Windows 95 won't boot into dos prompt
pete shaw
My Windows 95 installation seems to be working properly, except for this
one
problem. I cannot Shutdown and restart into MS-Dos mode. Whenever I
try this
windows shuts down, and then goes to a black screen with a text message
saying
"You may now turn off your computer. Or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete" to
reboot.
Other than this it seems to run pretty normally. I have searched the
knowledgebase to know avail! Does anyone know how to go about changing
the
DOS settings?
Thanks
--Pete Shaw
Bill Watt Sr
<pete...@patriot.net> wrote:
:Help!
When you re-start in Dos mode Windows uses the Dosstart.bat file
in the windows directory. It usually only contains the mouse and
CD drivers. Take a look at it, or maybe it's missing.
If it's missing or corrupt try creating one with Notepad.
Here's mine, your lines will be somewhat different. You can get
them from your autoexec.bat and config.sys files.
______________________________
REM Dosstart.bat
pause
C:\MSINPUT\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
DEVICE=C:\CDPRO\VIDE-CDD.SYS /D:MSCD001
c:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX /D:MSCD001 /V
_____________________________________
The first two lines are to let you know the file is being used,
if it works remove the two lines. Your autoexec.bat and
config.sys files are also used, look at them if you have them.
Other than that make sure you have Command.com in the Windows
directory. Entering EXIT from this DOS will re-boot the machine
and entering WIN will re-start Windows.
If you still have the problem post back here. The same thing can
be accomplished with a shortcut but you should have this working
as it should.
Regards,
Bill Watt Sr. bw...@epix.net http://home.epix.net/~bwatt/
will...@megsinet.net
wrote:
>Help!
>
>My Windows 95 installation seems to be working properly, except for this
>one
>problem. I cannot Shutdown and restart into MS-Dos mode. Whenever I
>try this
>windows shuts down, and then goes to a black screen with a text message
>saying
>"You may now turn off your computer. Or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete" to
>reboot.
>
>Other than this it seems to run pretty normally. I have searched the
>knowledgebase to know avail! Does anyone know how to go about changing
>the
>DOS settings?
>
>Thanks
>--Pete Shaw
Well I had the same type of problem, It turned out to be that hard
drive had a physical failure at the very end of hard drive. the only
correction was to format the hard drive and have that sector
identified as being unusable. Hope this helps.
David B.
dosstart.bat, it is for running commands that would normally be
placed in the autoexec.bat only.
--
David
<<If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.>>
____________________________________________________
Bill Watt Sr wrote in message <3668cb2...@news.epix.net>...
>On Fri, 04 Dec 1998 22:00:21 -0500, pete shaw
><pete...@patriot.net> wrote:
>
>:Help!
>:
>:My Windows 95 installation seems to be working properly, except for this
>:one
>:problem. I cannot Shutdown and restart into MS-Dos mode. Whenever I
>:try this
>:windows shuts down, and then goes to a black screen with a text message
>:saying
>:"You may now turn off your computer. Or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete" to
>:reboot.
>:
>:Other than this it seems to run pretty normally. I have searched the
>:knowledgebase to know avail! Does anyone know how to go about changing
>:the
>:DOS settings?
>:
>:Thanks
>:--Pete Shaw
>
Bill Watt Sr
<dav...@nh.ultranet.com> wrote:
:Actually you don't want to put any entries from the config.sys into
:dosstart.bat, it is for running commands that would normally be
:placed in the autoexec.bat only.
Windows set up dosstart.bat. The Device= line comes from the
config.sys file and it installs the CDRom driver.
Technocrat
I don't see how you are able to load the cdrom device driver from within a
batch file. Don't you need CTLOAD or something similar? see below...You also
don't need dosstart.bat to get to the dos prompt. The fact it isn't there
doesn't mean the machine will be unable to get to a dos prompt. Something
else is happening. Often the culprit is an antivirus program or some other
program that mucks around as windows closes, or a setting in the "Exit to
DOS" pif. In my experience, typing"exit" from a DOS prompt should take you
back to windows, not "win". Also, I can't tell if this person is trying to
get to a Dos prompt, or exit to DOS Mode.
