ms-dos

[vicki lynne]

Under win ME how do I get to dos before windows starts? I've tried ctrl and f8 but all I get is the start up menu I can't seem to go straight to dos. Help!!!! :confused:

[ski]

Windows ME does not run 'on top of' DOS, like Windows 98.
What are you trying to do?

[vicki lynne]

I'm trying to format a second hard drive that I have hooked up as a primary slave. Any ideas or helpful hints? Please.

[classicsoftware]

You need to create a startup disk. The best way however is to dowload the installation software from the manufacturers web site.

[vicki lynne]

O.k. I have a win ME start-up disk, and the installation software for my western digital hard drive. Now I'll see where they will get me. Thanks alot for the info. If I screw it up too bad, I'll be back :-) later on down the road.

[classicsoftware]

The western Digital disk is all you need. Follow the prompts. It should detect the new drive and install it for you. Format,partition, the whole works.....

[Paul Komski]

As a matter of fact WinME does run on top of MSDOS but Microsoft did its best (and for its own reasons) to make DOS inaccessible to WinME users. I have come across other fixes but there is another one to be found at http://www.overclockers.com.au/techstuff/a_dos_me/oldvers.shtml which I have not tried out. If I remember correctly the main thing is to patch io.sys and/or msdos.sys and tweak a couple of other boot files.

Found another related patch at http://www.geocities.com/mfd4life_2000/

BTW Dont bother with this unless you want to be particularly geekish; just use DOS run from a floppy as suggested.

[vicki lynne]

thank you all, again!!