How can I access DOS from Windows XP?

[Connie]

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Since Windows XP is not based on the old MS-DOS platform,
there is no real DOS to access. Use the Command Prompt for
MS-DOS emulation.

Go to Start > Run and type: CMD , and hit enter.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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."


Bruce Chambers

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[JasonA]

or start -programs - accessories - msdos prompt. If you use this a lot copy
the shortcut to the quick launch bar.

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

Which is really the "command prompt" that Bruce was writing about. It is NOT
a DOS prompt!

or start -programs - accessories - msdos prompt. If you use this a lot copy
the shortcut to the quick launch bar.

 

[Don Wiss]

Which is really the "command prompt" that Bruce was writing about. It is NOT
a DOS prompt!

You are wrong. It IS a DOS prompt. DOS stands for Disk Operating System.
That command prompt is a disk operating system. You can argue that it is
not MS-DOS, but it most certainly is a DOS.

Don <donwiss at panix.com>.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Well, semantically, you're correct. By that same criteria, Linux
is DOS, OS/2 is DOS, Unix is DOS, and, of course, WinNT, Win2K, and
WinXP are all DOS.

But we all know that the literal meaning and origin of the "DOS"
acronym is not what the OP had in mind when the question was asked,
don't we?

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

 

[JasonA]

Actually Bruce that explains it better that I my reply would have been. I
have said the same thing - Windows NT (2000/XP) have there only version of
DOS - It's built into the GUI. Back in Windows 3 days there was DOS up to
6.22 with a GUI that ran on top of this. Then 95/98 where they use DOS 7 and
7.1 but the user basically only see's the GUI which interacts with is
underlying DOS better than earlier windows. I have no idea on the logic of
ME - you can't boot up to command line nor is it an NT based system.

I guess it depends on how people look at DOS. The conventional meaning (boot
to command line) or DISK OPERATING SYSTEM/USER INTERFACE