Running MS-DOS On PCs With Windows XP Or Later

[Iconoclast]

If you have Windows XP or later, you probably have found the common suspicion that there is no way to run in DOS mode anymore. This was Microsoft's intention to make it this way. But I use DOS mode to play DOS games when my bedtime limiter shuts me down so I can't log on anymore in my Windows XP account. No such software can stop you from DOS mode. If you are lucky enough to have a floppy disk drive, there is a way.

These are the only ways I know of to enter DOS mode if you have Windows XP or later:

Format a bootable disk (usually a floppy).
Have an earlier (probably better, too) version of Windows (i.e. 98) installed on a different hard disk, should you have one.To keep things simple, I will explain formatting a bootable floppy disk instead.

Use the "My Computer" command from the Windows Start Menu.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/rswedlo/Help%20Images/MyComputerCommand.png

In the new window that comes up, right mouse-click the "3½ Floppy (A:)" option, and select the "Format" command from the shortcut menu. If you do not see this option, you do not have a floppy disk drive.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/rswedlo/Help%20Images/FormatAFloppyDisk.gif

I'm too lazy to get rid of the crust around the part of the image at the top-right. Speaking of which, the makers of VBulletin should get rid of that white crust that appears all frickin' over all of the images and buttons. For example, the "Post Reply" button. Anyway, that's enough of that.

In the "Format" prompt that opens, make sure that the settings match those of the image below, and click the "Format" button.


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/rswedlo/Help%20Images/FormatABootableFloppyDisk.gif

Now restart the computer. I assume nobody needs visual aid as to how to do that. Make sure that before Windows XP starts to load, you have the floppy disk in your floppy disk drive.

In time, your computer should be booting from the floppy disk and running DOS mode...unless your BIOS was configured not to boot from your floppy disk. And now you're done. Just keep these points in mind:

You cannot use the "EXIT" command.
You cannot switch to your hard disk. If you could do that, Windows XP's user security system of protecting files on the hard disk from users other than administrators would be pointless when you could access the hard disk in DOS mode. Windows XP cannot protect files on the hard disk if it is not running.
You can switch between other floppy disks with some of your favorite DOS games. Since I can't log in or use Windows after 10 PM every night, I can still play games in DOS mode. My parents can't install software to stop DOS mode from working...uh, but there are a couple of things dad can do.
When you are finished running a program in DOS mode that changes the UI, your computer will ask for the disk with the file "COMMAND.COM" in it's root directory to be inserted. If you inserted a different disk that was ALSO bootable, you shouldn't have this message.MS-DOS can be boring to some, but not when you know all the commands and how to use it to edit binary.

Speaking of which, I can give you all the binary code for any file on your computer. But I need to know it's directory and file name.

[psilonaut]

Damn that's unnecesary. Remeber how everybody was telling you about emulating different PC environments on Windows would fall under this category?

Try DOS-Box. Very clean and simple to use DOS emulator.


You cannot switch to your hard disk. If you could do that, Windows XP's user security system of protecting files on the hard disk from users other than administrators would be pointless when you could access the hard disk in DOS mode. Windows XP cannot protect files on the hard disk if it is not running.
MS-DOS can be boring to some, but not when you know all the commands and how to use it to edit binary.

Speaking of which, I can give you all the binary code for any file on your computer. But I need to know it's directory and file name.

You can browse your hard drives in DOS. There's nothing stopping by default.

And binary? What the crap are you talking about? DOS dosn't require any knowledge of binary. Nobody programs in binary anymore, machine code is as base as it gets anymore. And you can't find the binary code for any file on my computer.... you just can't.

[Kurt]

Dosbox is by far superior to this method, unless of course you can't use it. Good walkthrough, though.

And yeah; who the hell uses binary anymore?

And I need visual aid on how to restart my computer. :( Can you post some pics of it?

[Iconoclast]

For you, beat the crap out of your PC, unbeat the crap out of it, and it should start up again. JK of course.You can browse your hard drives in DOS. There's nothing stopping by default.

