Re: Windows XP PC question
From: GTS (x)
Date: 12/12/04
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Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 11:56:56 -0500
The DOS like prompt you're describing is called the Recovery Console. It
can be entered by booting from a Windows XP CD and pressing R at a point
where prompts show that option. It can also be installed as a boot option
on the hard drive, accessible by pressing F8 to get the boot menu during
startup (like for safe mode). The RC is useful for certain kinds of
repairs when the OS won't boot.
The MAC has always had a lot more functionality based in the BIOS than the
Intel based PC. I think you're assuming that more of the functionality of
DOS was in the PC BIOS than is the case. There is very little that you can
do directly with a PC's BIOS outside of an operating system. A PC can
still be booted from a true DOS disk, but it is not very useful because of
the lack of long file name support and inability to work with NTFS formatted
drives. A Recovery Console or command prompt only boot is the closest
equivalent today.
-- "John" <johnw_94020@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:johnw_94020-513A8A.08075812122004@msnews.microsoft.com... > Thanks for your help. But tell me on newer PC's do you need to boot to > a DOS prompt (or whatever its technically called) when performing > advanced disk editing chores? How about if your os is not bootable? > Someone told me a story of a time when his XP machine could not boot, so > he had to boot into a command prompt (its not technically called dos, > but it looks like dos) and run a registry fix or restore from the floppy > to get it back. > > I always wondered if the newer XP machines were as much of a pre GUI as > the macintosh was. I could never get a straight answer out of PC techs, > because very few had extensive knowledge of the mac. Most if they ever > used a Mac, did not use it for such techie uses. I've been working on > Macs for a long time. I've done far more than thus type a paper, or > browse the Internet. > > > John > > > In article <OGXKQuC4EHA.2592@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl>, > "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote: > >> A BIOS does not have DOS instructions - it is indenpendent of >> the operating system. You can easily prove this: Disconnect the >> hard disk, then reboot the system. The BIOS will still work but >> you certainly won't get a DOS prompt! >> >> To get to a plain DOS prompt, you need to boot your machine >> with a Win98 boot disk from www.bootdisk.com. If you then >> wish to remove WinXP then you can run fdisk.exe and remove >> all existing partitions. >> >> A better way would be to boot your PC with your WinXP CD, >> then allow the disk to be repartitioned when prompted. >> >> >> "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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