Computing.Net - Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Original Message

Name: durnia1
Date: January 18, 2008 at 15:55:01 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode
OS: Windows XP Home Edition
CPU/Ram: 2.93 GHz/248MB
Model/Manufacturer: HP Pavilion a705w

Comment:

I am trying to run a scan and the directions that I have tell me to boot the computer in DOS mode. I was instructed to press F8 and then select Safe Mode with Command Prompt. When I did this, a screen popped up asking me which operating system I would like to start. The choices were Windows XP Home Edition or Windows Recovery Console. So I selected the Windows XP Home Edition. Once that was selected it started in "normal" mode. Could somebody please tell me what I did wrong and how to go about fixing it???
Thank you
Angie

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Response Number 1

Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: January 18, 2008 at 20:35:00 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

I don't think XP will boot to dos. What sort of 'scan' are you trying to run? Is the scan software compatible with XP?

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Response Number 2

Name: Mike Newcomb
Date: January 18, 2008 at 20:41:30 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

Perhaps it would be better to ask this question in the Windows XP forum.
My thoughts below are based on knowledge of W2000.

You advise the scan needs to *BOOT* to dos. This means you need to have dos installed already as an alternative operating system to your w-xp.
With w2000, a limited form of dos is provided but runs from within/or under w2000. This is loaded by clicking:-
start/run then entering COMMAND.
This gives a dos window, which may well allow your scan to run.
To close, enter EXIT.
You do not advise what your scan is supposed to be doing, but it might be better to find one that runs under windows.
Advise how you progress.
Good Luck - Keep us posted.

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Response Number 3

Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: January 18, 2008 at 20:59:41 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

Let me redo this particular post. I guess it's been awhile since I've run XP. Anyway I dragged out the XP machine and fired it up. There is a 'safe mode with command prompt' on the F8 menu. When choosing that it does boot to a dos screen.
If you're already getting that option and it's still booting to normal mode, try tapping F8 again after choosing to load XP Home Edition.

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Response Number 4

Name: WebsWonder
Date: January 18, 2008 at 22:25:24 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

SIGH!! XP has no MS-DOS SubSystem it is NT Commnad Prompt, bugger all to do with this forum.

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Response Number 5

Name: cup
Date: January 18, 2008 at 23:23:29 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

XP has 2 prompts: command and cmd
command.com is a 16 bit
cmd.exe is 32 bit
You can initiate them from start/run. It has been like this since the NT days.

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Response Number 6

Name: WebsWonder
Date: January 19, 2008 at 00:38:02 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

He requested to restart in DOS Mode CUP
Your post is still not MS-DOS...........or related to this forum

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Response Number 7

Name: Mike Newcomb
Date: January 19, 2008 at 02:05:46 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

Come on chaps, we are here to help Durnial (if possible), so lets not disagree too much among ourselves.
I am not that up on wxp, but seem to recall that the dos 'choice' Daveincaps refers to, is not always there. Possible this relates to how the o/s was installed in the first place. Even if it is, surely this not actually the boot o/s as it is part (or under) wxp.
Perhaps my and Dave's query in what the scan is for, is the path to follow.
Regards - Mike
Good Luck -Keep us posted.

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Response Number 8

Name: alexanrs
Date: January 19, 2008 at 06:45:55 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

Windows XP has NO true DOS mode. Use a Win98 bootdisk to use your scan, assuming that your disks are in FAT, because DOS doesn't recognise NTFS.

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Response Number 9

Name: cup
Date: January 19, 2008 at 07:02:03 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

What is this scan that you are running that is telling you to put the machine into dos mode? Is it a surface scan, virus scan, integrity scan? What kind of scan is it?

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Response Number 10

Name: WebsWonder
Date: January 19, 2008 at 09:21:55 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

CUP, it does not matter, XP has no relation to XP, except they are both re-writes of other peoples software.........

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Response Number 11

Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: January 19, 2008 at 14:54:35 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

The OP stated the scan instructions were to "press F8 and then select Safe Mode with Command Prompt". That is something you can do with XP, in spite of my initial uncertainty. Yeah, it might not be Dos but it kinda works like dos.
His problem doesn't seem to be in selecting that option but in getting to the command prompt. My OS option menu doesn't have the 'Windows Recovery Console' choice and I'm thinking this may be another menu layer. That's why I thought hitting F8 again might work. If not, as already mentioned, he may want to post in the XP forum as we don't seem to be getting anywhere here.

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Response Number 12

Name: durnia1
Date: January 19, 2008 at 18:03:35 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

Mike,
Thanks for the info. Everything that I have tried to this point does not work. I am just going to leave it alone and let the viruses remain on the computer. I did not know exactly what forum to post this to. I am sorry for not posting it to the correct forum. Thank you for the info!!
Angie

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Response Number 13

Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: January 19, 2008 at 21:35:52 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

Don't worry too much about your forum choice. Most get here through google and it's logical to post in the same forum. Some people tend to be a bit overly protective of this forum and treat it as if it was their virginal daughter going out on her first date. Although this is supposed to be a 'pure' dos forum, the windows 'command prompt' is more dos than windows.
But in this case your problem was about the XP boot menu not going where you wanted. So dimwits like me who rarely use XP aren't going to be as much help as those who regularly hang out in the XP forum.

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Response Number 14

Name: Mike Newcomb
Date: January 20, 2008 at 00:24:49 Pacific
Subject: Need to put computer in DOS Mode

Reply: (edit)

Durnial - you have not advised if you tried the 'Recovery Console' mode.
Was there a dos option there?
If you suspect you have virus problems:-
it is my experience that freebies from the net do not give the same protection as those purchased. The market leaders are Norton and Macafee.
An unused Norton Internet Security 2006 or 2007 can be found for around £10 on ebay.
These come with 12 months updates.
I regularly delete my internet temp files, particularly immediately before a scan.
Spybot is good (and free), but I found the 'constant protection' option too much of an overhead on my old pc.
I only use it to scan occasionally as a bit of extra protection to Norton.
All the above run under windows.
Good Luck - Keep us posted.

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