Can't Boot To DOS

[gstone4911]

I would like to boot to DOS at startup using the keyboard
so I can launch Power Quest's pqboot.exe from C:\.

I can launch pqboot with a (system files only) boot disk
by changing the A:\> to C:\>pqboot, this just takes longer.

I can boot to DOS on my Compaq using the SHIFT+F5
keys. But on the computer I built it goes to Safe Mode
every time.

I added a line to the MSDOS.SYS file under
(Options)
BootDelay=5 to make sure I had time to hit the keys.
It still goes to Safe Mode using SHIFT+F5

I know I can change BootGUI=1 to 0 but I need to
do it wiht the keyboard at boot.
Is there a way to fix this or will have to use the
F8 Command Prompt

PS.
I would use Boot Magic but my wife is still
having nightmares from the Boot Magic
splash screen I forgot to tell her about.

Win98SE
:D

[MrGuru]

so on boot up ya want to choose to normally boot windows or to run pqboot?

the way you could do that is a dos menu on start up and if nothing is pressed with say 4 secs it will boot windows normally... is this what your lookin for?

looks like this -->


1)Windows98
2)Run Partition Magic
3)Dos Prompt
[default boot in 4 secs]

so would just boot windows 98 in 4 secs if nothing pressed...?

[gstone4911]

MrGuru I think that would be just fine.
How do I create a DOS menu like you discribed?

[MrGuru]

change bootgui to 0 so you can see the menu ;)
can't stress enouf backup i could have wrote this wrong by accident

this would go in your c:\config.sys file [backup with system boot disk and autoexec.bat]

[MENU]
menuitem=WIN98, Windows98
menuitem=PQBOOT,Partition Magic
menuitem=MDOS,MS-DOS
menucolor=15,1
menudefault=WIN98, 4


this would go in your c:\autoexec.bat [backup first!]

goto %config%
:WIN98
@echo off
PATH c:\WINDOWS
REM Add any other settings for windows here
win
goto END

:PQBOOT
REM Edit line below where the program you want to run is
A:\pqboot\pqboot.exe
goto END

:MDOS
PATH C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
REM Add any other settings for dos here
goto END

:END

[ 31 March 2002: Message edited by: MrGuru ]

[ 31 March 2002: Message edited by: MrGuru ]

[gstone4911]

This is how my Config.sys looks

[MENU]
menuitem=WIN98, Windows98
menuitem=PQBOOT, Partition Magic
menuitem=MDOS, MS-DOS
menucolor=15,1
menudefault=WIN98,4

When I boot I get

There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 4
Press any key to continue...
I do.
There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 6
Press any key to continue...
I do.
There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 8
Press any key to continue...
I do.
There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 14
Press any key to continue...
I do and get.

C:\>
C:\>goto COMMON
Lable not found

C:\> here I can type win and it boots.

Any Ideas?

:)

[mike]

Hi, please post 'entire' contents of Config.sys and Autoexec.bat

[gstone4911]

(config.sys)
rem
rem *** DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE! ***
rem
rem This file was created by the System Configuration Utility as
rem a placeholder for your CONFIG.SYS. Your actual CONFIG.SYS
rem file has been saved under the name CONFIG.TSH.
rem


(config.tsh)
Rem TShoot:
[MENU]
Rem TShoot:
menuitem=WIN98, Windows98
Rem TShoot:
menuitem=PQBOOT, Partition Magic
Rem TShoot:
menuitem=MDOS, MS-DOS
Rem TShoot:
menucolor=15,1
Rem TShoot:
menudefault=WIN98,4


(autoexec.bat)
@ECHO OFF
rem
rem *** DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE! ***
rem
rem This file was created by the System Configuration Utility as
rem a placeholder for your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Your actual
rem AUTOEXEC.BAT file has been saved under the name AUTOEXEC.TSH.
rem

(autoexec.tsh
Rem TShoot:
goto %config%
Rem TShoot:
:WIN98
Rem TShoot:
@echo off
Rem TShoot:
PATH c:\WINDOWS
Rem TShoot:
goto END
Rem TShoot:
:PQBOOT
Rem TShoot:
C:\pqboot.exe
Rem TShoot:
goto END
Rem TShoot:
:MDOS
Rem TShoot:
PATH C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
Rem TShoot:
goto END
Rem TShoot:
:END

[MrGuru]

k i tested on my computer and there was a couple things wrong

[autoexec.bat here]

@echo off
goto %CONFIG%
:WIN98
cls
REM add your windows autoexec.bat settings here
win
goto END

:PQBOOT
cls
REM Edit line below where the program you want to run is
goto END

:DOS
cls
PATH C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
REM all other dos settings
goto END

:END
@echo on

[config.sys file]

[MENU]
menuitem=WIN98,Windows98
menuitem=PQBOOT,Partition Magic
menuitem=DOS,DOS
menucolor=15,1
menudefault=WIN98, 4

[WIN98]
REM add any win98 config.sys settings here
[DOS]
REM add any msdos config.sys settings here
[PQBOOT]
REM anything you want to do before ya start pqboot
[COMMON]
REM for all of them here
REM example: DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
REM example: DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE

[msdos.sys settings]
i changed the
logo=1
to logo=0
bootgui=1
to bootgui=0

that worked on my computer
for a odd reason it complained when i used the msdos label for the location
and i also forgot the locations in the config.sys file which sets the global %config% variable

the menudefault=WIN98, 4
line is the one that states in config.sys
to use the win98 settings in 4 secs you can make shorter or longer
menucolor=15,1 is just the color so you can play with it a bit ;)

hopin ya get it to work...

and also (me being a idoit on my part)
forgot to ask you
in your msdos.sys file is BootKeys=0 ?
or is it set to BootKeys=1

[ 04 April 2002: Message edited by: MrGuru ]

[gstone4911]

Thanks MrGuru, but I guess some things just arn't ment to be.
I still get the same errors.
Thats OK , it was a minor anoyance anyway.
So I think I'll move on to a more anoying problem.
A squeaking hard drive.

Thanks Again