DOS Mode

[Cherries1428]

How do I get into DOS Mode on Windows XP?
Thank You,

 

[comtec17]

Unless you have DOS installed you cant. There is a command prompt you can get to but I do not think that is what you are talking about. You can boot to recovery console that is simular but only for recovery.

 

[SYAR2003]

Hi there !
There is no dos in xp .But a 32bits command prompt .
Click on the start menu , the run , and enter cmd
in the dialog box and hit ok .

If you mean 16bit old dos you must boot the pc with
a floppy diskette .
Xp can make bootable real-dos diskettes ,
just mark "create a msdos startup disk" while formatting
a floppy.
Note! that msdos cant read ntfs .
If ntfs reading is neccesary diskette images can be
downloaded from internet e.g bootdisk.com and others .


syar

 

[Cherries1428]

I need to get into DOS mode because I am installing Windows 98 into my computer instead of having Windows XP.

 

[SYAR2003]

What type of partition is there on it now .
Is it NTFS partition(s) or FAT/FAT32 .

If you have ntfs you will lose files unless you have backed the up to another media .

 

[Cherries1428]

Sorry I'm not sure what kind of partition there is on it now

 

[SYAR2003]

There is some instruction at this web page how to
install win 98 as a dual boot installation after
xp is already on the system .

http://www.xs4all.nl/~laar2002/tweak/install-win-98-with-xp.html

 

[Cherries1428]

How do I find out what kind of partition is on it?

 

[SYAR2003]

What do you want ?
Dual boot with both xp and w98 .
or
completly trash xp and use w98 instead.

Look up your partitions :
Start - run - diskmgmt.msc

Here you will see the disk layout and partitions
what type they are , and if c: is system disk etc.

Let us know how it's configured and what you want to do .

syar

 

[Cherries1428]

The Partition is FAT32.... I already had Windows 98 on this Computer and then Installed Windows XP on it and now I would like to take Windows XP completely off and put on 98.

 

[SYAR2003]

Okay then you will need a win98 bootdisk

Use this site:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Download the windows98SE OEM

http://home.csumb.edu/o/olsenwilliam/world/boot98.exe

Lauch the boot98.exe file from xp with a blank floppy
disk in A:
The boot disk is created .

Start the computer with the w98 bootdisk .
Control that you can access the cdrom drive,
Examine what drive letters that is the CDROM
and the xp partition .
Because win98 startcd use ramdisk it's not certain that
the xp partition is C:
Find out witch driveletter is the harddisks xp partition by using the dir command .
DIR C:
DIR D:
etc .


Then transfer system files from w98 floppy to harddisk.
Use the command sys X:
Where X is the drive letter for xp

Note! That after doing sys "X": you can no longer boot
to windows xp .

Then you must change some directory names ,with the following commands.
I from now assume xp installation is letter C:
Replace it with the correct drive letter if other.

ren c:\progra~1 c:\files.old

ren c:\windows c:\windows.xp

ren c:\docume~1 c:\docsett.old

Delete the xp system files:
First unhide them and take away their attributes
attrib -s -h -r c:\*.*

Delete
del c:\boot.ini
del c:\ntldr
del c:\ntdetect.com
del c:\Ntbootdd.sys (may not exist)

Now start the setup program in the win98 cd.
x :\setup.exe

Where x is the driveletter that the cd got allocated .


After windows98 is installed :
Your old documents are to be found in :\Docsett.old
Installed programs in :\Files.old (all theese must be reinstalled)
Old (xp) windows under :\windows.xp (can be deleted)

syar

 

[SYAR2003]

Hi again !

I just found that microsoft has a kb article describing
the same procedure .
Looks basicly the same as i posted to you .

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314052

Any more you need to know ?

syar

 

[Cherries1428]

Thank you soooo much!!!! I'm going to try it in the morning Thanks again

 

[SYAR2003]

Your quite welcome .

Please post back how it goes will you .

syar

 

[SYAR2003]

Hi ! Cherries

How did i go , are you up running with new os yet.

syar