No MS DOS prompt in XP

August 17, 2007

I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS prompt

is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I can

still start it from run -> cmd.

Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

Thanks

gazza fl-coatey

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>prompt

> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I

> can

> still start it from run -> cmd.

>

> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

> Thanks

>

> gazza fl-coatey

Create a shortcut in the accessories folder that points at cmd.exe.

You can locate the Accessories folder by right-clicking the Start

button, then exploring "All Users".

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>prompt

> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I

> can

> still start it from run -> cmd.

>

> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

> Thanks

There is no MS-DOS in any Windows NT OS; that is what is missing.

There is no easy way, nor is there any need, to get it back.

CMD is the replacement.

I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

shortcut on

the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure would

work.

Jim

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:mzmxi.14752$eY.8595@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

>

> "gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>>prompt

>> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I

>> can

>> still start it from run -> cmd.

>>

>> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

>> Thanks

> There is no MS-DOS in any Windows NT OS; that is what is missing.

> There is no easy way, nor is there any need, to get it back.

> CMD is the replacement.

> I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

> shortcut on

> the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure would

> work.

>

> Jim

There is no reason why placing a shortcut to "cmd.exe" on the

desktop should not work. In fact you can place a shortcut anywhere

on your machine!

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

Very likely you would click on the new shortcut on the desktop and you would

get a command window.

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"Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:mzmxi.14752$eY.8595@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

> I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

> shortcut on

> the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure would

> work.

>

> Jim

>

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

gazza boy5 wrote:

> I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS prompt

> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I can

> still start it from run -> cmd.

>

> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

> Thanks

>

> gazza fl-coatey

IIRC, the Command Prompt shortcut is buried in the Accessories group.

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message

news:ux3uvdQ4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

> "Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:mzmxi.14752$eY.8595@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

>>

>> I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

>> shortcut on

>> the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure

>> would work.

>>

>> Jim

>

> There is no reason why placing a shortcut to "cmd.exe" on the

> desktop should not work. In fact you can place a shortcut anywhere

> on your machine!

>

I have quit telling people that a procedure, which I have not tried, will

work.

Jim

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:mWnxi.49876$YL5.10474@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...

>

> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message

> news:ux3uvdQ4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>

>> "Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

>> news:mzmxi.14752$eY.8595@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

>>>

>>> I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

>>> shortcut on

>>> the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure

>>> would work.

>>>

>>> Jim

>>

>> There is no reason why placing a shortcut to "cmd.exe" on the

>> desktop should not work. In fact you can place a shortcut anywhere

>> on your machine!

>>

> I have quit telling people that a procedure, which I have not tried, will

> work.

> Jim

That's a very good practice. But if you go to the trouble of

suggesting a solution to the OP's problem, why not make it

stick and try it out for yourself before posting it?

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:10:02 -0700, gazza boy5

<gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS prompt

> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I can

> still start it from run -> cmd.

>

> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

First, note that it's not actually MS-DOS, which doesn't exist in

Windows XP. It's a command prompt, which much of the same thing, but

not all, that an MS-DOS prompt would.

You can add *any* program to Start | All Programs by putting a

shortcut to it into

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu|Programs.

In your case, if you want the shortcut in Accessories, then put it in

the Accessories subfolder of the above folder.

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message

news:urPHaOR4HHA.5796@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>

> "Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:mWnxi.49876$YL5.10474@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...

>>

>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message

>> news:ux3uvdQ4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>>

>>> "Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

>>> news:mzmxi.14752$eY.8595@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

>>>>

>>>> I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

>>>> shortcut on

>>>> the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure

>>>> would work.

>>>>

>>>> Jim

>>>

>>> There is no reason why placing a shortcut to "cmd.exe" on the

>>> desktop should not work. In fact you can place a shortcut anywhere

>>> on your machine!

>>>

>> I have quit telling people that a procedure, which I have not tried, will

>> work.

>> Jim

>

> That's a very good practice. But if you go to the trouble of

> suggesting a solution to the OP's problem, why not make it

> stick and try it out for yourself before posting it?

>

It is the OP's problem; let him try it out.

Jim

August 17, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>prompt

> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I

> can

> still start it from run -> cmd.

