I am expecting to get my new motherboard (ASUS) via mail tommorrow and wanna make sure I'm ready for everything...I'll probably try installing it under windows and keep my HD data instead of total format and fresh install on xp since i did so just about 3 weeks ago...If I can get away with it...I'll do it that way...

Just in case, I'd like to be able to access DOS to type commands at startup...I just dont know how to with an xp system...I'm very experienced with older stuff aka win98 and so on....

I can't find a straight forward way of creating a bootdisk for xp systems... :|

went to bootdisk.com and found it but they want money or something...

This should be FREE :-o...SOMEWHERE! or should I even bother....

Is there just something I can throw on a floppy disk to make it jump into command line at startup

currently my dvd drives are the primary 1st boot device...I should change it to be the floppy A dirve...no?

:-DANY HELP WILL BE REWARDED! THANKS!

What sort of things would you want to do from the DOS prompt... If it is simply to be able to start the setup process then did you know you can boot off your Windows XP CD?

EDIT -- Otherwise go to this link - http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

You should see "XP Quick Boot Diskette", you can download files + a readme

I wanna get into command cuz you can do almost ANYTHING you want...

Its just the easy way out...

If i NEED to, i will do a fresh winxp install on a extra 40gb Hard Drive i have...but it has linspire five-o on it right now...so i will have to wipe it clean before i do a winxp install...so i figure, i will just boot to command and do c:\format to wipe it CLEAN, then do a INSTALL of xp ...ONLY if i NEED to...

im hoping to just plug every in...using my 2 exsisting hard drives (80gb+160gb) and have it boot to xp without errors...

the 40gb extra hd is just in case that doesnt work.. :-D



Great site! fast replys as usual! :

about the bootdisk.com thang...

I dont have 6 or 7 floppys to use...whatever happened to being able to use 1 disk...whats up with that!~ :x

There HAS TO be a way I can get into command line at startup using a batch file...or copying/editing certain files and throwing them onto a single floppy...

boot.ini?? cmd.exe??? i dont know! :banghead:

I dont feel like trying to find a place that still sells those floppys anyways! : Isnt there a simple solution here folks?? like...copy this file(s) to a disk and it will boot to command line when you start up

i cant even imagine why i would need 6 disks just to get into command line! THATS CRAZY TALK!

Depending on what you want to do in the command prompt you can always boot off a windows 98 boot disk, The only problem you will face is if you formatted your hard drive with NTFS.. then you won't be able to do much.

The other thing that you need to think about is, you will be putting this hard drive into a computer with a different motherboard. This can sometimes be an issue because it needs to replace all drivers e.t.c
It is normally a good idea to install a fresh copy of windows while being connected to the correct motherboard.

Anyone else have any ideas? ::idea::

I will be doing what i have always done

once the bootdisk takes me to command line...

c:\format

are you sure?? blah blah blah??

YES....then wait about 5-10mins

then reboot with XP install disk in the dvd drive...then its down hill from there

so I CAN use win98 disk???really???? I figured that...but yeah

I guess I might as well do a fresh install of everything... :cry: GOODBYE Programs I dont have disks for that I love to use.....

couldn't I install mobo,
with only ESSENTIAL harware in the board....
boot into xp....
install cd drivers for mobo,
then reboot,
and re-install the 'hardware' such as video card, sound card, and network card

Theory=It should work like that...i would assume?? right???

If not...

boot off bootdisk (ver win98)...
command line: format...
reboot
install winxp
install mobo dirvers...
install other hardware drivers...


:evil:....I just HATE doing a wipe-out of my programs I no longer have disks for and what not...