Windows XP and DOS

humanflyz · #1 (**permalink**) 04-23-2003, 08:25 PM

Is it possible to get a DOS boot from Windows XP? I tried to do that with the Windows XP boot disk, but all I get is a RAM-drive, and I can't even access my hard drive. Does anyone have a way to do this? Or is it impossible? Thanks

Kameleon · #2 (**permalink**) 04-24-2003, 03:44 AM

If your hard drive is formatted in NTFS then you will be unable to access it from DOS, however if you have FAT32 partitions/drives then booting from a normal boot disk (I suggest 98SE - there's a widespread utility called boot98se.exe or somesuch that will make 'em for you in all versions of Windows) will allow you to fiddle with it. Personally, I have my small C drive FAT32 formatted so I can mess around with it in DOS if something goes wrong, and my large D drive in NTFS so that it actually runs at any sort of speed.

Mr Flibble · #3 (**permalink**) 04-24-2003, 05:03 AM

If you can find it, Caldera OpenDOS can read NTFS partitions. Windows XP by defualt creates NTFS partitions, so it's not likely that you'll be able to read them from a DOS boot disk.