restarted to msdos won't go back to windows

I clicked on restart in ms dos mode. After doing so, the computer restarted in ms dos mode. I then wanted to go back to windows. I typed cd:\windows and got to the c:\windows. I tried typing win winword windows and could still could not get it to go to windows. I tried typing cd:\exit. I tried turning off the computer and turning it back on holding the shift key. That didn't work either.

Somehow the computer is not set up normally. Usually when I've had the computer off, when I turn it back on I have to push f1 or f2 to have it do a default setup and then it will go to windows.

The messages that come when I turn it on are: no win.com file, no windows\himem.sys, no windows\dblbuff.sys, no windows\ifshlp.sys

I really need to get this fixed asap. My husband needs to use his files first thing in the morning --like at 4:30am. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

 

The command is just exit. What you did was change directories to c:\exit.

Your CMOS battery is dead. Looks like a watch battery and is on the motherboard, Radio Shack has them.

Your hard drive is no longer recognized by the BIOS, because of the above. You need to Auto detect the hard drive in the BIOS, you press DEL to get there when starting to get there with most systems.

 

I hit the delete as starting up computer. I came to the autodetect bios screen which gives me the amibios setup-standard emos setup. I'm not sure what to do now.

 

A couple of ways to look at this problem.

One is a Dual Boot gone bad.

I have had an ocassion where I restarted into the MD DOS Mode and the without thinking I hit the RESET button. It never would go back into Windows after that.

When Restarting into the MS DOS Mode that machine actuall reboot then there is a good possibility that it used different Config,sys and Autoexec,bat files because rebooting into the MS DOS mode is actually a DUAL BOOT between two OS using the two sets of file in the root folder.

It all hinges on one file. THE MDSOS.PIF settings in the Windows folder.

But, markp62 is correct. Using anything other than the one word EXIT to exit the MS DOS Mode can cause problems. And this is because about 4K from Windows is running.

Going in to Command Prompt from the F8 menu at boot up you can get out of it any old way you wish with no harm done. but not so with the MS DOS Mode from within Windows.

The Battery is one thing. And it may be bad.

But getting back into Windows may possiblely require a reinstall of Windows.

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The messages that come when I turn it on are: no win.com file, no windows\himem.sys, no windows\dblbuff.sys, no windows\ifshlp.sys
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That is possible.

But it can also be caused by and improper exit of the MS DOS Mode.Those files are all in the Config.sys. Which may or may not be the one for Windows. But are the ones for the MS DOS MODE.

BillyBob

 

Thanks for your help. The battery did need replacing. Also, the files for windows 98 (as specified previously), were apparently deleted. Possibly from my typing the cd\exit. The computer is now at a shop being repaired and having the windows 98 reinstalled. The rest of the story is better left untold.

 

They may or may not have been actually deleted just renamed.

In this case reinstall is best. ( from my own SAD experirnce }

I hear that loud & clear ( again from my own experience )

I do have a suggestion though.

If you are going to have Windows replaced I would STRONGLY suggest Win98 SE. It is much better than the original. And does not need a multitude of patches or upgrades/updates.

And make sure the Win98 setup files are on the HD. And preferably on a partition other than C: and the re-install is done from said files. Mucho, many ways better for YOU in the future.

BillyBob

 

TonyT You really surprise me.

That only applies ( saftely ) to the Command Prompt from the F8 Menu at startup. If you have used that method to get out the ACTUALL MS DOS mode without problem, then you have been VERY LUCKY My Friend.

When restarting to the MS DOS Mode from within Windows requires EXIT to get out of PROPERLY

You may be forgetting that in the MS DOS Mode PART OF WINDOWS IS STILL RUNNING ( about 4K ( Command I think ))

Restarting into the MS DOS Mode from within Windows is actually a possible DUAL BOOT process. Which means a possible renaming of Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files that causes switching between two OS. Windows and DOS.

And what can complicate matters even more is if the user has modified the .PIF file to use a specific set of files. And those files are not created properly. it is really OUCH !! time.

That little bit I learned THE SYSTEM CRASHING WAY ( more then once too ) way, way back in win95.

This is why we need to be Careful when someone says they are in the MS DOS Mode.

1--Are you at the Command Prompt at boot up ?

2--In the MS DOS Mode from within Windows Start/shutdown Menu ?

