' using a Win 9x EBD, so long as the hard
disk/partition is using FAT32. Try it, I do it all the time.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I want to reformat my hard drive. How can I get to ms dos
on startup so I can do it?

You do *not* involve MSDOS. You do it as part of a reinstall of the
system after booting the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the
license agreement take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where,
hit ESC; select and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one
to be formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

 

[Will Denny]

You do *not* involve MSDOS. You do it as part of a reinstall of the
system after booting the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the
license agreement take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where,
hit ESC; select and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one
to be formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

Hi Alex

I've found that using a Win 9x EBD + Smartdrive to install XP, cuts the
installation time down by about 5 minutes. However that way of installing
XP may not be appropriate to all users.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi Bruce

A Win XP can be booted into 'DOS' using a Win 9x EBD, so
long as the hard disk/partition is using FAT32. Try it, I
do it all the time.

If you're using a boot diskette, WinXP isn't booting at all, much
less into DOS. The OS on the diskette is doing the booting. And yes,
a FAT32 partition can be read if the boot diskette has been created
using Win98's version of DOS.


--

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

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Bruce

The OP was asking "I want to reformat my hard drive. How can I get to ms
dos on startup so I can do it??" Erm... an EBD would do that - I would
think??

 

[Alex Nichol]

I've found that using a Win 9x EBD + Smartdrive to install XP, cuts the
installation time down by about 5 minutes. However that way of installing
XP may not be appropriate to all users.

The big problem with that though is that you get FAT 32 - like it or
not. And hence if you want NTFS, a conversion, and probably fall into
the 512 byte sector trap. I regard it as to use only where the machine
just will *not* boot a CD

 

[Will Denny]

The big problem with that though is that you get FAT 32 - like it or
not. And hence if you want NTFS, a conversion, and probably fall into
the 512 byte sector trap. I regard it as to use only where the machine
just will *not* boot a CD

Good point Alex, although not everyone wants/needs an NTFS partition.

 

[Michael Stevens]

The big problem with that though is that you get FAT 32 - like it or
not. And hence if you want NTFS, a conversion, and probably fall into
the 512 byte sector trap. I regard it as to use only where the
machine just will *not* boot a CD

Alex,
I don't believe there is any difference in the byte size when using the boot
floppy method. You still get the option to choose file system and I don't
remember anything about setup converting fat32 to NTFS. I always thought it
deleted the partition and formatted it clean.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm