How to boot an XP system directly to command prompt?

[xrMike]

How do you bypass Windows XP OS at boot and go directly to DOS/command prompt?

I need to re-install a DLL from a backup folder on the C: drive.

I know how to re-install the DLL file. But it's been awhile, and I forgot how to boot directly to a command prompt without loading the OS.

Thanks.

[the86d]

F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8 at POST (well AFTER actually...)

Not directly, as it loads drivers, but then "Safe Mode with Command Prompt".

You can boot to the CD, "Recovery Console" if I recall correctly, after CD boot, but I don't recall if you can copy files on the HDD partition that way.

It's easier and less headaches with Knoppix... and you can copy them from a network share if need-be this way.

[Andric]

^ this. There is a way to trick it to command prompt from a cd repair boot. Also, I think I remember if you use a win 98 boot disk you can get to a command prompt. Like old school 3.5 disk....

[Yugo]

Why the duck are you still using XP? You know that it is not supported anymore and vulnerable to more attacks right?

[Yugo]

Shoot, you might as well as install win2000.

[madbeans88]

google that s...

[rjpsb1]

Here's how:

1) Download linux of your choice
2) Burn that puppy to CD or USB stick
3) Plug it in, boot it up
4) Command line joy!

[barrycaseoff]

yes,i think so, you use a win 98 boot disk you can get to a command prompt. Like old school 3.5 disk.thanks

[the86d]

No 98 boot disk/CD will read/write, or even CHKSDSK an NTFS volume, AFAIK.

[xrMike]

F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8, F8 at POST (well AFTER actually...)

Not directly, as it loads drivers, but then "Safe Mode with Command Prompt".

You can boot to the CD, "Recovery Console" if I recall correctly, after CD boot, but I don't recall if you can copy files on the HDD partition that way.

It's easier and less headaches with Knoppix... and you can copy them from a network share if need-be this way.

^ this. There is a way to trick it to command prompt from a cd repair boot. Also, I think I remember if you use a win 98 boot disk you can get to a command prompt. Like old school 3.5 disk....

F8 does not seem to work on this machine (a 10-year old HP Pavilion dv1000), which was given to me to use by a previous employer. That employer's IT dept. installed something called "McAfee Endpoint Encryption" on all employee machines. As soon as you press the power button, the encryption page pops up and you have to enter a PIN number, and then the machine proceeds to boot. F8 does not work at any point in this process.

I imagine the inability to use F8 is by design, as the whole purpose of the encryption was to prevent the loss of intellectual property if an employee's laptop was ever lost or stolen. I don't know that for a fact, but I'm guessing there...

Also, I was never given any Recovery or OS Reinstall CDs when I got the laptop, so if there isn't some way to do it from the keyboard at boot, I guess I'm out of luck.

Why the duck are you still using XP? You know that it is not supported anymore and vulnerable to more attacks right?

Yes, very aware. I have Avast on it. It's probably 10 years old and I'm just using it for web browsing and email. Not fit for much else anymore. If I lose it to a virus, no big deal.

Shoot, you might as well as install win2000.

google that s...

Heheh, probably 90% of the questions asked on Calguns, even the gun-related ones, could be answered by Google. But everybody did that, what a boring forum this would be!

Here's how:

1) Download linux of your choice
2) Burn that puppy to CD or USB stick
3) Plug it in, boot it up
4) Command line joy!

Ahhh, now there's a possibility. Outside my usual comfort zone, but I'll look into this. Thanks!

Right now, every time I boot I get a "missing or damaged DLL" error, which forces a restart, and then it boots normally the 2nd time around. There's a Restore directory on the C: drive with all of the original system DLLs that are in "blah-blah.DL_" format. And I've already googled how to restore one of them, from that directory. Just need to get to a command prompt, pre-Windows.

Thanks for all advice!

[high_revs]

https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB73714