How do I get to MS Dos mode in Widows XP?

Question

I need to "repair" a program, and when I had Windows 98 before, I went to "shut down", then to "log on in Dos mode" to do the repair. Now that I am using Windows XP, I cannot find out how to ge to the Dos mode...it is not in the "shut down" window. By the way, I DO need to be in Dos mode to do my repair. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

you can get to the DOS promt by clicking on the start menu, then run...when the box opens type cmd, then click "ok" or hit enter

Answer 2

Hit F6 or F8 keys while the machine is booting to enter the safe mode ro other ways of repairing you operating system. If you need the command prompt while Windows is currently running hit the start button the run and type in cmd or command then enter and DOS window will pop up.

Answer 3

Go into your BIOS Settings and set boot options as follows
1st boot device CD/DVD Drive
2nd boot device Floppy
3rd boot device Hard drive
save and restart computer
Your POST screen will tell you which key to press to enter setup for your BIOS
Put the XP cd in the cd drive when the screen prompt says PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD press any key then do below
Use xp disk as you would to do a normal install at the instalation screen pick repair windows leave file system as it is this will re install windows but leave your files as they are on the computer
all that will not be available are any updates that you installed due to your windows being back to its original install DONOT pick the change filesystem or your drive will be auto formatted that is a clean install that destoys all on the hard drive you will still need your serial number to reinstal

Answer 4

Windows XP does not have a DOS mode. You can open up a DOS window by going to START/RUN and typing CMD and hit enter.

What program are you using that requires DOS? Not Windows itself. Try upgrading whatever program you have because if it's DOS, chances are it's 16 bit and XP is a 32 bit OS. You can run into problems there.

Answer 5

I don't think you can. Windows XP is based from the Windows NT line (as is Vista). While it can boot to a command line you are still running XP just without the graphical user interface (GUI) and not a light weight Disk operating system. Depends on what you are trying to do, but you might get further using the freebie virtual PC software from Microsoft.

Answer 6

the easy way to fix is to do a repair from the install disk. if it is windows itself then install windows and do a repair not full install. if it is not windows but a program added later then simply re-install the program. if this doesnt work then you may have a hardware prob. not a program error. best of luck

Answer 7

Well, depending on what program you want to 'repair', you might be better trying to do it in Windoze first.. unless you are a goooood command line commando, you can do some serious damage to your pc messing out there in dosland..
give us an idea of what's wrong, maybe one of us can help ya.

Answer 8

MSDOS is non existent anymore. You can use a DOS promp, but you will still be logged into windows. Luckily, windows offers many ways to fix programs. Just go to you windows help menu.

Answer 9

boot with a dos diskette. but be aware that if your xp is formatted in ntfs, you will not be able to read it at all with dos. I doubt your claim that you NEED to be in dos to do the repair. but do as you choose.

Answer 10

Select "Start">"Run" then type in "CMD" and press enter. You are then directed to the DOS window.