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Thread ID: 40142 2003-11-29 02:46:00 How to start win98se in dos MrBeef (342) Press F1
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195665 2003-11-29 02:46:00 I am wondering how i can get my comp to always start in MS-DOS mode MrBeef (342)
195666 2003-11-29 02:56:00 I think this used to work in Win 95, so you could try this:

edit your autoexec.bat file, and add the following line to the end of the batch file and save it:
rem win.com
If that doesn't work, you could try editing one of the boot settings in '98 that tells it to load the GUI... the setting needs to be something like:
GUI=0
But I'm afraid I can't remember where that setting is at the moment :(

Mike. 		Mike (15)
195667 2003-11-29 03:23:00 Why would you WANT to start in DOS? ?:| Wilky (776)
195668 2003-11-29 03:23:00 Maybe boot from a floopy? Set start up order to floppy first, and leave your boot disc in it. Just idle thoughts. Someone will come up with a better way.
Bye 		Peter H (220)
195669 2003-11-29 03:47:00 You need to edit the msdos.sys file (works for Win 95, presumably 98 also). This file is a text file in spite of the .sys extension. Use Edit or any text editor or Word and save as Text Only. Check in Help, but I think you set BootWin=0 and in this case I think the setting of BootGui is irrelevant - in some circumstances you have to have a particular combinations of settings for BootWin and Bootgui. Robin S_ (86)
195670 2003-11-29 04:16:00 > You need to edit the msdos.sys file (works for Win
> 95, presumably 98 also). This file is a text file in
> spite of the .sys extension. Use Edit or any text
> editor or Word and save as Text Only. Check in Help,
> but I think you set BootWin=0 and in this case I
> think the setting of BootGui is irrelevant - in some
> circumstances you have to have a particular
> combinations of settings for BootWin and Bootgui.

You are correct fairly much as I remember it. Just one thing to do. MSDOS.SYS will be read only, hidden and system. Before you can edit this file you can type in attrib c:\msdos.sys -r -h -s

After editing the file you type in attrib c:\msdos.sys +r +h +s

It's a long time since I ran Win98. 		Elephant (599)
195671 2003-11-29 09:13:00 Some right responses, some not right :) You cant start windows from a boot floppy.

There are valid reasons for starting in dos, Wilky just because you may run XP doesnt mean dos is dead, it is a powerful OS.

Elephant is correct about removing the attributes to msdos.sys to be able to edit it. Then the attributes have to be restored.

This is my msdos.sys:

[Paths]
WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
HostWinBootDrv=C

[Options]
Logo=0
BootMulti=0
BootGUI=0
DoubleBuffer=1
AutoScan=1
WinVer=4.10.2222
;
;The following lines are required for compatibility with other programs.
;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be >1024 bytes).


I have removed all the xxx's in this post, this is just the top part.

Now Bootwin=1 by default so it isnt shown.
You do need BootGUI=0, since this means, combined with BootWin=1, "dont start Windows 98 after starting Dos 7"

I have BootMulti=0 as BootMulti=1 is a bug in both win95 and 98 if you have an OEM Disk. If BootMulti=1 that means you can boot to a previous version of dos, but there isnt a previous dos version in an OEM and inadvertently activating that option from the startup menu causes untold strife!

I havo Logo=0 so that I can see the boot up screen text rather than the MS splash screen.

As mentioned by Mike remove any win command from autoexec.bat, as this calls up win.com from c:\windows.

But to start windows from the dos prompt type win from c:\windows directory ( it depends on your path set in autoexec.bat)

Now if you want to be really fancy & cunning you can write config.sys and autoexec.bat to produce a start up menu giving you the choice to either load dos OR to load windows.

This is my config.sys:

LASTDRIVE=Z
[menu]
menuitem=dos, Start MS-DOS
menuitem=Win98, Start Windows 98
[dos]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM: ON
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS D=128
DOS=UMB,HIGH
BUFFERSHIGH=30,0
FILESHIGH=50
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
[Win98]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM: ON
BUFFERS=40
FILES=99
STACKS=64,512
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS


This is my autoexec.bat:

@ECHO OFF

@C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVG6\bootup.exe
PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\;C:\DOSUTIL; C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVG6;
GOTO %config%

:dos
LH C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE
LH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE
PROMPT $E[35;40;1mTerry's Computer $E[1;33m$P$G$E[37m
SET TEMP=C:\TEMP
LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DOSKEY /INSERT BUFSIZE=1024
SET DIRCMD=/O:GN/L/P
GOTO END

:Win98
PROMPT $E[35;40;1mTerry's Computer $E[1;33m$P$G$E[37m
SET TEMP=C:\TEMP
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DOSKEY /INSERT BUFSIZE=1024
SET DIRCMD=/O:GN/L/P
WIN
:END


So there are separate sections for dos and windows. In config.sys I could have used a 'Common' command instead of repeating identicle lines for dos and windows.

Notice that there is a WIN command at the end of the Win98 section of autoexec.bat that starts Windows. 		Terry Porritt (14)
195672 2003-11-29 09:34:00 Well what a perfect answer.

It's a long time since I had to edit config.sys and autoexec.bat.

I only have the autoexec.bat containing the path statement to unarchivers like PKUnzip for one msdos program I run. Terminate FidoNet Mailer. These packets I recieve are archived with PKZip.

Well done Terry. A very helpful post. 		Elephant (599)
195673 2003-11-29 22:18:00 > There are valid reasons for starting in dos, Wilky
> just because you may run XP doesnt mean dos is dead,
> it is a powerful OS .

Me? Run XP?!! I am OFFENDED .

















Go teh penguin! 		Wilky (776)
195674 2003-11-29 23:40:00 Adding the line rem win.com won't do anything if it isn't already in there.
You need to edit the msdos.sys file either adding a line or altering one but I can't remember what it was.
rem stands for remark and will just remark out a line so it isn't acted on. 		mikebartnz (21)
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