I found this on the 98 forum.... http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/135055.html (Read the post from the Count)

Since I have WinXP Pro I tried to apply it to XP. I first put a file in my Download folder which is listed under C: and then I added the same file to my StartMenu.

The name of the file is cleanpooter.rtf

I then rebooted into Safe mode and it automatically came up with this...

C:\Documents and Settings\Normande>

I added this..... \download\cleanpooter.rtf
It displayed the contents of the file immediately. Now I can delete the file in the same manner as the "Count" described.

I then typed the following...

C:\Documents and Settings\Normande\Startmenu\programs\cleanpooter.rtf
All I get is "The system cannot find the path specified". I then tried ....
Startm~1\progra~1\etc and got the same results. As a matter of fact it says that no matter what folder/file I try to go to.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

The DOS prompt does not recognize filenames other than a standard 8 letters.

Normande,

I'm not sure what your question is.
Are you saying you can delete the file or are you saying you can't delete the file?

If you're saying you can delete the file the following would be logical, as the file doesn't reside at the specified location any more. "The system cannot find the path specified". Because it's not there any more.
Further more, what you say you have typed in would make sence to me but not for your computer. Sorry!
"...C:\Documents and Settings\Normande\Startmenu\programs\cleanpooter.rtf
All I get is "The system cannot find the path specified"..." "...Startm~1\progra~1\etc..."

The proper command would be:
CD\Docume~1\Norman~1\Startm~1\progra~1[Enter]key
attrib -r -s -h *.*[Enter]key
del cleanp~1.rtf[Enter]key

Whenever you want to move from one folder to a other, starting from the root (the top if you like) the command must start with CD\.
There is no need for using Caps (Lock), it's just to point it out.

When you're already in a (sub-)folder and want to go to a other (sub-sub-)folder the command would be: CD sub-folder[Enter]key.
For example: You're already in the folder
C:\Documents and Settings>_CD Norman~1[Enter]key this would lead you to
C:\Documents and Settings\Normande>_

Now to go one step further down the structure:
CD Startm~1[Enter]key brings you to
C:\Documents and Settings\Normande\Start Menu>_ etc.

The file Cleanpooter.rtf obviously is no folder so the CD\ command doesn't apply here.

N.B. CD origanly stands for Change Directory, this how one used to call the folders in the GOOD "old" DOS Days.
The fastest way back to the root is: CD\[Enter]key
And one one step at a time: CD..[Enter]key

Hope this answers your question, if not just type it in here. I'll be back! :-)

Greetz from The Netherlands,
The Count

Thanks Count...Let me go check this out. What I did was put a file in my Download folder and also on my Start Menu just to see if I could find them using the process that you described on the Win98 Forum.

When I reboot into DOS it automatically comes up with C:\Documents and Settings\Normande> .... This is not something that I type in myself. I can find the file that is located in my Download folder (don't want to delete it yet, I'm using it to learn with) but I can't open the Start Menu folder.

I'm going to go practice with what you just posted above. Many thanks, appreciate the help.

Normande

Normande,

I have to confess I'm not familair with Windows XP, but never the less the procedure would still be the same.
It's only the locations that could differ.

To find out if your Start Menu is located in the above mentioned folder type in:
dir /w /o /ad[Enter]key
This gives you a listing of all sub-folders directly under the sub-sub-folder C:\Documents and Settings\Normande>.
You should notice, if there, a folder [Startm~1]. All folders are surrounded by [].

N.B. In my previous post where it reads:
C:\Documents and Settings\Normande>_
the last character is the blinking cursor.

Keep me posted, I'll be back!

Greetz,
The Count (January 4th, 02:54 hours)

Well I give up for the evening. Loosing my eyesight. I deleted the cleanpooter.rtf file in my Download folder and also from my Start Menu. The Download folder was emptied by using DOS but the Start Menu entry had to be deleted thru Windows.

WinXP Pro has a folder called My Music. I put a game called Ayahtzee in this folder and added it to my Start Menu under Games.

I then rebooted in DOS and tried to find it in the My Music folder. I can go to the folder but thats as far as it gets.

C:\CD\mymusi~1\
C:\MYMUSIC>

The above is what happens. No matter what I have tried I can't get it to show me the contents of the folder or indicate whats in it. I'll try again tomorrow. But anyway, thanks for getting me started this evening Count.

Normande

Normande,

Here's another one to get going with:

Ones you're back in the My Music folder, type in:
dir /w /o /p[Enter]key
This will give you a listing of all files, including sub-folders, which are directly under the My Music folder. In other words, it will show you the files and folders within the My Music folder but not containts of the sub-folders.

Keep me posted, I'll be back!

Greetz,
The Count (January 4th, 04:39 hours)

I thought it was a reasonable reply. One that we have gone over before on other threads, but nevertheless. How am I to know that a poster is not a beginner with computers being that this is the DOS forum? My computer doesn't have DOS but I had DOS in the old days, and neither those or my present computer will recognize those ~ things at the command promt.

DickM,

Your reply was reasonable.
The poster, Normande in this particular thread, maybe expierenced or even well expierenced in Windows XP (don't know that) but that that doesn't by default mean one is in the DOS enviroment too.

