How to open ms-dos?

Question

i run an xp pro with sp2 but i messed up with my registry and my computer doesn't boot neither in normal nor in safe mode or "my last known best config", so i need to format my c: drive. can someone tell me how to open ms-dos without actually loading windows cuz when i try to load windows, the screen freezes on welcome and thus i need to open ms dos. can someone help me?

Answer 1

after windows 98 dos was phased out. it no longer runs on the same kernals and is there for not present in the system. The dos prompt you see in windows is basically a simulated version. If you need to format you will also need an install disc, and that will boot right into the format/install program... as long as you PC is set to load from CD before HD, to check this enter you BIOS and find the primary boot device.

Answer 2

Obtain a windows 98 system boot disk.

Alternatively try booting straight from your CD and reinstall from there.

When I reinstall I always delete the existing partitions on the drive then reinstate them as part of the installation process. This will completely eliminate the old XP system files, replacing them with a clean copy. Just make sure you have copies of your driver disks.

Answer 3

Before formating, consider repairing the existing intallation, you can do this booting from the Windows' cd-rom and chosing "repair" when it asks you on what partition to install, then you'll be able to recover your datas.

If you really have to format and reinstall, what you can do is create two partitions, one with your windows install (10GB minimum) and one reserved to your data, you can even move "My documents" to this data partition. So if you have to reinstall again, you won't have to save your data.

Don't forget to get your hardware drivers first.

Then, as said in the post above, dos is no longer a part of Windows since WindowsXP. You still can run dos commands though, from the desktop click start menu, then run, then enter "cmd" without quotes.

Good luck.

Answer 4

thumbs up for Justin.. in case you prefer to run something like a *.bat script, then you definately could desire to run it from the command line atmosphere.. not living house windows. Clicking on something like which will purely snap open and close.. until it hyperlinks to a pair living house windows ingredient. initiate from the "cmd" or "command" atmosphere. CMD and COMMAND are 2 separate shells... COMMAND is a sixteen-bit DOS-like shell, on an identical time as CMD is 32 or sixty 4 bit, and had some extra function. additionally, in case you're working living house windows 7, then Dos not exists. Now it somewhat is the "Command Interpreter".. it seems and scents plenty like DOS, yet not each and all the instructions and behaviors are an identical. *>Command nonetheless says "living house windows DOS" - according to risk there is something left over even however MS says it somewhat is not. One final element, you would be able to could desire to run as an administrator. Run CMD a pair of situations, or discover it under your living house windows upload-ons.. as quickly as you have a menu merchandise or a shortcut, you may outstanding-click the icon shortcut for CMD and choose " run as administrator".