 | Document ID:199671915240
Last Modified:02/13/2002 |
How to get to DOS to resolve Norton Utilities problems
Situation:
Many documents in this knowledge base include instructions that you must complete from a DOS prompt instead of within Windows. In these cases, the way you normally get to a DOS prompt may not work. This document lists some methods you can use and when these methods are likely to be applicable.
Solution:
How you boot (start) your computer determines which mode you are in. Some common modes and how to recognize them:
- Non-DOS modes:
- Normal Mode. With this, you see the usual Windows desktop. This displays a Taskbar (with a Start button) and desktop icons such as My Computer.
- Safe Mode. This looks similar to the Windows desktop, but the video colors may be different, and on startup you see messages telling you that you are in Safe Mode.
- DOSShell. Notice that there is no space between DOS and Shell. This is a program for doing file management, like an non-graphical version of the Windows Explorer, and not a mode of operation. It is not a DOS environment, and is not called "booting to DOS", "exiting to DOS", or "shelling to DOS".
- DOS modes:
- Safe Mode Command Prompt. This is one way to be in a DOS environment. In any DOS environment, you see a command prompt, such as: C:\>
- MS-DOS Mode. This is a DOS environment, often described as "booted to DOS", "exited to DOS", or "booted from diskette." This is described in the section titled "Booting to DOS."
- DOS Shell. This is a DOS environment, in which Windows is running in the background. Getting to a DOS environment in this way is called "shelling to DOS". This is described in the section titled "Shelling out to DOS." You can verify that you are in a DOS Shell and that Windows is running in the background by pressing Alt+Tab. If a window displays icons of other applications that are running, you still have Windows running.
Booting to DOS
Do one of the following to reboot into DOS or to boot from a boot disk:
NOTE: Steps 1 and 2 do not apply to Windows Me.
- To reboot to DOS, follow these steps:
- Shut down the computer. Wait 30 seconds. Then turn it on.
- Follow the instructions appropriate to your version of Windows:
Windows 95: When you see the message "Starting Windows 95...," press F8. This displays the Windows 95 Startup Menu.
Windows 98: When you see the message "Starting Windows 98...," press and hold the Ctrl key. This displays the Windows 98 Startup Menu.
- At the Windows Startup Menu, choose the "Command Prompt Only" or "Safe Mode Command Prompt Only" option. This will get you to MS-DOS Mode.
- To exit to DOS, click the Start button, then click Shut Down. Choose "Restart in MS-DOS Mode", then click Yes.
- To boot from diskette, locate a bootable system disk (also called a boot disk) and follow these steps:
- Shut down the computer. Wait 30 seconds. Then turn it on.
- Insert the bootable diskette in the drive and turn on the computer.
NOTE: Some older computers with large hard drives (over 500 MB) use what is known as a Dynamic Drive Overlay. Normally, with such drives, or with some boot managers, you are instructed to press a certain key before booting from a floppy. Follow the instructions specific to your computer.
If you cannot get into Windows because it displays an error message or stops responding sometime after you see the Windows blue sky screen, to get to a DOS prompt, boot to DOS as in items 1 and 3. If you wish to try to resolve the problem by doing a clean boot, then at the Windows Start Menu, choose Safe Mode (not Safe Mode Command Prompt). Then do the steps for a clean boot. Refer to the document appropriate to your Operating System.
Shelling out to DOS
Do one of the following to open a DOS prompt within Windows:
- Click the Start button, point to Programs, then click MS-DOS Prompt.
- Click the Start button, then click Run. Type COMMAND.COM, then click OK.
If you can get into Windows, but whenever you try to run a DOS application or get to a DOS prompt, you see an error message or your system hangs. This is often caused by a memory conflict in the system, frequently from video driver problems, and may be resolved by a clean boot. Refer to the document appropriate to your Operating System.
Translations of this Document:
Given the time needed to translate documents into other languages, the translated versions of this document may vary in content if the English document was updated with new information during the translation process. The English document always contains the most up-to-date information.
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Product(s): Norton Utilities 2000 v4.5 - Win95/98, Norton Utilities 2001 v5.0 - Win9x/Me
Operating System(s): DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me
Date Created: 07/19/1996