Re: Starting computer in MS-DOS mode

From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 07/31/04 

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 23:08:57 -0600

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 

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"John" <Skalla_J@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:799601c476b1$2fa9e990$a301280a@phx.gbl...
> 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
>

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