>

> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

> Thanks

Actually, there are two different command prompts available on WXP.

One is very similar to the old command promp, and you run it just like in

the old DOS days: you run command.com. Hmmm. Is command.com an operting

system called DOS?

The other is a much more versatile command prompt started by running

cmd.exe.

WXP has a huge help file which you can find by searching help and support

for:

command line reference a-z.

-Paul Randall

August 18, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:mzmxi.14752$eY.8595@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

>

> "gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>>prompt

>> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I

>> can

>> still start it from run -> cmd.

>>

>> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

>> Thanks

> There is no MS-DOS in any Windows NT OS; that is what is missing.

> There is no easy way, nor is there any need, to get it back.

> CMD is the replacement.

> I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

> shortcut on

> the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure would

> work.

>

I put this shortcut on my WinXP desktop and use it all the time for various

things. For example, I copy pics from my 57-in-1 card reader to my G:\

drive picture folder using DOS. Also to get a quick listing to print easily

of files and their sizes in any given folder. I guess it depends what

you're brought up with.

someone

August 18, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"Paul Randall" <paulr901@cableone.net> wrote in message

news:%23AThU8R4HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

> "gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>>prompt

>> is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I

>> can

>> still start it from run -> cmd.

>>

>> Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

>> Thanks

>

> Actually, there are two different command prompts available on WXP.

> One is very similar to the old command promp, and you run it just like in

> the old DOS days: you run command.com. Hmmm. Is command.com an operting

> system called DOS?

No. It is a command line interpreter. In short, it accepts a string from

the user and then

determines which program to run and which switches to apply. It also has

the ability

to redirect the output to a user defined file.

Cmd.exe is also a command line interpreter. Someone else will doubtless

tell us the

differences between these two programs.

Jim

>

> The other is a much more versatile command prompt started by running

> cmd.exe.

> WXP has a huge help file which you can find by searching help and support

> for:

> command line reference a-z.

>

> -Paul Randall

>

August 18, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:uopxi.3983$i75.35@newssvr19.news.prodigy.net...

>

> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message

> news:urPHaOR4HHA.5796@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>>

>> "Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

>> news:mWnxi.49876$YL5.10474@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...

>>>

>>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message

>>> news:ux3uvdQ4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>>>

>>>> "Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote in message

>>>> news:mzmxi.14752$eY.8595@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

>>>>>

>>>>> I suppose that a person could create a shortcut to cmd and place the

>>>>> shortcut on

>>>>> the desktop. It would be interesting to see how well this procedure

>>>>> would work.

>>>>>

>>>>> Jim

>>>>

>>>> There is no reason why placing a shortcut to "cmd.exe" on the

>>>> desktop should not work. In fact you can place a shortcut anywhere

>>>> on your machine!

>>>>

>>> I have quit telling people that a procedure, which I have not tried,

>>> will work.

>>> Jim

>>

>> That's a very good practice. But if you go to the trouble of

>> suggesting a solution to the OP's problem, why not make it

>> stick and try it out for yourself before posting it?

>>

> It is the OP's problem; let him try it out.

> Jim

You sound like a troll.

August 18, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

Jim wrote:

> "Paul Randall" <paulr901@cableone.net> wrote in message

> news:%23AThU8R4HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

>>"gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>>news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>>

>>>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>>>prompt

>>>is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However I

>>>can

>>>still start it from run -> cmd.

>>>

>>>Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

>>>Thanks

>>

>>Actually, there are two different command prompts available on WXP.

>>One is very similar to the old command promp, and you run it just like in

>>the old DOS days: you run command.com. Hmmm. Is command.com an operting

>>system called DOS?

>

> No. It is a command line interpreter. In short, it accepts a string from

> the user and then

> determines which program to run and which switches to apply. It also has

> the ability

> to redirect the output to a user defined file.

>

> Cmd.exe is also a command line interpreter. Someone else will doubtless

> tell us the

> differences between these two programs.

Command.com is the 16-bit command processor for 16-bit DOS applications,

or more precisely it is the command processor for the NT Virtual DOS

Machine (NTVDM), as with all 16-bit applications Command.com runs inside

the NTVDM.

