Booting a Windows machine into DOS mode
31/05/2009 08:26 Filed in: FAQ
If you want to run SRM on a Windows machine, you can. However, if you want to use the accurate timing that SRM offers you, it can not be done from withing Windows. SRM does run on Windows, but the timing does not! This is because SRM uses a speedup technique for accurate timing (0,001 second accuracy) that Windows does not allow.
How to get to a MS-DOS prompt / Windows command line on a machine running Windows.
Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 users
It is not possible to boot these versions of Windows in a DOS mode that is usable for SRM's timing routines.
Windows 95, 98, and ME users
For SRM you'll need to restart the computer into MS-DOS. To do this follow the below steps.
1. Click Start
2. Click Shutdown
3. Choose the option to restart the computer into a MS-DOS prompt.
If you are unable to get into Windows 95 or Windows 98 to get into a MS-DOS prompt, follow the below instructions (Windows ME does not have this option).
1. Reboot the computer
2. As the computer is booting, press the F8 key when you hear a beep or when you see "Starting Windows 95" or "Starting Windows 98." Windows 98 users sometimes may find it easier to press and hold the left CTRL key as the computer is booting.
3. If done properly the user should get to a screen similar to the below screen.
Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Menu
=============================
1. Normal
2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
3. Safe mode
4. Step-by-step confirmation
5. Command prompt only
6. Safe mode command prompt only
Enter a choice: 1
F5=Safe Mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8= Step-by-step confirmation [N]
4. Select the option for Safe mode command prompt only.
MS-DOS users
If you are running MS-DOS with no other operating systems, the computer should be booting into a MS-DOS prompt automatically unless you have a shell or other program loading automatically.
If the computer is not getting you to a MS-DOS prompt, reboot the computer and as the computer is booting, press the F5 key when you see the message "Starting MS-DOS" or the MS-DOS version. This will load the default standard MS-DOS.
If you successfully get to a MS-DOS prompt and would like to prevent the computer from loading the program that is preventing you from getting to a MS-DOS prompt, or if you would like to fix possible error messages you may be receiving when booting the computer, edit the autoexec.bat and/or the config.sys files.
Windows 3.x users
If you are running Windows 3.x it is likely that the computer is booting into Windows automatically and bypassing the MS-DOS prompt. If Windows loads successfully into Windows, to exit to a MS-DOS prompt, from Program Manager, click the File menu and then Exit.
If the computer is trying to load into Windows but is encountering errors while it is booting, reboot the computer and press F5 key when you see the message "Starting MS-DOS" or the MS-DOS version. This will load the default standard MS-DOS.
If you do not want Windows 3.x to load automatically into Windows 3.x, you will need to edit the autoexec.bat file and remove the "win" line.
Other operating system users
If you are using another operating system such as OS/2, Linux variants, or Unix variants and you need to get to a MS-DOS prompt, it is recommended that you use a MS-DOS boot diskette unless you are dual booting the computer. Keep in mind that booting from a MS-DOS diskette is not going to allow you to have access to the files used with other operating systems. However, if you're erasing everything and starting over this would allow you to delete all pre-existing information and start over.
How to get to a MS-DOS prompt / Windows command line on a machine running Windows.
Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 users
It is not possible to boot these versions of Windows in a DOS mode that is usable for SRM's timing routines.
Windows 95, 98, and ME users
For SRM you'll need to restart the computer into MS-DOS. To do this follow the below steps.
1. Click Start
2. Click Shutdown
3. Choose the option to restart the computer into a MS-DOS prompt.
If you are unable to get into Windows 95 or Windows 98 to get into a MS-DOS prompt, follow the below instructions (Windows ME does not have this option).
1. Reboot the computer
2. As the computer is booting, press the F8 key when you hear a beep or when you see "Starting Windows 95" or "Starting Windows 98." Windows 98 users sometimes may find it easier to press and hold the left CTRL key as the computer is booting.
3. If done properly the user should get to a screen similar to the below screen.
Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Menu
=============================
1. Normal
2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
3. Safe mode
4. Step-by-step confirmation
5. Command prompt only
6. Safe mode command prompt only
Enter a choice: 1
F5=Safe Mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8= Step-by-step confirmation [N]
4. Select the option for Safe mode command prompt only.
MS-DOS users
If you are running MS-DOS with no other operating systems, the computer should be booting into a MS-DOS prompt automatically unless you have a shell or other program loading automatically.
If the computer is not getting you to a MS-DOS prompt, reboot the computer and as the computer is booting, press the F5 key when you see the message "Starting MS-DOS" or the MS-DOS version. This will load the default standard MS-DOS.
If you successfully get to a MS-DOS prompt and would like to prevent the computer from loading the program that is preventing you from getting to a MS-DOS prompt, or if you would like to fix possible error messages you may be receiving when booting the computer, edit the autoexec.bat and/or the config.sys files.
Windows 3.x users
If you are running Windows 3.x it is likely that the computer is booting into Windows automatically and bypassing the MS-DOS prompt. If Windows loads successfully into Windows, to exit to a MS-DOS prompt, from Program Manager, click the File menu and then Exit.
If the computer is trying to load into Windows but is encountering errors while it is booting, reboot the computer and press F5 key when you see the message "Starting MS-DOS" or the MS-DOS version. This will load the default standard MS-DOS.
If you do not want Windows 3.x to load automatically into Windows 3.x, you will need to edit the autoexec.bat file and remove the "win" line.
Other operating system users
If you are using another operating system such as OS/2, Linux variants, or Unix variants and you need to get to a MS-DOS prompt, it is recommended that you use a MS-DOS boot diskette unless you are dual booting the computer. Keep in mind that booting from a MS-DOS diskette is not going to allow you to have access to the files used with other operating systems. However, if you're erasing everything and starting over this would allow you to delete all pre-existing information and start over.