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How do you restart windows xp in Dos mode?

I need to restart my computer in dos mode and i'm running windows xp and cannot find any information on how to restart it in dos mode. I do not need a dos prompt, i need it to close windows and run only dos. I'm trying to format my hard drive. The first person to give me a working method gets the best answer! Please answer ASAP because this is for a class project we are working on right this minute. Oh, forgot to mention that pressing F8 doesn't seem to help us at all, we can only enter windows safe mode from there. Nvm we figured it out

Public Comments

1. when restarting normally....press F8 to enter the dos mode
2. start the comuter. then press F8 10-20 times. When a blach sreen open then again press F8. See where is START IN DOS MODE. highlight & enter. by.............
3. Well, that would be hard. As Windows XP doesn't have any real "pure" DOS mode. Here are alternative solutions : Do you still have your Windows 98 Installation CD? If you do, try booting that CD. It will boot in DOS. And you're free to use the format command. It's also found inside the Windows 98 CD. Also, you can try download Boot disk generators if you have a floppy drive. http://www.bootdisk.com/ However, if your hard disk is formatted in NTFS, those ideas might not work. As a last resort, have your Windows XP Installation disk handy, and try to boot the CD-ROM first, in Windows XP's installation procedure, there are options to unpartition hard disks, then do it. After installing XP, then format it.
4. Try this: Start - Run - type cmd - OK. This opens a DOS screen. I have only used it once and I had windows open. Maybe worth a try?