Starting computer in MS-DOS mode

[John]

Please tell me how to start my computer in MS-DOS mode. I
am running Windows XP, and if I hit F8 during startup, it
doesn't give the option to run in MS-DOS mode (like Win
98 did).

I did try creating a startup floppy disk, and booting
from the A: drive. This solution worked on one computer -
I was able to change to C: drive and run the program I
needed. However, on another computer, I was not able to
change drives. Instead I got the error message "Invalid
Drive Specification".

Ultimately, what I am trying to accomplish is to re-
install Windows 98 (overwrite Windows XP), which is in a
C:\CABS directory. It won't let me run the setup program
in a 'Command.com' window within Windows XP. It tells me
to restart my computer in MS-DOS mode.

Please give me any help possible....

Thanks,

John

 

[Randy Harris]

Please tell me how to start my computer in MS-DOS mode. I
am running Windows XP, and if I hit F8 during startup, it
doesn't give the option to run in MS-DOS mode (like Win
98 did).

I did try creating a startup floppy disk, and booting
from the A: drive. This solution worked on one computer -
I was able to change to C: drive and run the program I
needed. However, on another computer, I was not able to
change drives. Instead I got the error message "Invalid
Drive Specification".

Ultimately, what I am trying to accomplish is to re-
install Windows 98 (overwrite Windows XP), which is in a
C:\CABS directory. It won't let me run the setup program
in a 'Command.com' window within Windows XP. It tells me
to restart my computer in MS-DOS mode.

Please give me any help possible....

Thanks,

John

John, there is no MS-DOS in XP as there was in 98. That's why there is no
option to boot to MS-DOS mode. If your primary drive (C is formatted with
NTFS file system, DOS won't be able to recognize it. That's likely why you
can't see it when you boot from a floppy. If your objective is to
reinstall 98, you'll probably need to boot with a 98 floppy to start the
install.

 

[Ross Durie]

You'll neeed to convert the partition from NTFS back to FAT32 before you can
access it. Unfortunately XP doesn't provide a meanes to do this and you'll
need third party software.

Easier to zap the partition with fdisk and format but I assume you don't
have the 98 CD. If so, copy the cabs back to c: or install using CD

 

[RobertVA]

It's not something I have experience with, but from what I gather you would
need to boot from a Windows XP recovery or installation CD and use the
recovery console to change the partition to FAT(File Allocation Table) or
FAT32(32 bit FAT). The C: partition is probably currently a NTFS (New
Technology File System) partition. I don't know the exact procedure. You may
need to change your CMOS settings so that your sydtem will attempt to boot
from the CD before attempting to boot from the hard drive.

Be aware that changing the partition type will destroy ALL the tables that
allow an operating system to locate files and folders on the partition,
making them inaccessable without a sophisticated utility.

 

[Crusty \Old B@stard\]

You don't have Win98 anymore. You can no longer do that! Get use to it.
There is no DOS option available during bootup into Windows XP.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Guest]

As everyone before me has posted when you use the win98
floppy and try to change drivers, dos wont recognise your
c drive becuase it is ntfs which dos does not recognise.
using your win98 floppy boot into dos, type fdisk then
you will need to delete the drive in fdisk and create a
new partition (logical drive).
microsoft have created a set of floppy programs that
allows you to install winxp without installing win98
again, here is the link
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
FamilyID=55820edb-5039-4955-bcb7-
4fed408ea73f&DisplayLang=en

hope this can help

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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.

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."

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
--
Help us help you:



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

 

[Kelly]

Hi John,

Use as an example/guideline: Go to Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini and
copy/add what you want (Safe Mode or with Command Prompt), then save,
reboot.

Normal, Safe Mode and Command Prompt.

[boot loader]
timeout =15
default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP Normal"
/fastdetect /sos)

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP SAFE
Mode"/safeboot:minimal)

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "XP SAFE Mode with
Command Prompt" /safeboot:minimal(alternateshell)

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Please tell me how to start my computer in MS-DOS mode. I
am running Windows XP, and if I hit F8 during startup, it
doesn't give the option to run in MS-DOS mode (like Win
98 did).

There is no MS-DOS in Windows XP, and, short of booting from a
diskette, there's no way to do that.

Although you may see that as a disadvantage, the lack of MS-DOS
is one of the main reasons for XP's greatly improved stability
over Windows 98.

I did try creating a startup floppy disk, and booting
from the A: drive. This solution worked on one computer -
I was able to change to C: drive and run the program I
needed.

That computer's C: Drive was FAT32.

However, on another computer, I was not able to
change drives. Instead I got the error message "Invalid
Drive Specification".

That computer's drive was NTFS, and MS-DOS can't see an NTFS
drive.

Ultimately, what I am trying to accomplish is to re-
install Windows 98 (overwrite Windows XP), which is in a
C:\CABS directory. It won't let me run the setup program
in a 'Command.com' window within Windows XP. It tells me
to restart my computer in MS-DOS mode.

To access the drive from a diskette boot, you would need to
convert the drive to FAT32. Unfortunately that requires a
third-party program. It would probably be easier, and maybe even
cheaper, to just buy a used copy of Windows 98 on eBay, FDISK and
partition the drive as FAT32, and install 98.

But why do you want to go back to Windows 98? In my view that
would be a great step backard. If you're having problems with
Windows XP, describe them here. It's likely that someone here can
help you and you won't need to go to 98.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Please tell me how to start my computer in MS-DOS mode. I
am running Windows XP, and if I hit F8 during startup, it
doesn't give the option to run in MS-DOS mode (like Win
98 did).

There is no real mode DOS in XP for you to boot to. Roughly equivalent
in the F8 menu is Safe Mode - Command Prompt, but it is an emulation of
the DOS commends in XP, not DOS.

If you need real mode DOS you need to boot it separately - eg a Win98
startup floppy. And bear in mind that it will not even see a hard disk
partition using NTFS

 

[JOHN SKALLA]

Thank you for everyone's suggestions and comments. I certainly agree that
normally Windows XP is the way to go. However, the computer in question is
older and has an ATI All-In-Wonder+ video card, which has the ability to
display TV. That particular feature is only availabe in Pre-XP operating
systems. Unfortunately, ATI does not offer support and drivers for Windows
XP, and has not plans to do so. So... I must either buy an expensive new
video card for my old computer (not practical), or revert back to Windows
98.

That's the story.... thanks for the help!


John

 

[Randy Harris]

Thank you for everyone's suggestions and comments. I certainly agree that
normally Windows XP is the way to go. However, the computer in question is
older and has an ATI All-In-Wonder+ video card, which has the ability to
display TV. That particular feature is only availabe in Pre-XP operating
systems. Unfortunately, ATI does not offer support and drivers for Windows
XP, and has not plans to do so. So... I must either buy an expensive new
video card for my old computer (not practical), or revert back to Windows
98.

That's the story.... thanks for the help!

Uhhh, my ATI All-In-Wonder card displays TV just fine under XP Pro.