And binary? What the crap are you talking about? DOS dosn't require any knowledge of binary. Nobody programs in binary anymore, machine code is as base as it gets anymore. And you can't find the binary code for any file on my computer.... you just can't.No you can't...unless you're using DOSbox. I would use DOSbox, but I can't because my dad disabled installing software and stuff. That's why I posted this method for those with the same problem. Anyway, why don't you TRY switching to your hard drive before saying you can't? That is, using this method instead of DOSbox. Thank you for your walkthrough, Remorse. When I am able to, I will try (if I remember) using DOSbox.

I didn't say you needed to know binary! I just said it's kind of cool that you can edit binary and regular text files in DOS mode, despite the powerless-looking command line interface.

As for who the hell uses binary...it's the universal programming language. I can't imagine anyone who would need to, but it can be used to make anything beyond our definition of a program on a computer, such as a whole different operating system. Anyway, you can't edit Flash executables published using Flash with Flash Player combined in them without some binary editor...or at least if you're going to edit the title bar description text, Properties/Version info, and stuff like that. I wasn't saying anybody uses binary either, and no standard programmer really needs to know it. Again, I was just saying.

[psilonaut]

... Anyway, why don't you TRY switching to your hard drive before saying you can't? ....


Why would anybody bother having a hard drive in their computer if you couldn't browse through it with DOS? Up until the Windows NT stream all MS operating systems worked ontop of DOS. Maybe your drive hasn't been mounted properly?


I didn't say you needed to know binary! I just said it's kind of cool that you can edit binary and regular text files in DOS mode, despite the powerless-looking command line interface.


You can edit binary in any kind of operating system. I can edit binary on a peice of paper. None of it will do you any good without some kind of reference as to what it all means.

I can read binary with a reference - example this encoded to ascii standards -
01010100011010000110100101110011001000000110100101 110011001000000110001001101001
01101110011000010111001001111001001000000110001101 101111011001000110010001100101
01100100001000000111010001101111001000000110000101 110011011000110110100101101001
00100000011100110111010001100001011011100110010001 100001011100100110010001110011
-
but without reference it means nothing.


As for who the hell uses binary...it's the universal programming language. I can't imagine anyone who would need to, but it can be used to make anything beyond our definition of a program on a computer, such as a whole different operating system. Anyway, you can't edit Flash executables published using Flash with Flash Player combined in them without some binary editor...or at least if you're going to edit the title bar description text, Properties/Version info, and stuff like that. I wasn't saying anybody uses binary either, and no standard programmer really needs to know it. Again, I was just saying.

I think you have some misconceptions as to what binary is. Nobody would ever need binary for flash. You need to know some coding. But not binary. Binary is used as a means of communication on every peice of digital hardware, but nobody programs by entering a series of 1's and 0's.

[Kurt]

but nobody programs by entering a series of 1's and 0's. Exactly. It's just redundant now that we have advanced programs that will do it for us and more. I know some people still use binary, but that's like saying some people worship Sharpie pens. What?

[Iconoclast]

Why would anybody bother having a hard drive in their computer if you couldn't browse through it with DOS? Up until the Windows NT stream all MS operating systems worked ontop of DOS. Maybe your drive hasn't been mounted properly?

You can edit binary in any kind of operating system. I can edit binary on a peice of paper. None of it will do you any good without some kind of reference as to what it all means.

I can read binary with a reference - example this encoded to ascii standards -
01010100011010000110100101110011001000000110100101 110011001000000110001001101001
01101110011000010111001001111001001000000110001101 101111011001000110010001100101
01100100001000000111010001101111001000000110000101 110011011000110110100101101001
00100000011100110111010001100001011011100110010001 100001011100100110010001110011
-
but without reference it means nothing.

I think you have some misconceptions as to what binary is. Nobody would ever need binary for flash. You need to know some coding. But not binary. Binary is used as a means of communication on every peice of digital hardware, but nobody programs by entering a series of 1's and 0's.The reference part doesn't make any sense to me. Binary is binary. There doesn't need to be a key translator or whatever if you know binary if that's what you're trying to say. And it can be learned. Why would it be impossible?

