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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stealth on November 17, 2003, 11:23:02 am

Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Stealth on November 17, 2003, 11:23:02 am: yeah, believe it or not, i actually have a problem :doubt: (well actually it's my friend, but i can't figure it out either).

OS: Win98SE

Situation: he tried to run a DOS game, opened it in Windows, it ran fine, but since then when he's tried to reboot it boots in DOS mode.

Problem: every time he reboots it's in DOS mode... goes right to the DOS prompt, and when you type in to load Windows it show the Windows 98 screen, then reboots itself. i can start it up in Safe mode (by pressing F8 at reboot) but i can't see anything wrong with the settings and bootup sequence! Why does it keep booting in DOS though :( :sigh: any ideas before i just type in "format c: \s" at the next DOS bootup? :D
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: kasperl on November 17, 2003, 12:06:09 pm: try looking in the autexec.bat and stuff like that. it might contain some "fun" stuff.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Triple Ace on November 17, 2003, 12:09:15 pm: Dos games and Windows don't always work well together.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: kasperl on November 17, 2003, 12:12:32 pm: duh.

DOS and linux ain't that bad though
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: vyper on November 17, 2003, 12:18:13 pm: I'd have said some gibberish about the boot sector until I read that windows was rebooting when launched.... um... reinstall without format?
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Stealth on November 17, 2003, 03:22:09 pm: Kasperl: yeah, that's one of the first things i checked, but usually that's just options on what windows should do once it's started... i can't even get Windows to start :p :D (automatically that is)

i'm out of ideas... i was hoping i wouldn't have to reinstall/format :(
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Drew on November 17, 2003, 03:54:19 pm: does your freind have the win 98 cd? try booting from that...

just a guess, try hitting F1 (or F5 or F8 whatever) to open the System setup (i beleive its the BIOS /Cmos settings) and fiddle with the boot settings in there :confused:
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Falcon on November 17, 2003, 04:05:48 pm: hmmm happend to me to, reinstalling windows works for me.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: vyper on November 17, 2003, 05:02:46 pm: I've said it once, I'll say it again - just reinstall, no format.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: an0n on November 17, 2003, 05:21:46 pm: It's yer autoexec.bat.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: IceFire on November 17, 2003, 06:00:39 pm: Quote
Originally posted by vyper
I've said it once, I'll say it again - just reinstall, no format.

Doesn't always work....usually screws stuff up worse than before in all but the rarest of cases and in the long term its probably going to be slower and less stable than before. A good wiping out is good...on the other hand, a slower less stable Windows is still probably good enough to get your critical docs backed up so you can do the proper reformat.

NOTE: You cannot boot off Windows 98 CD's - none that I've ever encountered.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Liberator on November 17, 2003, 08:10:18 pm: Rename autoexec.bat to autoexec.bak and see if it will boot normally.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Stealth on November 17, 2003, 08:12:48 pm: an0n and kasperl: i thought about the Autoexec.bat, and checked it, but that doesn't tell what the computer should boot... (what OS, etc.), but thanks for the recommendation though :)

vyper: I know, reinstalling will ultimately fix the problem, so it's a good idea you gave me, and i appreciate it :) thanks :)

Drew: yeah, but also if you think about it, there's nothing in the BIOS/CMOS/system setup as a whole that tells the computer what to load up on the hard drive, only thing the "system setup" is is mainly hardware. i don't know what makes the OS load, i've never heard of it not loading automatically... it's puzzling

EDIT: Liberator: Thanks man, i'll try that when i go to his house later this evening
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: an0n on November 17, 2003, 08:53:59 pm: ............I'm not even gonna bother.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Stealth on November 17, 2003, 10:02:45 pm: Quote
............I'm not even gonna bother.

yeah, don't. i figured it out by the way, and it wasn't the Autoexec.bat or anything to do with it... but thanks for trying an0n. remember my computer skills are vastly superior to yours ;) :nod:

Thanks for the help everyone :) it's appreciated
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: an0n on November 17, 2003, 10:29:05 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Stealth
remember my computer skills are vastly superior to yours ;) :nod:
Yeah, they are. :lol:
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Kamikaze on November 17, 2003, 10:59:04 pm: *choke* :lol:

Evil fiends, you're going to make me spill my tea! :p
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: an0n on November 17, 2003, 11:12:07 pm: *is beginning to appreciate the usefulness of smileys*
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Stealth on November 18, 2003, 06:50:12 am: haha it's so easy...so, so easy:drevil:
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: Liberator on November 18, 2003, 09:12:26 am: So, what was wrong with it?
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: diamondgeezer on November 18, 2003, 09:57:09 am: Mice, I'll wager
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: kasperl on November 18, 2003, 10:44:21 am: you could use knoppix to safe your stuff, and then do the full circus. if you don't like DOS, you can use knoppix for browsing and edtting stuff.

and stealth, you said the autoexec.bat was fine, renaming it won't help you if it is. do check win.ini and the others too.
Title: Computer problem: Booting DOS
Post by: vyper on November 18, 2003, 11:08:30 am: So seriously what was it?