If you've followed the advice in all previous Clinics, you are already giving your PC a good MOT using Scandisk every week in Windows. But, what if you can't get into Windows? Let's learn how to do it ... using your Disk Operating System (DOS)
REPAIR YOUR PC IN DOS - SCANDISK

REMEMBER - you will NOT be able to read this when you are in DOS! You need to print this out OR save it as a single web-page and then print it out ... OR write it out! Then follow it step-by-step.

FIRST - switch your computer OFF using the On/Off switch. Now, boot to the "A" Command Prompt using your boot disk. If you are presented with a menu, make sure you select the option to boot WITH CD-ROM Support. If you don't know how to do this, then you have not studied and practised the techniques in Clinic 13

• Boot with a Startup floppy then at the "A" Command prompt type C:\ and press "Enter" The "C" prompt allows you to access the programs and files on your PC's hard drive.
• At the "C" command prompt, type cd windows
• That is - the letters "c" and "d" together - followed by ONE space - then the word "windows" (lower case is fine - do NOT use the " ") - then press the "Enter" key. This is what it looks like :

You start off with just C:\> Now, you type cd windows Then press "Enter" The Command prompt changes and looks like this last line.

Dr. Mac's Jargon Buster : The command cd in DOS means "change directory" - and here you are giving the instruction to CHANGE to the WINDOWS DIRECTORY. Another word for "directory" is FOLDER. "Change to the main Windows Folder"

• Right! So, now you have C:\WINDOWS> on your DOS screen.
• WINDOWS ME and ME BOOT-DISK : Type scandisk and press "Enter"
• Your Scandisk program should launch. Read the next section to see what to do now.
• BUT - if Scandisk does NOT start and you get a message like "Incorrect version of DOS" or "Invalid command" etc. you will automatically be taken back to the line C:\WINDOWS>
• If so, please type in the extra commands as for Windows 95/98
• WINDOWS 95 and 98 : After getting to C:\WINDOWS> you need to type in an extra command.
• Type in cd command and press "Enter".
• Remember, that's the letters "c" and "d" next to each other,ONE space, and the word command.
• Press your "Enter" key and you will now see : C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\>
• NOW, type the word scandisk
• Do NOT try to use bold letters - do NOT type a space first - do NOT try to get rid of the flashing cursor - do NOT try to do anything fancy at all - simply type scandisk and then press the "Enter" key.
• The full instruction looks like this

Even if you type in lower-case when you press "enter" the command line appears in Capitols. NOW, type in scandisk and press "Enter"

REMEMBER : Windows ME users will most often only need the C:\WINDOWS> scandisk command. If this does not work, type in the extra "cd command" like Windows 95/98 users should do.

• When it has completed the standard scan, you will get the option to do a full "Surface scan"
• Unless you have a major problem, you do NOT want to do a FULL SURFACE SCAN at this time.
• REMEMBER - you cannot use your mouse in DOS - you can only use certain keys on your keyboard, like -the 4 "up/down/left/right" arrow keys - the space-bar, the back-space key, and the "Enter" key.
• SO ... press your "right-arrow" key to select "NO" and then press the"Enter" key.
• The next screen gives you the option to "View log" or to "Exit"
• Use your "right-arrow" to highlight the "Exit" option and then press the "Enter" key on your keyboard.
• Scandisk exits and you are back to : C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND> (Or ... if using the Windows ME boot disk you may just see C:\WINDOWS> )
• Now, type cd C:\ (the letters "c" and "d" together - ONE space - the letter C - a FULL colon - a backwards slash)
• You want to "Change Directory" - in this case change back to the root directory "C"
• Press your "Enter" key
• You are now back to just the C:\> command prompt.
• At the "C" prompt, type A:\ and press "Enter"
• You are now back where you started - at the "A" Command prompt

WELL - HOW ABOUT THAT! You have just given your PC a good MOT using Scandisk - in DOS!