I know you can edit binary in pretty much any operating system. But it's something ironic to do in DOS. Don't ask me what I mean by ironic.

I STILL don't know what 'mount' means, and you STILL didn't tell me what :P means. Try it yourself, LIKE I SAID. Normally, you can access your hard disk in DOS mode. But not if you have Windows XP. Like I said, Windows XP's hard disk protection to lesser users would be worthless if you could just bypass the protection using DOS mode. Windows cannot protect your hard disk's files if Windows is not running, so if you have Windows XP, they modified that you can't access your hard disk in DOS mode unless you have an earlier version of Windows installed as well, for any earlier version does not have administrative user configuration or the ability to protect data on your hard disk. Just try it, and you'll see what I mean. OK? That's why you have to have a bootable floppy disk to enter DOS mode if you have XP, so that your computer is entirely dependent on your floppy disk for operating system instructions. If you could access your hard disk in DOS mode when you have XP, Microsoft would enable MS-DOS mode in the same ways you used to be able to enter it using Windows 98, such as PIF shortcuts, manually choosing to restart in DOS mode, and so on. I hope I have cleared this up now.

[psilonaut]

You didn't clear anything up. You just ignored what I said. I can boot into DOS and browse all of my drives. And go ahead and tell me what this means without using a reference.

01011001011011110111010100100000011010000110000101 110110011011100010011101110100
00100000011000010010000001100011011011000111010101 100101001000000111011101101000
01100001011101000010000001001001001001110110110100 100000011101000111100101110000
01101001011011100110011100100000011010000110010101 110010011001010010000001110101
01101110011011000110010101110011011100110010000001 111001011011110111010100100111
01110010011001010010000001100100011001010110001101 101111011001000110100101101110
01100111001000000111010101110011011010010110111001 100111001000000100000101010011
01000011010010010100100100100000011100110111010001 100001011011100110010001100001
01110010011001000111001100100000011000010111001100 100000011000010010000001110010
01100101011001100110010101110010011001010110111001 10001101100101

[Iconoclast]

Didn't I just tell you that I don't know binary? There does not need to be a key/legend reference either. If you know binary, you know binary. Simple.

Do you have Windows XP?

[psilonaut]

Then there should be a binary to english translator out there right?
And yes I'm running XP 64bit

[Iconoclast]

Then there should be a binary to english translator out there right?
And yes I'm running XP 64bitYou don't need a translator if you know binary, which is possible to learn. After all, you can't assume. Oh, NOW you get it, right? Whoever makes such translators probably knows binary anyway.

And you are entering DOS mode by using my method, not the DOSBox method? In other words, you booted into DOS using a bootable floppy disk?

[psilonaut]

You don't need a translator if you know binary, which is possible to learn. After all, you can't assume. Oh, NOW you get it, right? Whoever makes such translators probably knows binary anyway.

And you are entering DOS mode by using my method, not the DOSBox method? In other words, you booted into DOS using a bootable floppy disk?

My point was that there isn't a english to binary translator. You have different reference languages. Such as ASCII check out this translator. (http://nickciske.com/tools/binary.php)

And yes. I loaded DOS onto a bootable medium, booted into DOS from said media and I can browse my drives! Why would I lie about somthing like this? I'm going to go ahead and assume that you have your main hard drives formated using NTFS. DOS works with FAT partitions and cannot read NTFS partitions without a program such as this (http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm) to translate it.

[Iconoclast]

My point was that there isn't a english to binary translator. You have different reference languages. Such as ASCII check out this translator. (http://nickciske.com/tools/binary.php)

And yes. I loaded DOS onto a bootable medium, booted into DOS from said media and I can browse my drives! Why would I lie about somthing like this?Oh, that's true. When instructions written in other programming languages are read by a computer, the computer translates it to binary and then executes it...or something like that, right? But binary just doesn't seem expressable in English...or at least in any universal way, if you know what I mean.

