Starting windows xp at command prompt?

[jskam]

How to start windows xp at command prompt? i tried pressing f8 at start-up and there is no such option for starting at command prompt!
Although there is a option which states that start in
"safe mode with command prompt"
but i dont want to choose this option because i cannot start windowsxp in safe mode because of incomplete installation?

[Wojtek]

what do you mean?

you could use a win98 a boot disk to start your comuter to C:
Just remember that setup will not lauch under DOS.

www.bootdisk.com

[jskam]

So from where shall i get 98 boot disk? And can win98 boot disk help format the computer?

Well if i am able to succesfully format the hard drive using win98 boot disk will it allow me to install winxp from CD?

*note:-i am very beginner at these things, so dont mind some stupid queries*

[InteractAsia]

here you go..take your pick

http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

[trenzterra]

So from where shall i get 98 boot disk? And can win98 boot disk help format the computer?

Well if i am able to succesfully format the hard drive using win98 boot disk will it allow me to install winxp from CD?

*note:-i am very beginner at these things, so dont mind some stupid queries*

From the site listed above my post. Yes, it will, if you have a clean install CD. If it's an upgrade CD, you'll have to have another version of the disc of Windows with you, eg. the Windows 98 CD, before you can clean install.

[Decker]

If your doing a clean install of XP you will get a chance during setup to delete and recreate the partition, if there's nothing you need to keep it's the best option

[jskam]

how will i know if i am having a upgrade Cd or normal Cd or what?

[Wojtek]

If its written Windows XP Upgrade CD you have the upgrade cd.
If its written Windows XP installation CD, you have the installation cd.

If you bought your computer with xp installed on it, you have the installation cd.

[jskam]

oh ok!
Well but having an installation CD or an upgrade Cd, what difference does it make if you arwe changing from windows2000/me to windows xp?

What differenmce does it make if you use installation cd to install win xp or if you use upgrade cd to install winxp?

[Wojtek]

The upgrade cd can only upgrade, hence the name.
The installation cd can install the full copy of windows xp on an empty hard disk without having any other windows installed. Like when you buy a new hard disk, or after reformatting.

[jskam]

Well so can you use windowsxp installation CD on a computer with windows2000/me or do you need to use windowsxp upgrade cd?

[aphel aura]

You can do a full install with the upgrade CD, but you will need the Windows 98/ME CD because setup will ask for it as verification.

[jskam]

if i dont want to use the upgrade Cd or if i dont happen to have an upgrade Cd then, can i do the install with the installation CD?
Or is it that, since i have windows2000/me installed, so i must die die use upgrade CD only?

[aphel aura]

If you have the full XP CD then just use it on either a blank HDD or Win98/ME/2000 (you can't upgrade from Win95).

If you have Win2000/ME installed, you can use Win XP upgrade CD (or full CD).

If you have a new computer with blank HDD, you can still use the XP upgrade CD as long as you have a Win2000/ME full install CD.

[Decker]

It's not really a good idea to upgrade from anything other than 2000, win9x which includes ME don't tend to be stable after an upgrade.

Go for the clean install.