3--Or. At the DOS Prompt in Windows ?

In other words. Just saying " I am in DOS" is not enough. How did you get to DOS ? Methods 1, 2 ,3 or from a floppy ? #1 and the floppy are close but still not the same.

There is CONSIDERABLE difference between the three. And the all have different capabilities. And the 2nd two require EXIT to get out of properly.

All of this only applies to Win95 up to and including Win98 SE. Above SE forget it.

BillyBob

 

just ran a little test that I never had done before.

I double clicked on the MS DOS Mode for Games file in the Windows folder of a Win98SE machine.

The machine rebooted.

And Lo and behold there was a nice little message in Whie on Black.

It said,

Type EXIT to get outta here

Not those exact words but meant the same.

BillyBob

 

Now you are surprising me even more.

No they ARE NOT the EXACT same . Unless you have modified something to make them the same.

They all do things differently.

There is only ONE MS DOS Mode in Window 95 thru 98SE. And that is arrived at from the Start shutdown Menu while in Windows. And from here part of windows is running. That is why EXIT works.

And from here the DOSSTART.BAT is processed also. At the Command prompt it is not. A mouse can be loaded from the DOSSTART.bat without having it in the autoexec.bat.
MSCDEX.EXE can also be put in the DOSSTART. BAT without having it in the Autoexec.bat.

May need the CDROM Driver in the config.sys. But that can cause loss of the CROM in Windows. And keep it in the compatability Mode. And also keep the IDE controllers form working properly

In fact one of my Machines even set up part of the DOS Audio from the DOSSTART.BAT. ( A certain Creative card I think it was )

And at the COMMAND PROMPT from the F8 menu at boot up nothing from Windows is running. And here EXIT does not work.

So that alone says they are not the same.

And booting to the Command Prompt can cause problems for a Windows re-install. Because it may not allow the install to overwrite the boot sector and boot files PROPERLY because they are being used.

And booting from the floppy is different also. It loads NOTHING from the HD. ( unless the users has added it ) And the floppy can be a different DOS altogether. And booting form the 98SUD floppy is the most powerful and most clean DOS of all. Because of the fact nothing from the HD is loaded.

I myself used Cntrl-Alt-Del ( ONCE ) to get out of the the MS DOS Mode and wound up in the same nasty fix that robinm was in. Same message about files missing and all.

But I just booted to the Floppy and re-installed Windows and let it put thing back in order.

You are limited only by your own choosing. If you wish to do a little work it can be different.

I have a floppy with no menu. Added Deltree, Xcopy, ( and something else but I forgot what ) Gotten rid of all un-needed CDROM divers. Removed all readme files. Set the CDROMS to S: and T: ( where they are in Windows also ( on all machines ))

BTW. I think the file I forgot on the floppy is Regedit.

One of them even starts the Win98 Setup ( any version on any of my machines ( 3 ) as they are all located on the D: drive under Options.) with no input from me.

So do not try tell me that you are limited to what Windows puts on the floppy. Because I will strongly disagree with you.

Oh BTW. I also have and original just in case.

BillyBob

 

Well, like Tony, I always exit DOS mode with CTRL-ALT-DEL
and have never had problems.
Lucky or correct ? I do not know.
regards

 

MY concern right now is the fact that the 2 ( or 3 ) dos loactaions are considered by some to be the same. They are not.

Look at this

The article refers to Win95 but it exactly the same in 98 and 98 SE.

It also mentions the ( possible ) renaming the Config.sys and Autoexec. Which can make it a DUAL BOOT sitituation.

And if this is done Cntrl-Alt-Del will not allow the files to be renamed again. BIG TROUBLE AHEAD Unless they happen to be the same.

And we all know that if a dual boot is set up and is not done properly then our butt can be grass and the machine play lawnmower.

I just did this in 98SE to check.

If you restart in the MS DOS Mode via the Start menu in Windows and type MEM /C/P you will see a file called WIN is loaded That is the 4K of Windows I spoke of earlier.

I also saw SBINIT which is the Sound Blaster DOS Audio. And the mouse also loaded. Which does not load at the command Prompt on mine as it is in the DOSSTART.BAT

I also did a mem /c/p after booting to the Command Prompt. It was not the same as the other.