Then what does it say when you type 'EXIT'? And then 'KEYB'?

[psilonaut]

Exit will do nothing - I'm running DOS by itself, not ontop of anything. And keyb... Would rather not mess around with my key assignments. But the program will run.

[Iconoclast]

Exit will do nothing - I'm running DOS by itself, not ontop of anything. And keyb... Would rather not mess around with my key assignments. But the program will run.All right. Whatever. I believe you.

Well, unless you have multiple operating systems installed, I don't know why it lets you access your hard disk. Probably because of the way your user configuration in your case of XP is set up for all I know. If there's an administrator account with no password protection, why not allow access to the hard disk in DOS mode? I don't know for sure, though.

Anyway, I would LOVE to try Remorse's method, but unless someone can tell me how to crack :) other user's passwords or write to my own goddamn hard disk when my dad disabled it, I'm helpless.

[psilonaut]

All right. Whatever. I believe you.

Anyway, I would LOVE to try Remorse's method, but unless someone can tell me how to crack :) other user's passwords or write to my own goddamn hard disk when my dad disabled it, I'm helpless.

Like I said you probably have access to the drive but you can't read it because it's formatted in NTFS. Find a NTFS reader that can run from a FAT or FAT32 partition. I linked to one in my previous post.

[Iconoclast]

You mean the ASCII translator in the post by you before your previous post?

I don't get it. There is NO way Windows XP will allow me to write to access and write to my hard disk in DOS mode when I'm not allowed to do it when running Windows (account limitations). My hard disk is formatted in NTFS, but I'm not allowed to access it. It just acts like it doesn't exist, and it doesn't because DOS turns my hard disk off so I can't write to it. That's why you have to use a bootable floppy disk to enter DOS mode. That way, you will have a drive that you can access while you're in DOS. Before I had Windows XP, I could access my hard disk and easily enter DOS. And I can't take screenshots of DOS games I run while running Windows XP. Stupid NTVDM.EXE DOS emulator. I want DOSBox. My parents have NO reason to disable me from writing to my hard disk or doing anything. My dad's just some power-hungry administrator.
*Edited*
Oh, I see the link you mean. You edited your post; I didn't see. But where's the download link for it? Should I install it on my hard disk or the floppy disk for DOS to read and then activate the hard disk during DOS using the floppy? I need some details.

[joedodgy]

Iconoclast, there are plenty of linux boot cds available specifically to crack or reset windows passwords.. go to google, in the search box type, "rainbow boot cd windows passwords" then hit "i'm feeling lucky" :) .. (Ophcrack 2 for those playing along at home ;)).

As for the binary debate, quite humerous :) .. Here's an easy one for you (all x86)..

10010000 11101011 11111110

And the answer to the first byte (8 bits in a byte obviously)


1
2 6 3 1
8 4 2 6 8 4 2 1
| | | | | | | |
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 = 128 + 16 = 144 = 90h = nop (x86)

[Iconoclast]

Well, all that I could learn about binary is in the About Binary thread I posted somewhere...probably in PC Gaming/Emulation, but I'm not sure.

Really? So you can use this to crack :) Windows XP passwords? Well, I installed it, but now that I have it open, now what do I do?

[joedodgy]

did you get the live cd which is 450mb? .. i should probably add that it is this big because it uses rainbow tables - and the ones included ain't the maximum either, you could have bigger ones that included the full ascii character set.

oh, and there are smaller boot cds, that dont use rainbow tables but also do the trick for recovering windows passwords

but yeah, as for ophcrack-livecd-1.0.iso, just burn it - pop it in the computer you want the passwords from, press enter when it tells you to and the rest is automatic.. it comes up with a nice table of all your user accounts and their respective passwords.

[psilonaut]

I've always used knoppix to get around the XP passwords, I even used to have a distro of "Damned Small Linux" that I could fix onto my USB key :) neat peice of software.

