Using an XP boot disc.

[trueman]

I dont understand this as much as I should so hopefully someone can shed some light on the subject.
I have tried using an XP boot disc an NTFS boot disc and a boot cd-rom to try and boot into DOS to delete some files. However I can only access an A:\ drive. When trying to switch to C:\ I get an error message "Invalid file specification."

I run Xp on NTFS so am wondering if this has anything to do with that. If so what are my options for getting into DOS. Does anyone know of a good website that expalins all of this?

Boot w/ the XP CD-ROM and choose 'Recovery Console' during the setup process. You can then navigate and use the DOS commands provided to delete what you want.

[Martoch]

So what you're saying is, you CAN boot to the floppy, but when you type C: in the DOS prompt it says "Invalid file specification"?

Easiest way to boot "normally" is using a Windows 98 boot disk.
You can download one here:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

or

use EvilRick's suggestion.


Mike

[trueman]

I tried the Win98 boot disc and still had no luck. First I tried an XP boot disc that I downloaded from a site awhile back. It makes your cd-rom R drive (and my burner S drive) And gives them a name Tomato 1 and Tomato 2. However I could not switch to my hdd. Then I tried and NTFS boot disc which has a prog on it called NTFS reader. I could access my C:\ but could only copy files not delete them.
I then tried the Win98 boot disc and couldn't access my C:\ with that either. I will use the recovery console option mentioned by EvilRick but I want to know why I couldn't access the C:\. Is it because its NTFS?

[AzKidd69]

a win 98/me boot disk cannot natively read NTFS .. you would need ntfs2dos which unfortunately is read only unless you pay for the read/write version.. which explains why you could copy but NOT delete files..

bootdisk.com should have the XP boot disks which should work just fine for deleting files.... or just boot to the recovery console from the XP cd-rom

[edit]
edited to fix typo pointed out by mksoccer
[/edit]

[mksoccer]

Originally posted by AzKidd69
a win 98/me boot disk cannot natively read dos.. you would need ntfs2dos which unfortunately is read only unless you pay for the read/write version.. which explains why you could copy but NOT delete files..

bootdisk.com should have the XP boot disks which should work just fine for deleting files.... or just boot to the recovery console from the XP cd-rom

A Win98 Boot Disk cannot natively read NTFS, however an XP Boot CD can, so use it, go to the Recovery Console, and fix whatever needs fixing. If you want to use floppies to boot into an NTFS partition, Microsoft has a set of 5 floppies that allow you to do so. They're free, you just have to download the floppy images off their website.

[trueman]

Originally posted by AzKidd69
.......bootdisk.com should have the XP boot disks which should work just fine for deleting files....

I tried an XP boot disc made via bootdisk.com but I couldnt access my C drive. I will use the XP cd but am still wondering why I couldn't access my C drive with the xp boot disc.

Could it be because a standard Xp boot disc also cannot read NTFS partitions?

[AzKidd69]

the xp boot disks better read an NTFS partition.. that's what they are for.. lol

[trueman]

Then why couldn't I switch to my C drive?????? using the XP boot disc.

I am only guessing here but is it because the XP Boot disc will only work with Fat32 not NTFS??????????????????

Somebody....Anyone...........??????????

I've never had a problem booting w/ the XP CD and accessing NTFS partitions. I've never used the floppies for Recovery Console purposes, but I don't see how they should act any different.