I have a computer running Win 2000. To run certain programs I need to boot it up into DOS and I have a DOS Boot-up disc. Of course it only allows me to boot up into the A:/ drive. I understand that.
My question is this:- What is the difference between booting up using the DOS boot-up disc and re-formatting the HD and installing, say, DOS 6.22. Some of my old DOS-based programs will run on an old computer that has DOS 6.22 installed as the operating system. Indeed they will also run on other computers using Win 95 or 98 where there is, I believe, a true underlying DOS system. So what am I losing by booting up my Win 2000 computer using the DOS bootup disc?
All comments welcome

Will the games not work by using the dos prompt within Windows? There are a ton of emulators out there for Win2k to run dos games properly.

Hey jdp!
Welcome to PC Helpforum!

I'm afraid I don't completely understand your question.
I'll try to give it my best shot to help you.

DOS was the operating system almost everybody was using before Microsft introduced Windows.
It's in fact no longer used, but there's a version of DOS built-in to every Windows computer.

Can you please redefine exactly what you want to know. Do you want to make your system run on DOS?

By the way, I've moved you thread to the Windows XP thread.
I understand you placed the thread here as it says 2000, but Windows 2000 issues are in the same category as Windows XP issues.

Many thanks for you understanding,

Blue

Ok, Lets clear something up before there is any confusion. When Microsoft came out with Windows 2000 and XP, DOS as an OS was killed. I just went through a Survey of Operating Systems class (required for degree in information systems security) and in the text book it states that DOS is dead. Both of these OS's are backward compatible, meaning that programs that are made for say DOS can be run on 2000 and XP, because they have a DOS emulator built in. As far as the question at hand, I do not understand it either.

Yup, I am fully aware of the Dos situation...although I still don't understand why you can't emulate it from the OS..

Hengis,

It can be emulated through the OS. I have done it numerous times, but for this situation, I do not understand why that was not done. I mean I can guess but I am not going to.

JDP,

Exactly why are you booting up into DOS? Windows 2000 has a DOS emulator in it. It is called the command prompt and should work for the programs you are trying to run. Hope to hear from you soon.

There's also software called DOSbox, this is great software I use it to play some old games.
It can be found here:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1