If your computer doesn't have DOS, what kind of OS are you running? Linux? I'm not familair with that.
Have you ever ran Windows 9x or higher? If so, you should at least ones have encounterd that that version of DOS (7) makes use of the ~thing.
For example to display long file- and directory names, and as mentioned above to change to/from directories with long filenames (exceeding the 8.3 limitations of previous versions of DOS).

Greetz,
The Count

Count

I have put 2 games in my "My Music" folder. One as an .exe file (Armadillo.exe)and one in its own folder (Ayahtzee).
This is as far as I have been able to get. Once again I am using WinXP Pro....

c:\Documents & Settings\Normande>CD\

C:\>CD\mymusi~1
c:\>MYMUSIC>dir

Volume in Drive C has no label.

Volume Serial Number is F8A7-D60B

Directory of C:\mymusi~1

04/26/2000 06:22 PM 1,164,800 Armadillo.exe

03:47 PM Ayahtzee

1 file(s) 1, 164,800 Bytes
3 dir(s) 11,599,425,536 Bytes free

C:\MYMUSI~1>

Well this is where I am right now. I haven't got the slightest idea of where the above dates/times came from. I am trying to figure out what I can do with the above.

Count..

Finally! LOL I think I have accomplished my mission. I have managed to open all folders on my computer in the Safe Mode in what I refer to as DOS. I would like to learn how to Print something from a folder though. When I type PRINT it tells me that it can't find PRIN. WinXP seems to require different DOS commands than Win98. Oh well, thats another problem area to solve. But in the meantime I want to thank you for all the assistance. I'll be returning to this forum with more questions directly I'm sure. Thanks again Count.

Normande

Normande,

I know I said the day before yesterday I would be around the next day in both forums, due to fatigue I wasn't. Sorry.

In response to your response #9, it lookes fine to me:
The date/time comes from when the file is originaly created, 04/26/2000 06:22 PM. (Armadillo.exe)

The other date is the creation date of the folder, 03:47 PM. (Ayahtzee)

1 file(s) 1, 164,800 Bytes
Number of and size of the files in the current folder.
3 dir(s) 11,599,425,536 Bytes free
Total number of folders from the root folder down to where you where, and the total amount of free diskspace.

I am trying to figure out what I can do with the above.
That depends.... if a DOS program you could run the executable, by typing in the with or without extention.
You can copy/move files from that location to a other location. You can delete/rename the file. You can change the attributes (properties). You can print directory (folder) listings.

In response to response#10:
Congratulations!!! ;-)

I would like to learn how to Print something from a folder though.
Try this one:
dir /w /o /p > LPT1:[Enter]key
You'll notice the command is much the same as when displaying, is printing, on screen.
The only difference is you now redirect the out put to LPT1:
LPT1 is the port on the backside of your system where the printer is connected to.

N.B.The above command only works, I think, if your using a so called LPT-printer and not a USB-printer.

Best of luck!

Post back I'll be around.

The Count

Count,

I have all my friends email addresses in a folder in My Music which is listed under C:\ and I can access them with no trouble at all. But I cannot print them out no matter what I do. It looks like this:

C:\>MYMUSI~1\EmailAddresses.txt

Opens the file perfectly. While the file is being displayed I try to select PRINT in the top left hand corner. It ask if I want to install a printer, I say YES. It says it can't be done. I start over again.

C:\>MYMUSI~1/DIR/W/O/P/>LPT1/EmailAddresses.txt

Nothing.....And I have tried every combination of the above I can think of with no luck.

I SHALL RETURN !

Normande

And I have tried every combination

Normande,

Opens the file perfectly
How? With what program?

Try these first, if showed on screen,
type EmailA~.txt[Enter]key
or
type EmailAddresses.txt[Enter]key

if either one shows on screen proceed with
type EmailA~.txt > LPT1:[Enter]key
or
type EmailAddresses.txt > LPT1:[Enter]key
or
type EmailA~.txt > prn[Enter]key
or
type EmailAddresses.txt > prn[Enter]key

Best of luck!

I'll be back, hopefully tomorrow.

Greetz,
The Count (January 8th, 02:29 hours)

Count...

I'm way ahead of you on this one Count. I have tried every combination of your example that can possibly be thought of. I have been doing a lot of investigating along these lines concerning printing from WinXP Pro Safe Mode and no one I have found seems to know how to do it or if it can be done even. But in the mean time, thank you for the suggestions. I'm still trying.

Normande

Well Count, I think I have the answer. The following is from a friend of mine:

"There are no printer drivers loaded in Safe Mode. That is the whole idea of Safe Mode, to run Windows with a minimum of drivers too allow trouble shooting of hardware conflicts. XP does not have true DOS underpinnings like W9X."

So I guess that is the end of my excursion into the unknown depths of the Safe Mode. But it was entertaining and that is what computers is all about.

Thank you for your support Count. Appreciate it very much.

Normande

Normande,

Your friend could be right, as mentioned earlier I've no expierence yet with WinXP.

Never the less I find it a bit strange that it wouldn't be possible to print directly to the hardware port (LPT1:).
Printing in DOS usaully doesn't require printer drivers, some (old) third party programs, like WordPerfect, DBASE, Lotus-123 etc. needed printer drivers to print properly.

It's my pleasure!

Greetz,
The Count