Re: Windows XP PC question

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From: Ross Durie (rdurie_at_caverock.net.nz)
Date: 12/12/04 

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 22:24:00 +1300

DOS consisted of io.sys, msdos.sys, command.com and other files for external
commands. Why do you think of DOS as being something residing in the BIOS
when it didn't.

XP has a shell prompt or console as does Linux, e.g., bash, csh etc., but
this environment is not coded in the BIOS. 

--
Ross
"John" <johnw_94020@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:johnw_94020-91464E.00543312122004@msnews.microsoft.com...
> Do newer PC's yes with XP still have DOS instructions written on their
> BIOS chip?  I have not tried it yet, but is it possible to wipe out XP
> on a newer Dell or whatever and get back to a plain DOS prompt?  Most PC
> people claim that XP/2000 whatever does not have any DOS below its OS
> like Windows 98 or have any DOS instructions on its ROM BIOS chip but I
> do not believe it.  I have not tried inserting a DOS boot floppy, and
> testing it for myself.   In my 98 machine I can boot from a floppy, wipe
> out the hard drive, partition and then do a format C: /s and the machine
> will boot with only DOS.  I wonder if XP works the same.
>
> I guess my main comparison would be the classic Mac OS which is full GUI
> and no command prompt. On my Mac for exmaple, I can wipe out the hard
> drive with my boot CD, and then install the boot files with the CD and
> the Mac boots into a GUI. I doubt XP is a full GUI and does not have
> command prompt instructions in BIOS, but perhaps I am wrong.  I doubt
> PC's can ever move away from any DOS instructions in their ROM BIOS, but
> maybe I am wrong.
>
>
> John

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    ... what the BIOS does and what the operating system does. ... > on a newer Dell or whatever and get back to a plain DOS prompt? ... > like Windows 98 or have any DOS instructions on its ROM BIOS chip but I ... In my 98 machine I can boot from a floppy, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Windows XP PC question
    ... what the BIOS does and what the operating system does. ... > on a newer Dell or whatever and get back to a plain DOS prompt? ... > like Windows 98 or have any DOS instructions on its ROM BIOS chip but I ... In my 98 machine I can boot from a floppy, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)