NOTE : If you ever have genuine and severe problems, you WOULD allow Scandisk to do a FULL SURFACE SCAN in order to repair problems on your hard drive.

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As we explained in the last two Clinics, it is essential that your CD drive can work in DOS. To test that your boot-disk DOES have CD-ROM drivers, please study the sections below. Not only study them - DO them! Get hands-on practise.

If you have NOT got a Windows CD, then you obviously can't do this critical check. Skip to the last section, "How to get out of DOS"

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In Windows the CD drive is usually Drive "D" - but in DOS - after using a boot disk - the drive-letter may be either "E" OR "R" depending on which boot-disk you are using.

N.B. REMEMBER - If you have Windows 95 and you made a disk using your computers OWN built-in Startup disk-maker program, you may as well throw it away because it doesn't HAVE any CD-Rom support! Go to Clinic 12, download a bootdisk-maker program, and make your own EBD (Emergency Boot Disk)

• If you have Windows 98 or ME and your boot disk was made using your OWN computers built-in program, your CD drive should be "E:\"
• If you made your own boot-disk from one of the programs you downloaded in Clinic 12, the CD drive letter for Windows ME should still be "E:\" - for Windows 95 and 98 it should be "R:\"

DON'T PANIC! You will not harm your PC if you type in the "wrong" letter! If the letter you try doesn't work, you can use the other letter and then go ahead.

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HOW TO ACCESS YOUR CD DRIVE FROM DOS

If the boot-disk version you use first presents a menu of options, make sure you select the option to boot WITH CD-ROM Support.

• After booting from your disk, you will have the A:\> prompt on your screen.
• NOW ... type in either E:\ OR R:\ (depending on which boot disk you are using)
• That is ... E OR R (Capitol OR lower case) a FULL colon, and a Back-slash. NO spaces!
• Press the "Enter"key on your keyboard.
• You will now see either the "E:\>" OR "R:\>" Command prompt.
• NOTE : If you get a message like "Invalid directory or command" then you need to use the other letter. So, at the "A" Command prompt, type in that "other letter" and press your "Enter" key.
• When you have either the "E" or "R" Command prompt on screen, put your WINDOWS CD into the CD-Rom drive.
• Now type in the word setup and press the "Enter" key on your keyboard.
• It looks like this :

You need either the R:\> prompt on the screen OR The E:\> prompt. Then type setup and press "Enter"

YOUR WINDOWS CD SHOULD NOW START UP.

You will then be given the option to continue OR stop. YOU DO NOT WANT TO RE-INSTALL WINDOWS AT THIS TIME, SO PRESS THE "Esc" (Escape) KEY. You will find this key at the very TOP, LEFT corner of your keyboard. The CD drive starts to "wind down." When it stops spinning, you can take the CD out of the drive.

GOOD NEWS! YOUR BOOT DISK CAN ACCESS THE CD-ROM DRIVE! WELL DONE!

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YOU HAVE DONE REMARKABLY WELL! GOOD FOR YOU! NOW, YOU CAN EXIT DOS AND GET BACK INTO GOOD OLD COMFORTABLE WINDOWS AGAIN!

If you have mastered Clinic 13, you will know exactly how to reboot into Windows. In summary, make sure ALL floppies and CD's are out of their drives. Now, hold down both the "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys and press the "Del" (Delete") key once. Your DOS screen will go blank - release all three keys - and your PC will reboot back into Windows again.

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TIP : Once you know what the CD drive letter ("E" or "R") is for your particular boot-disk, WRITE IT ON THE LABEL. e.g. CD-ROM DRIVE = R:\ then when you realy DO need your boot disk, you won't have to guess!

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WELL! HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE AN EVEN BIGGER BOSS NOW !

Coming next time : How to have a leaner, cleaner, MEANER machine! PLUS - another great FREE download. See you then!

Best wishes and Happy Computing ...

Dr. Mac

Dr. Mac's Computer Clinic LIBRARY All the Computer Clinics that have appeared on the idf50 web-site are HERE