Creating a Dos Environment Via Partition Magic?

[paulried]

Does it work if you create a DOS partion on an XP machine so that I can reboot my XP machine into a DOS environment, run MAXNC to control the machine and then return back to XP for CAD etc in the workshop?

[CNCadmin]

NO, you must re-install from win 98 or 2000 and use the option for a dual boot, than load winxp. I have only don't it on win 2000, but I assume winxp would be the same way.

[paulried]

Really? That is the opposite of what I thought. I was reading the Partition Magic manual and it says it is easy to do and in essence creates a dual boot system

I just finished building the PC for the router.... not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Manual for building it was actually very complete and it is in a nice mini-case (Shuttle-PC)

[CNCadmin]

I missed the partition magic part, I don't now, I never use that peogram before sorry.

[wms]

Paul,
No problem. I have one machine with Win98se, XP, and Dos on it.
The Dos partition must go one the first disk(if you have more than one) and below 1024 cylinders as the book states then Win95/98, then XP.
It is also handy to create a "swap partition" and format it Fat 16.
That way you can use it for both Dos and XP. Say to transfer program files from XP (cad/cam) to Dos for the control.
If you do create a swap partition it would need to be right after Dos on the first part of the drive.
I use Partition magic ver 7.
Only draw back is you can't run a Raid 0 setup.(mirror) with partition magic ver 7. If that matters. Maybe in ver 8 you can I don't know.
Good luck, It's pretty easy to use.

[chuckknigh]

It's been a while, but doesn't 98SE give you the option of creating a DOS bootable disk, or of exiting to DOS in the shutdown menu?

I think I remember those options.

Why not just use that, and keep it all on a single partition? If you're rebooting anyway...

-- Chuck Knight

[chuckknigh]

I just reread the original question. XP is based on the same kernel as 2000, which is based on NT. Unlike Win95/98/98SE/ME, it is not a GUI running on top of a DOS system. That doesn't mean that you can't run DOS programs, though.

There used to be a DOS replacement environment for NT environments called 4NT. It was made by the same people as 4DOS. Let me see if I can find a link.

I don't know if the software will run under it, but this provides a DOS environment running in a window under an NT based system. The manufacturer's web site is:
http://www.jpsoft.com/

They have a 21 day evaluation period on the latest version...it's shareware.

I've used their programs for years, on all kinds of machines, and have never had any trouble with them. I even chose 4DOS as a command interpreter, back when command.com was the only game in town!

-- Chuck Knight

[ger21]

If you go to bootdisk.com, at the top of the page, are DOS bootdisk files. Download the version you want, pop in a floppy and it sets it up on the floppy for you. Only takes a few minutes.

Gerry

[kong]

I'm gonna restart my pc to test it, but if you tap F8 during boot, to bring up the boot menu, it should have an option to start at command prompt. Is this not DOS? Like i said, I don't wanna restart, so maybe that option is not there for Windows XP anyway?!

[chuckknigh]

I run 2000 and ME in a dual boot system. My 2000 allows me to boot to a command prompt, but while it resembles DOS it is not DOS. And, it's extremely limited...only a few real commands which might let me reconstruct a file directory or some such thing.

I assume XP's system, sharing a common heritage with 2000, would be similar.

There is a "command.com" interpreter in XP, though. Just tap <start-run-command.com> and it'll bring up a prompt. Most DOS programs run under this window, on my 2000 machine...should be very similar on XP. And, thanks to it running in a virtual machine, if it crashes it doesn't bring down the whole system!

Cant hurt to try!

-- Chuck Knight

[paulried]

Kong: I don't think it is DOS, just a command line for the kernel. Tonight I am going to mess around with Partition Magic on the machine and see what I can do. The machine was blank when I started so it is not a big deal if I end up having to format the drive later.

I built the the machine specifically for running the router. The only reason I wanted XP on it was it made it simlar to the other machines in the house. Last time I built a computer it was a Z-80 machine that I soldered together on a circuit board! If I remember correctly it had am 8K memory chip on it which cost me a small fortune at the time.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

[cadcam]

Just so you know as for XP this now not built on the DOS kernal as the earler vesions of windows.
The Dos Propmt is now emulated.

I use Pration Magic when doing either new computers or doing a daul boot sector.
You should berable to do as you want by partioning the hard drive.