Bill Watt Sr wrote in message <3668cb2...@news.epix.net>...
>
>Here's mine, your lines will be somewhat different. You can get
>them from your autoexec.bat and config.sys files.
>______________________________
>REM Dosstart.bat
>pause
>C:\MSINPUT\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
>DEVICE=C:\CDPRO\VIDE-CDD.SYS /D:MSCD001
I would bet this line (above) isn't loading via dosstart.bat...It may
already be loaded from config.sys, but it won't load here without a helper
program for loading device drivers via a batch file...
>c:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX /D:MSCD001 /V
>_____________________________________
>
>The first two lines are to let you know the file is being used,
>if it works remove the two lines. Your autoexec.bat and
>config.sys files are also used, look at them if you have them.
>Other than that make sure you have Command.com in the Windows
>directory. Entering EXIT from this DOS will re-boot the machine
>and entering WIN will re-start Windows.
>
>If you still have the problem post back here. The same thing can
>be accomplished with a shortcut but you should have this working
>as it should.
>
cqu...@iafrica.com
<wne...@lhm.geo-centers.com> wrote:
>Bill Watt Sr wrote in message <3668cb2...@news.epix.net>...
>>Here's mine, your lines will be somewhat different. You can get
>>them from your autoexec.bat and config.sys files.
>>REM Dosstart.bat
>>pause
>>C:\MSINPUT\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
>>DEVICE=C:\CDPRO\VIDE-CDD.SYS /D:MSCD001
>>c:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX /D:MSCD001 /V
>I don't see how you are able to load the cdrom device driver from within a
>batch file. Don't you need CTLOAD or something similar?
Yes; batch files are interpreted by Command.com, and by that stage DOS
cannot load device drivers designed to be loaded by IO.sys - CTLoad
will do that, but not for all of them (e.g. no Emm386.exe etc.)
And load 'em high, fergawdsakes!
>>The first two lines are to let you know the file is being used,
>>if it works remove the two lines. Your autoexec.bat and
>>config.sys files are also used, look at them if you have them.
<sigh>
Assuming you are trying to get into exclusive DOS mode via Shutdown,
Restart In MS-DOS Mode, it all hinges on a setting within "Exit to
DOS.pif" (Properties, Program, Advanced):
1) "Use with current..."
- Same Config.sys used for both GUI and DOS modes
- Same AutoExec.bat used for both GUI and DOS modes
- DOSStart.bat is run when entering DOS mode
- If you reset in DOS mode, next boot runs the GUI again
To use the CD-ROM in DOS mode, you'd have to either use CTLoad to load
the .sys driver from DOSStart.bat, or have it under both GUI and DOS
modes by loading it in Config.sys; MSCDEx can be loaded in
DOSStart.bat - but you can't optimise both GUI and DOS modes with this
method, and I strongly recommend you ditch this MS default setting.
2) "Specify a new..."
- Private .pif Config.sys used for DOS mode
- Private .pif AutoExec.bat used for DOS mode
- System reboots to put these files into effect
- DOSStart.bat is not run at all
- If you reset in DOS mode, next boot runs the .pif again
This is a *much* better bet, because you can set up Emm386, CD-ROM
drivers, etc. to taste in the .pif's private startup files without
poisoning the GUI startup.
>>Entering EXIT from this DOS will re-boot the machine
Yup
>>and entering WIN will re-start Windows.
Bad idea, as it will run it on top of the DOS mode configuration, and
may screw up the return from the .pif that spawned the session.
>Also, I can't tell if this person is trying to get to a Dos prompt,
>or exit to DOS Mode.