Cmd.exe is the native NT 32-bit command processor. The Command.com that

ships with NT operating systems is not the same as the one in DOS/Win9x

operating systems, it is a special version. The NT version of

Command.com prepares and passes all of the commands it receives to

Cmd.exe for execution. That is why the two CLI's appear seemingly to be

able to run the same commands, they are because Cmd.exe runs the

commands for Command.com so in fact Command.com can take advantage of

the commands available with Cmd.exe.

If you want to see the above in action start the the Task Manager (or

Process Explorer) and then launch Command.com and you will see the NTVDM

start in the Task Manager, you will not see Command.com. Now, give a

bit of work to the Command.com 16-bit processor and keep an eye on the

Task Manager and you will see Cmd.exe appear and then disappear when it

executes the command it received from Command.com. If the amount of

work to do is too little you won't see CMD.EXE appear in the Task

Manager, the work will be over before Task Manager responds. A good

command to run to see this would be the DIR /s command from the root folder:

cd\

dir /s

The dir/s command will list all the files on the volume, to stop the

output of the dir /s command press Ctrl+Break. Once and for all that

should dispel the notion that some hold that there is DOS in NT

operating systems.

John

August 18, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:ehTZXQW4HHA.4184@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

> Jim wrote:

>

>> "Paul Randall" <paulr901@cableone.net> wrote in message

>> news:%23AThU8R4HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>"gazza boy5" <gazzaboy5@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>>>news:E8FB5556-29B0-4AA8-AD30-1C0A59574BEE@microsoft.com...

>>>

>>>>I have installed XP on a dual boot system and I have noticed the MSDOS

>>>>prompt

>>>>is missing from the start -> all programs -> accessories menu. However

>>>>I can

>>>>still start it from run -> cmd.

>>>>

>>>>Can someone tell me why it is missing and an easy way to get it back.

>>>>Thanks

>>>

>>>Actually, there are two different command prompts available on WXP.

>>>One is very similar to the old command promp, and you run it just like in

>>>the old DOS days: you run command.com. Hmmm. Is command.com an operting

>>>system called DOS?

>>

>> No. It is a command line interpreter. In short, it accepts a string

>> from the user and then

>> determines which program to run and which switches to apply. It also has

>> the ability

>> to redirect the output to a user defined file.

>>

>> Cmd.exe is also a command line interpreter. Someone else will doubtless

>> tell us the

>> differences between these two programs.

>

> Command.com is the 16-bit command processor for 16-bit DOS applications,

> or more precisely it is the command processor for the NT Virtual DOS

> Machine (NTVDM), as with all 16-bit applications Command.com runs inside

> the NTVDM.

>

> Cmd.exe is the native NT 32-bit command processor. The Command.com that

> ships with NT operating systems is not the same as the one in DOS/Win9x

> operating systems, it is a special version. The NT version of Command.com

> prepares and passes all of the commands it receives to Cmd.exe for

> execution. That is why the two CLI's appear seemingly to be able to run

> the same commands, they are because Cmd.exe runs the commands for

> Command.com so in fact Command.com can take advantage of the commands

> available with Cmd.exe.

>

> If you want to see the above in action start the the Task Manager (or

> Process Explorer) and then launch Command.com and you will see the NTVDM

> start in the Task Manager, you will not see Command.com. Now, give a bit

> of work to the Command.com 16-bit processor and keep an eye on the Task

> Manager and you will see Cmd.exe appear and then disappear when it

> executes the command it received from Command.com. If the amount of work

> to do is too little you won't see CMD.EXE appear in the Task Manager, the

> work will be over before Task Manager responds. A good command to run to

> see this would be the DIR /s command from the root folder:

>

> cd\

> dir /s

>

> The dir/s command will list all the files on the volume, to stop the

> output of the dir /s command press Ctrl+Break. Once and for all that

> should dispel the notion that some hold that there is DOS in NT operating

> systems.

>

> John

Your excellent reply should disspell a few persistent myths about "DOS"

under WinXP and about 16/32 bit command processors.

August 18, 2007

Re: No MS DOS prompt in XP

Thanks, John. Very informative. Especially nice to present a way to see

that cmd.exe is actually doing most of the work.