how can i get W2K to boot to a DOS prompt..

[joelo]

so I can Flash my BIOS ? The format command run under the W2K DOS Window does not support the format A: /s switch, but instead causes the bootable disk to automatically look for a valid operating system. Since it keeps finding W2K, I never get to see a DOS prompt with which to run the Award flash utility. I've already scoured my motherboards (QDI) website for info on this, but they only provide info on how to make a bootable disk from either DOS (which I can't get to) or from Win 95/98. Any help would be appreciated.

[sea69]

there's no real-mode DOS in WinNT or 2K. You get something slightly
different if you run cmd.exe (NT command window) or command.com ("Windows NT
DOS") but I'm not sure what the practical difference might be.
(Enlightenment would always be welcome....)

some others here actually have it, and may be of considerably more help. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[sea69]

didn't mean to leave you hanging. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

http://www.pcwave.com/bios.html , has flash info, but this isn't what you asked.

had you tried to do it with a win98 bootable floppy??

you may even need to (temporarily) disconnect the hard drive.. I personally have not done one.

food for thought.

the win98 DOES have the DOS to flash your BIOS.

by the way, why do you want to do it to begin with, was it suggested in order to fix anything not working (correctly) ??

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 05-01-2001).]

[joelo]

Hi, thanks for the response. I need to do the flash in order to support USB under W2K (it used to support USB fine under 98). I have tried it with my old Win98 boot disk, but it still boots straight into W2K. I 'm sure there's a work around, but so far the only way I've found to do it is to boot to a DOS prompt before loading Windows, and then flashing. The only problem is, I can't get the computer to boot into anything but W2K, or its Safe Mode menu.

[sea69]

I saw where it was suggested to take out the hard drive (or disconnect it).. that way there is no OS for it to find, and you don't need your OS to flash your BIOS.

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[mjc]

Are you sure the boot order is A -> C in BIOS?

If it is, the Win98 disk should boot first and then stop at the a prompt.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

[sea69]

good point mjc............................

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[joelo]

oh yeah, I made sure that the Boot Sequence was set to A, C, SCSI when I was going through the BIOS recording all my settings. Maybe someone out there has flashed their board when running W2K only ?

[mjc]

What happens when you put a blank floppy in A?

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

[Ghost_Hacker]

Unless you could boot to DOS before you installed Win2k. You won't be able to boot to it now using Win2k's boot options. I would go here www.bootdisk.com (http://www.bootdisk.com) and get a DOS bootdisk. The Windows 98 bootdisk should work too. But I always like to have both types of bootdisk.

sea the diff between NT/Win2k's "DOS" window and a real DOS command line is that in NT/Win2k's DOS window you don't have direct access to the computers hardware. So any DOS based setup programs (like the one for a LAN card for instance) won't be able to "see" or "talk" to the card using it's own "methods".


Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Comment heard from a Klingon programmer.

"Klingon function calls do not have 'parameters'. They have 'arguments'....and they ALWAYS WIN THEM!"

[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 05-03-2001).]

[sea69]

thanks GH..many more on the way .......lol

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[joelo]

ok, I'll try www.bootdisk.com. (http://www.bootdisk.com.) My Win98 boot disk doesn't work either. Who knew it would be so necessary to have a DOS prompt in '01 ? I thought Microsoft was finally trying to kill DOS once and for all. I guess flash bios manufacturers, for one, aren't ready for DOS to die yet. This is frustrating, but thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe it's just a sign from above telling me it's upgrade time http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif