How to start win98se in dos

[MrBeef]

I am wondering how i can get my comp to always start in MS-DOS mode

[Mike]

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:
[pre]rem win.com[/pre]
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:
[pre]GUI=0[/pre]
But I'm afraid I can't remember where that setting is at the moment

Mike.

[Wilky]

Why would you WANT to start in DOS? ?:|

[Peter H]

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

[Robin S_]

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.

[Elephant]

> 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.

[Terry Porritt]

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.

[Elephant]

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.

[Wilky]

> 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!

[mikebartnz]

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.