[Iconoclast]

I don't get it. This is what I did:

Went to http://www.ophcrack.sourceforge.net (http://www.ophcrack.sourceforge.net/).
Clicked on Getting and Installing OPHCrack 2.2.
Clicked on 'project page'.
Clicked "Download Ophcrack"
Clicked "2.2"
Clicked on "ophcrack-win32-installer-2.2.exe"
Ran the installation and installed it to C:\ophcrack
Started up ophcrack using Start Menu
Clicked 'load' option and tried all of the SAM options. None of them do anything. I tried picking the file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SAM, but it's not giving me anything. I think it's because while installing ophcrack, I chose minimal installation by not installing any tables or whatever. What do these 'tables' do anyway? I'm desperate and need help!

[Fierce Deity]

I know of two ways for hacking xp passwords.

* Way 1. This way is easy, but it doesn't always work. Turn your computer off. Turn it on. When it is booting up and it says Windows XP and has the little bar with small blue rectangle things moving around in it, turn your computer off. When you restart, select safe mode. There will be an account called administrator. It probably isn't password protected, but those that know about it, protect it. Anyhoo, go into that account if you can, control panel>Users, click a user and change their password. I think they lose the data in their my documents though.

*Way 2. Start your computer in Safe mode Command Prompt. If you don't know how to do this, look at the above instructions for how to get to safe mode. Do not pick safe mode though, pick safe mode command prompt. when you are able to type, type

rename c:windows*.pwl

hit enter, then type

c:windows*.zzz

After that, I think it will prompt you to pick a new password. If that doesn't work, either let me know, or google "rename c:windows*.pwl" or try to find XP password changing techniques. Well, at least I can say I tried to help.

P.S. If possible, try to use Way 1 before you use Way 2.

[Iconoclast]

Ah, I have already tried the first way ahead of time. I don't think the second way will work because you have to log in before you can use the command prompt, and you can only log into administrator accounts. I have a limited account, which will be invisible in safe mode.

But joedodgy gave me the software for cracking passwords. I can't figure out how to use it.

[Fierce Deity]

No, not just normal command prompt, safe mode command prompt. It has to let you in. When your computer is booting, turn it off at the XP screen with the blue bar. turn it back on and you will have options.

[Fierce Deity]

Iconoclast, try this. You can probably change your Dad's password using Method 2. Then just uninstall the software that kicks you off at 10pm. Make yourself the administrator. Make your dad a restricted user. I will laugh. When you tell me, of course. I'm not watching trhough your window or anything.

[Iconoclast]

Right. Neither of those methods work for me. They are not invalid; they work for you. They just won't work for me.

You know, psilonaut, you really have a habit of ****ing me off. In threads like this, it wasn't so bad. But in other threads, I've noticed you otherwise. That one thread I started that you ruined...if that happens again, I am banning you. Smartass.

[DarthBrady]

Neither of them worked, because neither of them are valid methods. the only true way to break windowsXP password ecryption is to steal, crack, and replace both NT and LAN hashes stored in the windows XP SAM file.

this is done with linux most commonly. Someone earlier said they use Knoppix, which is right on target. Using knoppix and air snort, and NT passkey, are the only real way to go, if your going to hack windows XP passwords.

[DarthBrady]

No, not just normal command prompt, safe mode command prompt. It has to let you in. When your computer is booting, turn it off at the XP screen with the blue bar. turn it back on and you will have options.

sorry, but this is by all means, stupid as hell.
why risk system integrity doing something like this? you can get to the same options by hitting the F8 key after the Bios system stability notification beep has released the CPU.(right before the windows XP boot screen)

turning your PC off at the boot screen is just stupid. its an open invitation to compromise system integrity and the loss of boot structure conjunctive data.
I highly recommend NEVER trying this, unlesss you just dont care about your hard drive.

dont take it personally FD, just letting you guys know....

[DarthBrady]

Also, using a DOS boot disk is kind of pointless on an XP based PC.

Dos cannot retrieve system information correctly on board newer than Pentium 3 or AMD K7M's.
Not to mention, DOS is Designed for Pre-USB ISA/PCI/AGP/ and Riser Boards. And with the exception of AGP/PCI, it will not be compatible with existing motherboard reosources. The DOS kernel is too old and to slow to understand it.