Yup. Thanks to Internet Africa's useless news service, the posts this
is following up is not available. If all he wants is a DOS prompt
within the GUI, just find a Command.com of the correct version and
bang on it. Might want to set properties *not* to run in DOS mode
first, and you can use DOSKey as the "batch file" (NT should be so
lucky, they will have to teach it some tricks before Win2000)
>>If you still have the problem post back here. The same thing can
>>be accomplished with a shortcut but you should have this working
>>as it should.
Shortcuts outside of menus are a bad idea for DOS mode .pifs set to
"Specify a new..." as they are prone to double-launch problems.
Rather stick to menu shortcuts and "Exit to DOS.pif" via the shutdown
menu; these vanish after they are clicked so that you can't click them
again and get "stranded in DOS mode".
Bill Watt Sr
:On Mon, 7 Dec 1998 16:11:56 -0500, "Technocrat"
:<wne...@lhm.geo-centers.com> wrote:
:
:>Bill Watt Sr wrote in message <3668cb2...@news.epix.net>...
Let me try to clear this up.
I quoted the original message in my post. Here it is again for
those who don't see it. I replied to Pete Shaw's message.
_______________________begin quote____________________________
On Fri, 04 Dec 1998 22:00:21 -0500, pete shaw
<pete...@patriot.net> wrote:
:Help!
:
:My Windows 95 installation seems to be working properly, except for this
:one
:problem. I cannot Shutdown and restart into MS-Dos mode. Whenever I
:try this
:windows shuts down, and then goes to a black screen with a text message
:saying
:"You may now turn off your computer. Or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete" to
:reboot.
:
:Other than this it seems to run pretty normally. I have searched the
:knowledgebase to know avail! Does anyone know how to go about changing
:the
:DOS settings?
:
:Thanks
:--Pete Shaw
_________________________________end quote______________________
I suggested he check out Dosstart.bat which is used when Shutting
down and restarting in MS-Dos mode. In case it was missing I
supplied mine which was created by Windows, not me. I added the
first two lines so Pete could determine if the file was found and
used in this mode. I thought it was possible something in that
file could cause the blue screen. Or, perhaps Command.com could
not be found.
I don't use that mode. I created a Dos Shortcut to command.com,
right clicked it and selected "specify a new Dos.." with entries
in the Autoexec and Config sections. This is what I referred to
when I said a shortcut could also be used.
That's all there is to it, my system is working fine. Pete needs
some help, not me (at least not right now) :-)
will...@megsinet.net has offered a suggestion for Pete, are
there any more?
cqu...@iafrica.com
>:On Mon, 7 Dec 1998 16:11:56 -0500, "Technocrat"
>I quoted the original message in my post. Here it is again for
>those who don't see it. I replied to Pete Shaw's message.
Aha! Now that's one I haven't seen yet.
>On Fri, 04 Dec 1998 22:00:21 -0500, pete shaw
>:My Windows 95 installation seems to be working properly, except for this
>:problem. I cannot Shutdown and restart into MS-Dos mode. Whenever I
>:try this windows shuts down, and then goes to a black screen with a text
>:message saying "You may now turn off your computer. Or press
>:Ctrl-Alt-Delete" to reboot.
OK, now I'm back on track ;-)
It sounds as if he is running "Exit to DOS.pif", and this is putting
up that messge somehow (the wording isn't anything I've ever seen in
straight Windows).
If the system boots into Windows after the invitation to switch off is
taken, then it's "Use with current..." and it's prolly a DOSStart.bat
set up to deny access to DOS mode, something like this:
@Echo Off
Echo Berate and scold user for trying to run DOS mode
Run something here that locks up
Now, line 3 could be something like...
:Death
GoTo Death
...so it's worth trying this on this screen:
Ctrl-C
Mode Co80 <enter>
If you are alive and kicking, do this:
Mem /C/P
Look for WIN or vmm32 in that list; they won't be there if this is a
true "Specify a new..." DOS mode, but will be if it's "Use with
current..." (and switching off in that mode is a bad idea IMO)
>I suggested he check out Dosstart.bat which is used when Shutting
>down and restarting in MS-Dos mode. In case it was missing I
>supplied mine which was created by Windows, not me.
heh ;-)
>I thought it was possible something in that
>file could cause the blue screen.
