What is Dos Mode | How to Get in or get out from Dos Mode?

Have you ever faced the Problem saying this program cannot be run in DOS mode? Windows still offer you to operate the computer in an environment like MS-DOS. You may want to perform some specific tasks or troubleshoot a problem through DOS mode in Windows. Or you may get stuck into DOS mode but want to get out from DOS mode. You can face some problem on Mac too. To get your work done you must know about DOS mode in Windows. So, what is DOS mode and what’s the use of it? To know the answer, read the whole article.

What is MS-DOS?

To know about dos mode, first, you should know about Ms-Dos. Ms-Dos stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System. This is an operating system developed by Microsoft for personal computers. Ms-dos operating does not have any graphical user interface like Windows or Mac that you use nowadays. It has a black screen and you can perform many tasks by writing commands in here. Operating systems, for example, Windows are compatible with MS-DOS. They are referred to as DOS.

What is DOS Mode in Windows

On a computer running on Windows operating system, DOS Mode is a true MS-DOS environment. Early versions of Windows like Windows 3.0, Windows 95 allowed their user to exit from Windows so that they can run their computer from MS-DOS. It was allowed so that users can run a program written before Windows, or the users might have a computer with limited resources to run a program. Today, you have Windows operating system that provides you with a graphical user interface to use your computer easily. But all versions of Windows have Windows command line. You can navigate your computer through the command line. You can run your computer in DOS mode by getting into the DOS mode at the time of booting.

What is DOS Mode in MAC

There is no DOS mode in Apple Macintosh computer. If you are a Mac user, then you may get a message boot DOS mode at the time of downloading or trying to open files that are not compatible with your operating system which is MacOS. For example, if you try to open an executable file that ends with .exe, you will get a message about DOS mode and cannot open the file because this file is not compatible with MacOS. If you want to run this kind of file, you have to get into Windows operating system or you can run Windows from within Boot Camp to run a Windows program.

How to Boot a Computer in DOS Mode

Before booting the computer in DOS mode, you must have a clear idea about it. If you have used the command prompt application in Windows, then you have seen DOS’s interface. DOS is a command line interface which is used as a standalone OS. Or it can be used in another Operating System like Command Prompt in Windows. Today, DOS’s main functions in Windows is to run scripts and to carry out system tasks when the tasks are not possible to complete by using graphical user interface. To boot the computer in DOS mode, follow the instructions:

1. Close all the opened programs and shut down the computer. Then, start it up again.
2. If you see the boot menu, start pressing F8 key on the keyboard repeatedly. Windows Advanced Options menu will be opened. If the menu is opened, stop pressing F8 key.
3. Now, select the “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” by pressing the down arrow key.
4. Press enter key. It will boot your computer to DOS mode. Then, MS-DOS command line interface will appear.
5. You are now able to type in any desired commands to execute them in DOS mode.
6. To shut down the computer, type “shutdown -r”. It will immediately restart your computer.

How to Get Out of DOS Mode

If you are stuck in DOS mode (the Safe Mode with Command Prompt) and want to go back to Windows, you must have Windows operating system installed on your computer. To exit from DOS mode, follow the instructions that are given below:

1. Restart the computer by using the power Or to shut down the computer, type “shutdown -r”. It will immediately restart your computer.
2. If you see the boot menu, start pressing F8 key on the keyboard repeatedly. Windows Advanced Options menu will be opened. If the menu is opened, stop pressing F8 key.
3. Now, select the “Start Windows Normally” by pressing the down arrow key.
4. Press enter key. It will boot your computer in Windows. Then, Windows’s graphical user interface will appear.

Problem “This Program Cannot Be Run in Dos Mode” and Solution

On Mac

This problem is faced by Mac users generally. Generally, you may have bought or downloaded a software for your Mac, but then a message informed you that this program cannot be run in DOS mode. To get rid of this problem, see the extension of the downloaded file. If the extension is .dmg (should be), then file’s association to the DiskImageMounter is most probably wrong.

1. To solve this problem, select the file in finder. Now, press command-i. Select DiskImageMounter and apply to all in the Open With Section. Now, if you double-click on the file, it should properly mount the disk image with the installer.
2. Or you may have downloaded or bought the file which has an extension of .exe. This file format is for Windows operating system. You can run a Windows program on your Mac from within Boot Camp.

On Windows

Most of the time, you don’t face this kind of problem in Windows. If you bought or downloaded a corrupted file, then you may face this kind of problem. If you face this kind of problem with a software which is alright, then you may follow the instructions that are given below (Not sure if this going to work. But try it or download or buy the software again):

1. Go to Windows/Start/Programs/MS-DOS Prompt.
2. Right-click on the title bar. Then, select Properties.
3. Select the program tab.
4. Click on the Advanced button.
5. Uncheck the item named “Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows”.
6. Now, select OK.
7. Select OK again.
8. Exit the MS-DOS shell.
9. Restart your computer.

This may solve your problem.

How to Enter Dos Mode on Startup in Windows 7

If you running on Windows 7, then you have a graphical user interface to operate your computer. But in Windows 7, you can use a command line interface known as DOS mode. To enter into DOS mode in Windows 7, follow the instructions given below:

1. Close all the opened program. Now, shut down the computer. Then, start it up again.
2. After the boot menu is seen, start pressing F8 key on the keyboard repeatedly. Now, you will see Windows Advanced Options menu. If the menu is opened, stop pressing F8 key.
3. Now, select the “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” by pressing the down arrow key.

   

4. Press enter key. It will boot your computer to DOS mode. Then, MS-DOS command line interface will appear. Once MS-DOS interface is opened, it will begin loading all the necessary drivers.
5. You are now able to type in any desired commands to execute them in DOS mode.
6. To shut down the computer, type “shutdown -r”. It will immediately restart your computer.

How to Start Hp Laptop in DOS Mode

To get into DOS mode, you can follow the same instructions in most of the computers. It works in most of the hp laptops too. But some users have told that they faced a problem in getting into DOS mode in hp laptops. The problem is that, when they press F8 key at the time of boot menu appeared, Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear. When this problem arises, you have to follow other instructions to get into DOS mode. Download the user guide of your model from the hp website and follow the instructions to get into DOS mode.

FAQ

1. Why is Windows operating system sometimes called DOS?

Ans: Windows operating system is compatible with MS-DOS. So, it is sometimes called as DOS.

2. Are MS-DOS and Windows command the same thing?

Ans: No. MS-Dos is an operating system that does not have a graphical user interface. But Windows command prompt is an application name cmd.exe which looks like MS-Dos.

3. Can I run an MS-Dos program in Windows?
Ans: Yes. Follow the instructions from the section named “How to get into DOS-Mode” to get into DOS mode and run the program.

Summing Up

Have you gone through the whole article? We hope you have. If you want to operate your computer in DOS mode to perform some specific tasks using commands, you must know about DOS mode. Or you may face some problems which can be solved by troubleshooting the problem in DOS mode. You now know many things related to DOS mode after reading the whole article. You know what is DOS Mode and what are the functionalities of it.