So again this says that the MS-DOS Mode and the Command Prompt ARE NOT the same.

If you go the the DOS PROMPT and do a MEM /C/P you may see something different yet. I believe ths is the setup that is used if a DOS program is set to "Suggest MS DOS Mode" The machine does not reboot then the same as it would if set to " Use MS DOS Mode "

I must add here though. This may well be one of the umteen dozens of things that differ with machine setups.

As the Web Pages states it may also depend on whether Windows was installed over another or not.

But the proper way to get out of the MS DOS Mode is "EXIT ".

From my own SAD expeience I think LUCKY.

BillyBob

 

I don't use true dos mode very much but my thinking is, always try typing EXIT first, to get back to Windows. Try Ctrl/Alt/Delete next.

I get back into Windows after SHUTDOWN/RESTART in MS-Dos Mode by typing EXIT at the C:\Windows> Prompt. I believe the first screen you get tells you to do that.

If I use F8 when I see "Starting Windws 95" to get the startup menu and select "command prompt ", or if I use a startup disk to get to dos, I reboot into windows with a ctrl/alt/delete.

If using a dos-mode shortcut (PIF) like one for EMS and XMS support for games, a new config.sys and autoexec.bat may be specified. I used one of those "Exit to Dos Mode" shortcuts by mistake once, instead of "MS-dos prompt ". I think I tried EXIT first and it didn't work so used CTRL/ALT/DEL and then hit ESC when prompted to reboot into Windows.

Also, if stuck in dos mode and nothing works, I would try the following, copied from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;130448
Cannot Quit MS-DOS Mode

1. For Windows 98, press and hold down the CTRL key as the computer restarts, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. (snip)

2. At the command prompt, type "win /wx" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

More here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;138996
Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode

 

Good mornng ALICE

I very much like your way of THINKING.

Keep up that good thinking.

You mentioned a .PIF file setttings. That is where I got my sorry backside into trouble. I set it to specify a different set of Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. And the files were not configured properly.

After getting things back in working order I reworked the .PIF so it used " SUGGEST MS DOS Mode " and all was well again.

BillyBob

 

Good afternoon BB

I'll try

 

Billy Bob
I still maintain Tony and I are correct - at least for his and my 98SE setup - and probably many more similar PCs.
"Exit" or "Win" is not the way out of DOS mode for us.
regards

 

This may turn up doubled as I had no response from previous
post ...

Tony has correctly stated how to get back to Windows from DOS
- maybe not for BBob.
Ctr/Alt/Del from DOS is just a SW "restart" based on the bios settings.
regards

 

Maybe for your machines.

OK. There has to be something different somewhere.

And are we for sure referring to the same MS DOS Mode. That being the one that arrived at via the start/shutdown menu while in Win98 ?

That is the ONE and ONLY MS DOS Mode available in Win95 up to and including Win98SE. Any other DOS areas are referred to by different names.

Or, are you using it to run just a few DOS commands and not using it to run DOS programs ? That could make a difference also.

Just for the hello of it I tried Cntrl-Alt-Del to get out of the MS DOS mode a HD that I am going to rebuild anyway.

CRASH !!!!! and the machine WILL NOT restart into Windows 98SE.

But again no real harm done.

BillyBob

 

That is indeed true.

But it still process that Config.Sys and Autoexec.bat ( if they exist )

Also as I stated in a previous post. The MS DOS Mode not only processes the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat but also the DOSSTART.BAT.

And if there are any illegal entries in same it can be TROUBLE time.

And what the MS DOS Mode is used for can make a difference also.

But the biggest thing is how the switch from Windows to the MS DOS Mode handles the Config and Autoexec.bat files. If there is both a set for Windows and a set for DOS ( and they can be different ) they must be handled properly. And using Cntrl-Alr-Del defeats this process. And that is what can stop the machine from rebooting into Windows.

Going into the MS DOS Mode from the Start/Shutdown Menu in Windows is a actually a HALF A**ED DUAL BOOT. ( Or at least it can be. ) Which is just a case of renaming files in the root folder of the C: Drive. And if these files are not renamed PROPERLY it can cause problems.

And all of this was not learned from MS documentary, Books or hearsay. It is learned from Hands on, system crashing trial and error. ( more of the latter ) And a LOT of wondering " What the hello did I do now. "

BillyBob