# Can't boot windows, no matter what I do **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133 "2001-04-07T05:47:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![linolium420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@linolium420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/linolium420)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/1 "2001-04-07T05:47:56Z")
Every single time I try to boot windows, it gives me the following error: “You are still in DOS mode. Would you like to return to Windows so you can run windows programs? (Y/N)” I press Y, it reboots and then gives the exact same error over again. I press N, it says this: “Exit the program you are running to return to windows, or type ‘WIN’ again.” Then it dumps me back to dos. If I type ‘WIN’ again it takes me back to the original error. So, I’m stuck with running windows off a boot disk, which works OK but it still sucks. I’ve tried going into DOS and replacing all my boot files (msdos.sys, config.sys etc) with the ones on the boot disk, I’ve tried re-installing windows (only the update, not a full install), I tried ‘fdisk /mbr’, even moved some partitions around on my HD with PartitionMagic. PM did all it’s boot-up stuff just fine but once it finished, back to the original error again. I’ve tried checking my computer and windows for errors with Norton, but nothing. I’ve tried changing the config files, even took a look through SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI but nothing. Any idea’s anybody? ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/2 "2001-04-07T06:13:08Z")
Installing the update will not do anything for you. Back up your files and rerun the Windows install. Also, Partition Magic is not fool proof, it can and does create more problems than you want. If you ever get the idea of using Boot Magic, don’t…I lost my entire system because of it. ---
**Author:** ![linolium420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@linolium420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/linolium420)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/3 "2001-04-07T06:45:52Z")
damn, i was afraid somebody was gonna tell me I’m stuck with completely reinstalling windows…oh well. thanks for the tips regarding PartitionMagic, yes that program is kinda fucked ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/4 "2001-04-07T06:56:35Z")
linoleum (did I spell that right?) Anyhow, if you have done the most rudementary tasks to get it to boot into Windows and it wont, generally reinstalling Windows is your best bet. Personally, I would wipe the entire system and start from scratch but that’s just me. Usually reinstalling is a patch, in my mind, and doesn’t fully get rid of the problems that began the problems to begin with. Reinstalling Windows is a pretty minor issue. You will need all your drivers disks too, remember that. And if you can, remember to hop on the internet, before you install all that data and your programs, update all the hardware drivers. Play with it for a day or two until you are satisfied that it’s up and running in a clean manner. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/5 "2001-04-07T15:57:23Z")
Its not necessary to swear, however its necessary to give which version of windows you have. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/6 "2001-04-07T16:44:02Z")
one thing that you can try that will occasionally get someone out of a dos loop – (assuming your using 95 or 98) rename config.sys (c:\ directory) to config.old rename autoexec.bat (c:\ directory) to autoexec.old delete the dosstart.bat (I think its .bat, the extenstion may be different in the c:\windows directory) That may get your windows back, if not, welcome to the reload… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/7 "2001-04-07T23:25:37Z")
At the DOS prompt use: scanreg /restore select an earlier registry. This always works for me depending on what version of windows you have which we don’t know as our resident mind reader is on vacation. ---
**Author:** ![linolium420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@linolium420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/linolium420)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2001, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/8 "2001-04-08T07:05:55Z")
thanks for the help, ya’ll. sorry I forget to mention, I’m using windows 98. The exact version is 4.10.2222 I’ll give the scanreg command a shot first, if that doesn’t work I guess I’ll reinstall ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2001, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-boot-windows-no-matter-what-i-do/61133/9 "2001-04-08T07:18:42Z")
Handy is right again of course… you have 98se then again if you were getting dos errors we can narrow it down some (and sometimes assume 98,… wont be ME or 2000 anyway). Try scanreg /restore as he says.