Running DOS in XP

[Brett]

Hey, i was trying to revert my XP computer back to
windows 98 se, but i cant figure out how to get back into
basic dos to format the HD. I tried doing it through
command prompt, which didn't work, cause it runs through
windows, and just inserting the CD doesnt work either.

Can someone please help me? Thanks, B

 

[Phil]

Boot to a win98 floppy boot disk, run fdisk, delete the partition(ntfs
partitions are non-dos partitions), create a new partition, reboot to floppy
boot disk, run format on c drive, switch to cd drive with win98 cd in it,
run setup.

 

[Guest]

Not a good idea. You'll need all new W98 drivers. Some might not be available
for XP computer hardware. Why don't you try solving the XP problem instead?
Boot to the XP cd and do a repair or a reinstall. If it's a new computer,
call the manufacturer's support service.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hey, i was trying to revert my XP computer back to
windows 98 se, but i cant figure out how to get back into
basic dos to format the HD. I tried doing it through
command prompt, which didn't work, cause it runs through
windows, and just inserting the CD doesnt work either.

Can someone please help me? Thanks, B

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.

The normal way to "uninstall" _any_ operating system is to format
the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.

However, 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

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[Barry Watzman]

For people who want "real" DOS with XP, it's very easy to install MS-DOS
and XP in a dual boot configuration, and in this instance they can be
installed in the same partition (C. However, it does have to be FAT32.

Use the version of DOS from Windows 98SE. Update FDISK with the May,
2000 updated release. Put the DOS command line utilities in C:\DOS.

 

[Alex Nichol]

i was trying to revert my XP computer back to
windows 98 se, but i cant figure out how to get back into
basic dos to format the HD. I tried doing it through
command prompt, which didn't work, cause it runs through
windows, and just inserting the CD doesnt work either.

Boot the Win98 startup floppy, minimal boot. Use its FDISK (say Y to
'Large disk support?') to delete the existing partition (a 'nonDOS' one
if NTFS) and make a new, suitable size, 'DOS primary' one in its place.
Reboot, with CD support, and give FORMAT C: then go to the 98 CD and
run SETUP