Vista startup in MS-DOS mode
eric
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eric -
eric -
Hello,
I searched Google and browsed several forums without finding the right solution to the problem I am facing.
I'm currently writing from a laptop running Win7 and I have a desktop running Vista. To network them together, it seems I apparently need to upgrade from Vista to 7 on the desktop.
To do this, I want to access DOS before booting up to format the C: drive and then reinstall with my Win 7.
The big issue is that on this HP computer running Vista, I can't find how to access DOS using the F8 key at startup. The only option available is the command prompt in safe mode, so not in true DOS.
There may be a trick or some modification to apply.
It used to be so simple!
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read and respond to me.
Best regards
Eric
Configuration: Windows 7 / Firefox 15.0
I searched Google and browsed several forums without finding the right solution to the problem I am facing.
I'm currently writing from a laptop running Win7 and I have a desktop running Vista. To network them together, it seems I apparently need to upgrade from Vista to 7 on the desktop.
To do this, I want to access DOS before booting up to format the C: drive and then reinstall with my Win 7.
The big issue is that on this HP computer running Vista, I can't find how to access DOS using the F8 key at startup. The only option available is the command prompt in safe mode, so not in true DOS.
There may be a trick or some modification to apply.
It used to be so simple!
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read and respond to me.
Best regards
Eric
Configuration: Windows 7 / Firefox 15.0
2 réponses
I: In principle, you can format Vista using MS DOS or Command Prompt; it's the same thing...
1: Locate the drive letter to format in My Computer, "C" or "D," or... another.
2: Press F8 at startup, choose and click on MS DOS or Command Prompt, then type format C: or D: or... another letter
3: Windows will ask for confirmation y/n, or o/n, type y or o, and the system will scan all the files, etc....
4: Windows will ask for a new volume name, type disk for example, and the formatting will begin....
II: Otherwise, go to the desktop, download the free software Low Level Format (LLF), install it, plug in the computer if it's a laptop, and launch LLF from the desktop; the hard drive will be perfectly formatted (it's a low-level format).
DO NOT press any key during formatting and wait for the process to finish, which is quick.
Of course, make sure to back up all drivers to a USB stick for later reinstallation before formatting....
1: Locate the drive letter to format in My Computer, "C" or "D," or... another.
2: Press F8 at startup, choose and click on MS DOS or Command Prompt, then type format C: or D: or... another letter
3: Windows will ask for confirmation y/n, or o/n, type y or o, and the system will scan all the files, etc....
4: Windows will ask for a new volume name, type disk for example, and the formatting will begin....
II: Otherwise, go to the desktop, download the free software Low Level Format (LLF), install it, plug in the computer if it's a laptop, and launch LLF from the desktop; the hard drive will be perfectly formatted (it's a low-level format).
DO NOT press any key during formatting and wait for the process to finish, which is quick.
Of course, make sure to back up all drivers to a USB stick for later reinstallation before formatting....
Thank you for this information.
No possibility to format via the DOS command prompt in the start menu.
Unable to access pure DOS by pressing F8; I only have a predefined choice between HP and Windows, with the only path to DOS being through the command prompt in safe mode.
It's as if there's the HP manager between me and DOS. I even reinstalled Vista, but everything is done through an HP recovery interface.
I tried to insert my Win7 DVDs, but the interface tells me that the DVD is not recognized by this system. However, the DVD is fine (a copy of my original version from my laptop).
I would really like to access pure DOS, but I don't have the solution.
Can LLF format a single partition and not the entire disk?
Can it format the currently active system partition while it is running?
Thank you in advance.
No possibility to format via the DOS command prompt in the start menu.
Unable to access pure DOS by pressing F8; I only have a predefined choice between HP and Windows, with the only path to DOS being through the command prompt in safe mode.
It's as if there's the HP manager between me and DOS. I even reinstalled Vista, but everything is done through an HP recovery interface.
I tried to insert my Win7 DVDs, but the interface tells me that the DVD is not recognized by this system. However, the DVD is fine (a copy of my original version from my laptop).
I would really like to access pure DOS, but I don't have the solution.
Can LLF format a single partition and not the entire disk?
Can it format the currently active system partition while it is running?
Thank you in advance.