MS DOS under XP

[Guest]

I've an XP home edition system that i got with a toshiba satellite computer.My problem is that i can't nor use any DOS command like FORMAT/SCANDISK/FDISK or others, neither reach my documents to solve problems even with a windows 98 boot floppy disk.I'm always told that my hard disk is not formated although my computer is fine.I encounter those kind of stuffs only with XP.What can i do to exploit those commands if one day for exemple, i have a boot virus attack and must save my work only working under DOS
Thank you for asking me.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Since Windows XP is not based on the old MS-DOS platform,
one cannot boot into DOS since it does not exist. In order to
avoid a virus attack, install a good antivirus program.

Check for viruses:

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

And check for the presence of spyware:

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.12
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

3 Steps to Help Ensure your PC is Protected
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

Frequently Asked Questions About Antivirus Software
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/antivirus.asp

Utilize the following Windows XP utility programs, at least monthly, in this order:

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315265&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305781&Product=winxp


How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard
Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314079

The Windows XP installation CD is also a "startup disk" or ERD
and contains the tools necessary to perform repairs.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I've an XP home edition system that i got with a toshiba satellite computer.My problem is that i can't nor
use any DOS command like FORMAT/SCANDISK/FDISK or others, neither reach my documents to solve problems even
with a windows 98 boot floppy disk.I'm always told that my hard disk is not formated although my computer is
fine.I encounter those kind of stuffs only with XP.What can i do to exploit those commands if one day for
exemple, i have a boot virus attack and must save my work only working under DOS?
| Thank you for asking me.

 

[snarge]

While Win XP is not DOS based, you can still boot into
a DOS emulator. An MVP label does not an expert make.
s

-----Original Message-----
Since Windows XP is not based on the old MS-DOS platform,
one cannot boot into DOS since it does not exist. In order to
avoid a virus attack, install a good antivirus program.

Check for viruses:

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

And check for the presence of spyware:

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.12
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

3 Steps to Help Ensure your PC is Protected
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

Frequently Asked Questions About Antivirus Software
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/antivirus.asp

Utilize the following Windows XP utility programs, at least monthly, in this order:

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315265&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305781&Product=winxp


How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard
Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314079

The Windows XP installation CD is also a "startup disk" or ERD
and contains the tools necessary to perform repairs.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

satellite computer.My problem is that i can't nor

use any DOS command like FORMAT/SCANDISK/FDISK or others,

neither reach my documents to solve problems even

with a windows 98 boot floppy disk.I'm always told that my

hard disk is not formated although my computer is

fine.I encounter those kind of stuffs only with XP.What

can i do to exploit those commands if one day for

 

[Tumbleweed]

I've an XP home edition system that i got with a toshiba satellite

computer.My problem is that i can't nor use any DOS command like
FORMAT/SCANDISK/FDISK or others, neither reach my documents to solve
problems even with a windows 98 boot floppy disk.I'm always told that my
hard disk is not formated although my computer is fine.I encounter those
kind of stuffs only with XP.What can i do to exploit those commands if one
day for exemple, i have a boot virus attack and must save my work only
working under DOS?

....use a recovery diskette or CD created by your virus checker application.

In the meantime, what exactly is your problem re your disk?

 

[Ron Martell]

While Win XP is not DOS based, you can still boot into
a DOS emulator. An MVP label does not an expert make.

You can't boot into the DOS emulator.

You can boot into Windows XP and then open a DOS emulator (command
prompt) window.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Ron Martell]

I've an XP home edition system that i got with a toshiba satellite computer.My problem is that i can't nor use any DOS command like FORMAT/SCANDISK/FDISK or others, neither reach my documents to solve problems even with a windows 98 boot floppy disk.I'm always told that my hard disk is not formated although my computer is fine.I encounter those kind of stuffs only with XP.What can i do to exploit those commands if one day for exemple, i have a boot virus attack and must save my work only working under DOS?
Thank you for asking me.

Your hard drive is probably using the NTFS file system which means
that it cannot be read from a Windows 98 or DOS boot disk except by
using a special utility named ReadNTFS.

What exact problems are you trying to fix?

You perhaps need to appreciate that Windows XP is based on the NT
family of Windows and many of the functions and utilities found in
Windows 95/98/Me have different names and somewhat different
functionality in Windows XP.

The FORMAT utility, however, is still present in Windows XP and you
can use it from within Windows XP to format hard drive partitions
(other than the boot partition), or diskettes.

SCANDISK is replaced in Windows XP by CHKDSK which is run from the
command prompt. Open a command prompt window (Start - Programs -
Accessories - Command Prompt) and enter CHKDSK /? to see the
parameters available. It is very much enhanced and improved since the
old days of DOS.

FDISK is also not part of Windows XP. If you want to change or
otherwise manipulate the partitions on the hard drive you can use the
Disk Management tool in Windows XP. Use Start - Run and enter
diskmgmt.msc in the dialog box. For repairing boot sector problems
(the equivalent of fdisk /mbr) you need to boot the computer with the
Windows XP CD and choose the Repair (Recovery Console) option from the
menu. When it stops at the command prompt you can use the FIXBOOT
and/or FIXMBR commands to repair the problem.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Alex Nichol]

You can't boot into the DOS emulator.

You can boot into Windows XP and then open a DOS emulator (command
prompt) window.

You can boot into the menu's Safe Mode - Command Prompt only, which is
the emulator running as shell, without explorer and the desktop. This
can sometimes be useful. But it is *not* DOS

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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

--
Help us help you:




You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

I should have added that trying to use the ancient MS-DOS
utilities on WinXP's NTFS file system is futile.

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