Restart in MS-DOS Mode, rather moody...

Appreciate some assistance.

Going to Start>Shutdown>Restart in MS-DOS Mode just produces a black screen, no cursor, absolutely nothing. Have not used the option for a while, but it used to work.

Tried renaming Dosstart.bat, nothing changed.
Tried deleting Dosstart.bat, still cannot Restart in MS-DOS mode.
Tried Specifying a new MS-DOS Configuration in the "˜Exit to DOS.pif’ file, but that does not really "˜fix’ the problem.
Also deleted the Exit to Dos.pif file, but no joy. Still cannot use the Restart in MS-DOS Mode option.

Realize the option: 'Enable StartUp Menu' is available in MSConfig, and that tapping F8 brings the PC to the StartUp/Boot Menu, is also available, but rather fix the problem.

Any ideas on how to get: Start>Shutdown>Restart in MS-DOS to work again??

Thanks for the help.

Running W98SE w/448MB RAM

 

Hi FZWG,
I've had this one too. It's a mysterious busines with an unexpected answer ... assuming you have the same background
problem that I had.
The PC DOES boot to DOS but you cannot see the prompt.
The screen is black but "active ". If you type a command, it works but you cannot see the results.
You need to search around for a set of video drivers for your card
(maybe older ones) that are compatible / work with DOS mode AND Windows.
If I use the layest Nvidia drivers I have the same problem as you.
If I go back to the drivers that came with the card, or even older ones - problem solved ...
Good luck, regards

 

If merlin's suggestion does not apply then this may be connected to a shutdown problem.

Do you have any shutdown problems?

And does your computer power down or go to the "It is now safe to turn off" screen?

Additionally a program in memeory that will not release can do this. Any unusual programs in startup?

Try the following cleanups:

Configure CleanMgr to max settings
Go to Start-Run and type

cleanmgr /sageset:1
The above need only be ran once (these settings will be remembered as the default until another sageset is ran).

It will present a menu select all except compress, then

Go to Start-Run and type

cleanmgr /sagerun:1
As long as /sageset above has been ran on this computer from now on the /sagerun is the only thing that needs to run.
____________________________________________

Cleanups
These are for 95 98 ME only!

Boot to DOS (not shutdown to DOS). While booting hit F8 to startup menu. Chose "command prompt only ".

Type these commands exactly hit enter at the end (do not type the notes that are in parenthesis like this).

del c:\*.swp (may get file not found, is ok)
del c:\windows\*.swp
deltree c:\windows\shelli*.*
deltree c:\windows\temp\*.* (answer yes to all) "ALL "
deltree c:\windows\tempor~1\*.*
deltree c:\windows\history\*.*
deltree c:\windows\spool\printers\*.*

Mike

 

Thanks for the replies, merlin and mflynn.

Will check things out along the lines you suggested and see how it goes.


Have a good Easter!

 

Update:

Got the Restart to MS-DOS option of the Shutdown menu to work by doing the following:

-Start>Find>Files or Folders for: Exitto
-The: Exit to DOS.pif file appeared (located in C:\WINDOWS)
-Right clicked file, selected Properties, and then selected the Program tab
-Clicked the Advanced button
-In Advanced Program Settings, selected: MS-DOS Mode, and: Specify a new MS-DOS Configuration

Restarted in MS-DOS Mode, and after going through the boot process, showing the listing of PCI Devices, Verifying DMI Pool data, etc, the following show up: W98 is now starting your MS-DOS based program, and the C:\WINDOWS> prompt.

The process is not as 'direct' as it was before making changes to the Exit to DOS.pif file (don't recall going through all the boot process previously), but it does get you there.

Thanks for all the help.