1. Using Safe Mode to Access Command Prompt

If your Windows 98 desktop is not loading, one of the easiest ways to access Command Prompt is by booting into Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and can help you troubleshoot problems. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Restart your computer.
2. Press F8 repeatedly as soon as the computer starts, before Windows 98 begins loading.
3. From the boot menu, select “Safe Mode with Command Prompt”.
4. Once Windows 98 boots into Safe Mode, you will be presented with a black screen and a Command Prompt window.

This method is particularly useful when Windows is not loading the desktop properly but you still need to run system commands or repair files.

2. Booting from a Bootable Disk

Another way to access Command Prompt without relying on the desktop is by using a bootable disk. This could be a floppy disk, CD, or USB drive with the necessary Windows 98 boot files. Follow these steps:

1. Insert your bootable disk (floppy disk or CD) into the computer and restart it.
2. As the computer boots, you will be prompted to press any key to boot from the disk. Press any key to do so.
3. Once the boot process starts, select the “Start with Command Prompt” option from the boot menu.
4. This will bring up the Command Prompt window directly, allowing you to perform any command-line tasks you need.

This method is helpful when your Windows 98 system is unable to load the normal graphical interface but you still need to interact with the system.

3. Using a DOS Window via Windows 98 Startup Menu

If you can still access the Windows 98 startup menu (but the desktop isn’t functioning), you can open a DOS window directly from there:

1. Restart your computer.
2. When the Windows 98 startup screen appears, press the Esc key to bring up the startup menu.
3. Select “Command Prompt Only” from the options available.
4. This will open a Command Prompt window where you can run various commands to repair or troubleshoot your system.

This method allows you to access the command line interface even when Windows 98 cannot fully load.

4. Accessing Command Prompt through Windows Explorer (if accessible)

In some cases, you may still have access to the Windows Explorer but not the full desktop environment. If that’s the case, you can navigate to the System32 folder and launch cmd.exe directly.

1. Open Windows Explorer by pressing Ctrl + Esc and typing “Explorer”.
2. In the address bar, type C:\Windows\System32 and press Enter.
3. Look for the cmd.exe file and double-click it. This will launch the Command Prompt without needing the desktop.

What to Do in Command Prompt Without a Desktop

Once you’re in Command Prompt, there are various tasks you can perform, such as:

• Running system diagnostics using commands like chkdsk or sfc.
• Repairing corrupted system files with commands like sfc /scannow.
• Managing files and directories using commands like dir, cd, and copy.
• Checking system performance using commands like tasklist and taskkill.

These are just a few examples of what you can do in Command Prompt when your Windows 98 desktop is not responding.