Blue screen? His post referred to a black screen, which I asssumed
was DOS text mode, else he'd see the same one on shutdown if it was a
changed shutdown bitmap.
Was there more to his post about BSOD errrorrrs?
>Or, perhaps Command.com could not be found.
That could be interesting. Next time I build, I'll try and reproduce
that situation and see what happens, but I suspect he'd get a "Take me
to your command interpreter" C> prompt from IO.sys if so.
>I don't use that mode. I created a Dos Shortcut to command.com,
>right clicked it and selected "specify a new Dos.." with entries
>in the Autoexec and Config sections. This is what I referred to
>when I said a shortcut could also be used.
That's prolly where I chimed in saying I preferred meu entries or
"Exit to DOS.pif" because of the double-launch risk :-)
>That's all there is to it, my system is working fine. Pete needs
>some help, not me (at least not right now) :-)
Did I mail you as well as post? Sorry, if so... if I mail, it's
person-directed FYI that missed, but when I post to ng it's just
talking to the wall, not to the last poster, as all read it.
>will...@megsinet.net has offered a suggestion for Pete, are
>there any more?
Now that I know what Pete was on about, hopefully he'll find my post
more useful. A leaky news service is a terrible thing... 8-Q
Bill Watt Sr
:On Mon, 07 Dec 1998 22:48:06 -0500, bw...@epix.net (Bill Watt Sr)
:>On Mon, 07 Dec 1998 23:51:25 GMT, cqu...@iafrica.com wrote:
:>:On Mon, 7 Dec 1998 16:11:56 -0500, "Technocrat"
:>:>Bill Watt Sr wrote in message <3668cb2...@news.epix.net>...
:
:>I quoted the original message in my post. Here it is again for
:>those who don't see it. I replied to Pete Shaw's message.
:
:Aha! Now that's one I haven't seen yet.
:
________________________________________________________________
:>On Fri, 04 Dec 1998 22:00:21 -0500, pete shaw
:
:>:My Windows 95 installation seems to be working properly, except for this
:>:problem. I cannot Shutdown and restart into MS-Dos mode. Whenever I
:>:try this windows shuts down, and then goes to a black screen with a text
:>:message saying "You may now turn off your computer. Or press
:>:Ctrl-Alt-Delete" to reboot.
__________________________________________________________________
:OK, now I'm back on track ;-)
No, I quoted the entire post.
:>Or, perhaps Command.com could not be found.
:
:That could be interesting. Next time I build, I'll try and reproduce
:that situation and see what happens, but I suspect he'd get a "Take me
:to your command interpreter" C> prompt from IO.sys if so.
:
:>I don't use that mode. I created a Dos Shortcut to command.com,
:>right clicked it and selected "specify a new Dos.." with entries
:>in the Autoexec and Config sections. This is what I referred to
:>when I said a shortcut could also be used.
:
:That's prolly where I chimed in saying I preferred meu entries or
:"Exit to DOS.pif" because of the double-launch risk :-)
:
:>That's all there is to it, my system is working fine. Pete needs
:>some help, not me (at least not right now) :-)
:
:Did I mail you as well as post? Sorry, if so... if I mail, it's
:person-directed FYI that missed, but when I post to ng it's just
:talking to the wall, not to the last poster, as all read it.
Received no e-mail from you but would welcome it anytime.
:>will...@megsinet.net has offered a suggestion for Pete, are
:>there any more?
:
:Now that I know what Pete was on about, hopefully he'll find my post
:more useful. A leaky news service is a terrible thing... 8-Q
I had that problem with my ISP for a long time, the server was
practically useless.
I'm not snipping anything in this post.