Need Help from Expert DOS users

Hi,
the only application you should use is standard NotePad
Start>Programs>accessories>notepad

Start it. Go to File menu>>Open
In dropdown menu for Files of Type select all files ad browse to root dir, where you'll find msdos.sys

If you want to see password in *.pwl files then you need a HEX editor. There a bench of windows hex editors like Hex Workshop, Hackman
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-4003619-100-5812393.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.5812393 (be sure to get rid ofall spaces when entering this link)

Have fun.

Hi.

I believe Windows ME boots into the command prompt ("Dos Mode") just like Windows 98SE.

Do the following,

1. With the computer OFF, insert a Windows ME boot disk into drive A: (re: floppy drive).

2. Turn on the computer but keep a finger at the ready of the F8 key and a good eye on your monitor as it goes through the POST (Power On Self-Test) process.

3. As soon and this is VERY important, as SOON as it says "Starting Windows..." on your screen press the F8 key. Sometimes I even spaz and press it several times to make sure.

4. At this point you should note an option screen with choices on it. The choices will include something to the effect of "Boot to Command Prompt" (this is *not* word for word), select that option. That will get you into DOS Mode.

Note: You may be able to do the above step WITH OUT the Windows ME boot disk, I just always make sure I use it.

HINT: If you need to access files on your CD-ROM while in Dos mode, make sure you select the "Start Computer with CD Rom Drivers" option. This option will only show if you are indeed booting from a Windows ME start disk.

If the process doesn't work, try everything again but this time DO NOT use the boot disk.

Finally, if your computer justblazes to the Windows ME screen it could have a "quick boot" option enabled in Bios. Dell computers do this. It goes so fast that you can't hit the F8 key quick enough to stop it. What I did was disabled the quick boot option in BIOS/CMOS and then it worked fine.

Hope it helps.

-tom

No such thing as MSDOS mode in ME

You can follow the above steps to edit the msdos.sys file, however, Millenium Edition does not support MSDos mode. It essentially exists, but MS hid it so that even if you create a boot disk in Windows, it will still attempt to boot off your hard drive. The only option I have for you is to find a Windows 98 machine and create a boot disk from that computer. You can then boot to your Win98 boot disk and do what you need to do.

mm212 is correct in that MS has "hidden" the DOS boot option, with no easy way to get to it. There is hope, though. Check this link for the details...
http://iwsun4.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/00/10/16/001016oplivingston.xml

Hi again,

That is true that microsoft for some reason hided the option of booting itno dos mode, but i do have a solution.
Go to http://www.geocities.com/mfd4life_2000/
and download the patch (10 KB) which will modify "IO.SYS", "COMMAND.COM" and "REGENV32.EXE" in order to unhide the Real DOS-Mode on Windows ME

Since this way is pretty easy i propose you to use it (i've tried it and it works). DO NOT FORGET TO READ ALL INSRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

Thanks for the question.

I don't believe the question involved DOS mode at all. I believe he just doesn't want to see the splash screen. I disabled the splash screen on my machines so I could see the NAV startup scan results by using TweakUI

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsme/guide/tweakui.exe

Choose RUN from the start menu and type in EDIT so that you can access the MS-DOS editor. Now click on file then open (using the square cursor) then type in c:\msdos.sys and press enter. now you can see the file and edit it. There isnt a program that opens a pwl file. pwl stands for password list. and it occurs for every user that has his/her own password. If you cant do that, then use a text editor (like ms-dos editor or notepad) and type this:
[options]
bootgui=0
Now save this as C:\msdos.sys. If it says you cant save it, then remove the read-only attribute on it.

Try this link here that I came across, might help might not. Let me know :)

http://www.sgmvp.freewebsites.com/WinME_DOS/Win-ME.htm