As much as I hate to say it, DOSBOX is a better way to go. why spend all the time it will take to configure a DOS bootdisk, when you can easily emulate the neccesary components with DOSBOX.

[Iconoclast]

Also, using a DOS boot disk is kind of pointless on an XP based PC.

Dos cannot retrieve system information correctly on board newer than Pentium 3 or AMD K7M's.
Not to mention, DOS is Designed for Pre-USB ISA/PCI/AGP/ and Riser Boards. And with the exception of AGP/PCI, it will not be compatible with existing motherboard reosources. The DOS kernel is too old and to slow to understand it.

As much as I hate to say it, DOSBOX is a better way to go. why spend all the time it will take to configure a DOS bootdisk, when you can easily emulate the neccesary components with DOSBOX.Because I can't. I'm not an administrator. I can't install DOSbox because of account limitations.

[DarthBrady]

Because I can't. I'm not an administrator. I can't install DOSbox because of account limitations.

I understand. That sucks. BUt its not worth tearing up your hard disk is it?

They wont let you install it if you ask them? its not like its something that should be censored from you, just tell them you want to play some old games, and windows XP needs the DOSBOX tool to run them properly.

I would be happy to send them a convincing email for you, if they want an outside opinion to assure them its safe for you and your PC.

[Iconoclast]

I understand. That sucks. BUt its not worth tearing up your hard disk is it?

They wont let you install it if you ask them? its not like its something that should be censored from you, just tell them you want to play some old games, and windows XP needs the DOSBOX tool to run them properly.

I would be happy to send them a convincing email for you, if they want an outside opinion to assure them its safe for you and your PC.Well, thanks for the offer, but I don't like asking them to install things for me. I don't like talking to Dad. But...I suppose I really should take another look at it. They're not afraid it's dangerous or anything; I just haven't asked them yet. If I ask Dad, he's gonna ask all these questions. Why do you want it? Who told you about this? Three other questions I could think of. If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. Including installing software. I don't want his questioning. When I live by myself, I'll be able to get my own PC without their idiotic limitations.

[DarthBrady]

Well, thanks for the offer, but I don't like asking them to install things for me. I don't like talking to Dad. But...I suppose I really should take another look at it. They're not afraid it's dangerous or anything; I just haven't asked them yet. If I ask Dad, he's gonna ask all these questions. Why do you want it? Who told you about this? Three other questions I could think of. If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. Including installing software. I don't want his questioning. When I live by myself, I'll be able to get my own PC without their idiotic limitations.

I hear ya. Well.. where there's a will, theres a way; and if theres not a way, there is an alternative. :devil:

[the master 123]

One way to bypass password is to do what someone previous said, instead though press f8 when the computer floppy drive light turn on(timing may need adjusting) and use the startup menu for safe mode there is an anminster acount(yes it does exist, at least in my veiron of XP) it shouldn't be password protected and you can remove the password of an anininseter account or create an aninseteer account(just be sure to remove once you done) to install doxbox. As an opinion there is a program called virtual pc that is currently free at the mircosoft website but you need the orginarl os setup disc to use it I find it works better that dosbox though.

[Iconoclast]

One way to bypass password is to do what someone previous said, instead though press f8 when the computer floppy drive light turn on(timing may need adjusting) and use the startup menu for safe mode there is an anminster acount(yes it does exist, at least in my veiron of XP) it shouldn't be password protected and you can remove the password of an anininseter account or create an aninseteer account(just be sure to remove once you done) to install doxbox. As an opinion there is a program called virtual pc that is currently free at the mircosoft website but you need the orginarl os setup disc to use it I find it works better that dosbox though.I can barely understand what you just said. You say that if I press F8 while my computer is booting, when my floppy disk light turns on, I can log into Safe Mode? The F8 thing I didn't know about, but to be honest, I already tried that method. The Administrator account is password-protected.