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noguri
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Location: korea
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 Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: What should I enter at the A prompt? |
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I have been using an old laptop with WIN 98 for my word processing so that my wife can use the internet on our new computer.
Today I found the old laptop won't boot without a boot disk in the disk drive. So, I put in the WIN 98 boot disk and I was given three choices:
1] Run windows 98 set up
2] Boot with CD rom support
3] Boot without CD rom support
I haven't tried #1 because I don't want to reinstall Windows over my existing files. I want to rescue my files if possible.
When I try #2, the computer checks out all the drivers and hardware, then gives me an A prompt. I don't know anything about DOS commands so I don't know what to do at this point.
If I try #3 I get the same A prompt.
I also get a choice to boot into "safe mode" at some point, but when I do, I get the very same A prompt. Isn't the A drive the floppy drive? I imagine I should have a C prompt to get windows going, but I don't even know how to do that.
Any commands I might try to get windows going? Help pleeeease! |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: What should I enter at the A prompt? |
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| noguri wrote: |
I have been using an old laptop with WIN 98 for my word processing so that my wife can use the internet on our new computer.
Today I found the old laptop won't boot without a boot disk in the disk drive. So, I put in the WIN 98 boot disk and I was given three choices:
1] Run windows 98 set up
2] Boot with CD rom support
3] Boot without CD rom support
I haven't tried #1 because I don't want to reinstall Windows over my existing files. I want to rescue my files if possible.
When I try #2, the computer checks out all the drivers and hardware, then gives me an A prompt. I don't know anything about DOS commands so I don't know what to do at this point.
If I try #3 I get the same A prompt.
I also get a choice to boot into "safe mode" at some point, but when I do, I get the very same A prompt. Isn't the A drive the floppy drive? I imagine I should have a C prompt to get windows going, but I don't even know how to do that.
Any commands I might try to get windows going? Help pleeeease! |
The A: prompt is your gateway into DOS. Type the following:
C: (then press enter). This should change your directory.
Once the directory looks like this: C:, type in dir/w.
This will pull up the directory in your C drive in expanded format. If you have a billion things on there, then that means your files are still there. You can then fix any driver problems you may have with the Windows OS.
An easier way (and one I recommend) is removing the harddrive and attacking it to your desktop. Then, set it to slave mode and transfer files (this will require a bit more work and materials since it is a laptop).
See, the problem is: you have your stuff on the laptop with win98. You need to get the stuff out of there but with the laptop parts being virtually incompatible with the desktop, well...this presents you with a pickle.
In summary, go to this site:
http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm#02
The prompt you will be using is the copy prompt. Read it. It is pretty straight forward. The correct prompt you need to use is:
copy *.* a: (change the drive "a:" to the drive that can write larger than 1.44mb). If not, then I would recommend buying a lot of 1.44mb disks and just copying the important documents. You can do this by:
dir/w
then find what you want to save and then type the following code in the next prompt:
copy (name of file) A: |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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if you want to try and run windows through the DOS prompt, go to the the C: directory then type:
windows.exe
or
win.exe
Just look for the windows something.exe in your dir/w. You'll know it when you see it. |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: What should I enter at the A prompt? |
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| noguri wrote: |
I have been using an old laptop with WIN 98 for my word processing so that my wife can use the internet on our new computer.
Today I found the old laptop won't boot without a boot disk in the disk drive. So, I put in the WIN 98 boot disk and I was given three choices:
1] Run windows 98 set up
2] Boot with CD rom support
3] Boot without CD rom support
I haven't tried #1 because I don't want to reinstall Windows over my existing files. I want to rescue my files if possible.
When I try #2, the computer checks out all the drivers and hardware, then gives me an A prompt. I don't know anything about DOS commands so I don't know what to do at this point.
If I try #3 I get the same A prompt.
I also get a choice to boot into "safe mode" at some point, but when I do, I get the very same A prompt. Isn't the A drive the floppy drive? I imagine I should have a C prompt to get windows going, but I don't even know how to do that.
Any commands I might try to get windows going? Help pleeeease! |
Have you tried #2? I believe it will boot up windows and will let you access A, C and your CD-ROM drive. Hopefully USB support is enabled too (which you could attach an external HD to back up your files).
If you run Windows setup, ie. choose #1, it won't really overwrite your existing Win98, it'll just refreshes it and maybe even run better. As long as you install it in the same directory as your existing Win98 then it should work. Mind you, this is expert level, choose at your own risk! |
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noguri
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Location: korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject: will try these suggestions |
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Thanks Cubanlord, your suggestions were very clear. you must be a great teacher! I'll try the things you recommended.
Also, thanks Rocklee, but I don't want to try the "expert" level stuff since I'm so non-expert. But if nothing else works, I may just go ahead and do the windows set up after all. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: will try these suggestions |
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| noguri wrote: |
Thanks Cubanlord, your suggestions were very clear. you must be a great teacher! I'll try the things you recommended.
Also, thanks Rocklee, but I don't want to try the "expert" level stuff since I'm so non-expert. But if nothing else works, I may just go ahead and do the windows set up after all. |
Have you fixed it? |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:47 am Post subject: Re: will try these suggestions |
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| noguri wrote: |
Thanks Cubanlord, your suggestions were very clear. you must be a great teacher! I'll try the things you recommended.
Also, thanks Rocklee, but I don't want to try the "expert" level stuff since I'm so non-expert. But if nothing else works, I may just go ahead and do the windows set up after all. |
No problem, but do try what I've suggested. It may just be a simple problem. Cubanlord's method is near-expert level. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:25 am Post subject: |
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Ya gotta love this forum.....
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| Why? |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:57 am Post subject: |
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I wasn't being sarcastic...
This forum is (in my opinion) very helpful to the community and right now, there are some really great contributors.
When Giant rings in and puts us all to shame, the place will be complete. Him, and when Jaz gets some of his life back... 
I recall when I came in '96, there was nowhere local to talk/post about tech problems, developments or ideas. If people come to Korea and read this forum, they can know that folks here will really put forth an effort to help, and with most of us being in Korea, perhaps even make a house call.
Anyhow...I think that's cool. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
I wasn't being sarcastic...
This forum is (in my opinion) very helpful to the community and right now, there are some really great contributors.
When Giant rings in and puts us all to shame, the place will be complete. Him, and when Jaz gets some of his life back...
I recall when I came in '96, there was nowhere local to talk/post about tech problems, developments or ideas. If people come to Korea and read this forum, they can know that folks here will really put forth an effort to help, and with most of us being in Korea, perhaps even make a house call.
Anyhow...I think that's cool. |
You're not kidding when you say that about GIANT. I remember reading a few of his posts on here and was like  |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:34 am Post subject: |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
I wasn't being sarcastic...
This forum is (in my opinion) very helpful to the community and right now, there are some really great contributors.
When Giant rings in and puts us all to shame, the place will be complete. Him, and when Jaz gets some of his life back...
I recall when I came in '96, there was nowhere local to talk/post about tech problems, developments or ideas. If people come to Korea and read this forum, they can know that folks here will really put forth an effort to help, and with most of us being in Korea, perhaps even make a house call.
Anyhow...I think that's cool. |
Ah I understand. I used to be (and probably still am) a technojunkie when I had the time. Right now, too busy, too old and not playing games anymore  I don't mind arguing with Apple zealots all day though |
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