Boot menu…
Holding down the F6 key while your system boots brings up a boot menu. On my system, the choices are
1 Normal Windows 98
2 Normal Windows 98 with a log of the booting process created BOOTLOG.TXT
3 Windows Safe Mode
4 Windows Safe Mode with Network support
5 MS-DOS
6 MS-DOS Safe Mode
I’ll discuss each …
1 Normal Windows 98
This is the mode Windows 98 boots into by default. Many people have never booted to anything else.
2 Normal Windows 98 with a log of the booting process created BOOTLOG.TXT
To help determine the source of some difficulty or flaky behaviour, review the log of Windows’ boot. Look for drivers failing to load, or taking too much time to initialise. (A sign of time-out failure) Unfortunately, this is a huge file and it’s difficult to spot the trouble with eyeballs. Download one of the many boot-log analysers to automate the job. Use on-line search engines to gather information on failures, because a couple are both harmless and expected. Others may be serious. This is a medium level trouble solving tool: not the first to turn to, but not the last either. Most users will never use this feature profitably.
3 Windows Safe Mode
Windows Safe mode loads a bare-bones Windows. All but the most necessary drivers are skipped. Only programs that are absolutely necessary are executed. Video defaults to standard VGA. A special screen with Safe Mode written in each corner reminds users they’re in this mode. Because so many drivers and programs aren’t loaded, many features are missing. This mode was made available because Windows developers assumed that the core of Windows’ code is reliable, and that the source of most Windows’ problems can be found in software used to enhance Windows’ functionality, appearance, or to take advantage of specific hardware environments. Especially the hardware enhancements – many of these are written by hardware vendors who do not adhere to Windows’ recommended coding practices as well as Microsoft developers feel they should.
Because minimal drivers are loaded, almost no extra programs are running, and basic Windows functionality is available, Safe Mode provides an ideal environment for running utilities which deal with the most fundamental aspects of your system. Disk defragging is an excellent example of this type of work. Software installation is another.
4 Windows Safe Mode with Network support
Much the same as regular Safe Mode. I have no experience with this mode; hence, no comments.
5 MS-DOS
DOS is the foundation upon which Windows 98 runs. DOS boots, then loads Windows. Windows then assumes control of your system. In MS-DOS mode, DOS boots, but instead of loading Windows, it loads a command interpreter. This program, COMMAND.COM, opens the lines of communication between the user and the system. It accepts and performs some basic instructions such as TYPE and DIR, executes programs such as EDIT and FORMAT, and can even start Windows when the WIN command is given.
In this mode, the screen is placed in text mode by default. On most systems, this is white letters on a black background. Also, a prompt is displayed to alert the user that a command line is expected. On most systems the default prompt is the current drive letter followed by the greater sign, (>, or capital period) and finally an underscore character which on my system gives “D> _”. This can, and often is, customised, resulting in a wide variety of prompts. I use the command SET PROMPT=$P to force the prompt to contain the current path, (The $P) so my prompt becomes “D:\JIC _”
This mode processes the contents of CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT, if they exist on your system. These files may contain drivers and instructions specific to your system, such as CD support, for example. Those who have used computers in the early days before Windows’ popularity may have DOS based software they still use. This mode is close to the original DOS. It is also very similar to a DOS window in Windows, with one important difference: in a DOS window, Windows is constantly looking over your shoulder and will pounce on anything it doesn’t like. For total freedom from Windows, boot into DOS mode. Many games require this freedom because they require complete hardware control of your system.
6 MS-DOS Safe Mode
Like Windows Safe Mode, this mode skips loading drivers and executing programs. Booting to this mode is similar to booting a system without MS-DOS.SYS, CONFIG.SYS, or AUTOEXEC.BAT. This mode loads the least possible code needed to get your system running. Obviously, it also makes the least functionality available too. If your system won’t boot in this mode, you probably have hardware problems.
DOS doesn’t indicate which mode it’s in, but here’s a hint -- Use a customised prompt in DOS. In DOS Safe Mode, the customised prompt command is skipped and the default prompt displays. Sharp eyes will spot the difference.
If you make a bootable floppy, and re-boot with it, this is the DOS you’ll get. If you make an emergency disk through Windows, StartUP disk, you’ll get regular (Number 5 DOS in this post) DOS.
7 DOS Window
Although this option doesn’t appear on my start menu, I’ll include it in my discussion. For most needs, a DOS window provides adequate support for DOS programs. As a bonus, long file names are supported, and Windows commands can be executed. I made DOS shortcuts for 25 and 50 line screens as well as full screen. One can have several DOS windows open. Right-click the shortcut and set properties as desired since the defaults are awful.
If other’s systems have additional options, please feel free to address them, completing the picture for everyone.
Cheers, PW.
P.S. I included what I do as examples, not as suggestions for others to follow. |
