China DOS Union

I currently have a dual-boot system with XP and ME installed, but at the same time I really want to use ME's pure DOS. After all, pure DOS has many advantages in things like virus removal!
So I followed information online and downloaded the real-mode DOS patch, but when I ran WINMEDOS.com as required, I got this message: Examining "IO.SYS"... Pattern not found!
It seems to mean it couldn't find the pattern, but I already put IO.sys command.com REGENV32.EXE and so on into this folder as required, and I also removed the read-only/system/hidden attributes. What's going on? How can I solve it?
Is there a way to modify it?
Or does anyone have already-modified files to share?

Please, experts, help!
My highest thanks in advance!
Thanks!size]

Under XP you can try using Vfloppy to boot a pure DOS environment. Do you really have to use WinME's DOS?

Related link: http://bbs.wwwfox.net/cgi-bin/topic.cgi?forum=2&topic=10476&show=0

Several virtual floppy drive software programs such as VFloppy and GRUB for DOS/NTLDR are all available for download in the forum's "DOS Boot Disk / LOGO Technology" section.

Thanks, I've used the Vfloppy virtual floppy before, but it depends on XP. Once XP can't boot, the DOS created under Vfloppy can't be used either! (Sometimes problems even happen when XP itself still works)!!!
And WinME starts up and shuts down very fast, I like it a lot! If I can get pure DOS back through modification, then I won't need to install a separate pure DOS system, which I think is quite worthwhile! I hope all you experts can help more and give me some guidance. Is there really no way?
Thanks!!

Thanks, I've used the Vfloppy virtual floppy before, but it depends on XP. Once XP can't boot, the DOS created under Vfloppy can't be used either! (Sometimes problems even happen when XP itself still works)!!!
And WinME starts up and shuts down very fast, I like it a lot! If I can get pure DOS back through modification, then I won't need to install a separate pure DOS system, which I think is quite worthwhile! I hope all you experts can help more and give me some guidance. Is there really no way?
Thanks!!

As long as XP's boot loader isn't broken, VFloppy can work normally. Of course, VFloppy boots the floppy disk image by directly locating the sectors where the floppy image is stored. If your floppy image has moved position (for example, after a disk defragmentation), then it will not work properly. You only need to reinstall it.

With proper settings, basically none of XP's partitions need disk defragmentation, so the chance of VFloppy having problems is very small.

As for modifying WinMe, I haven't used WinMe at all, so I can't help much there. Better ask moderator Wengier or some other experts for help.

VFloppy restored with GHOST sometimes needs to be reinstalled before it can be used. I don't know why.

Because after ghost restores it, basically the Vfloppy floppy image has changed position, so you have to reinstall it.

If you don't use VFloppy and use GRUB for NTLDR to virtualize the floppy image file instead, you won't have this problem.

Wengier, where can I download this GRUB for NTLDR?

Also, I downloaded the latest grub-0.94.tar.gz, but this GRUB seems to be installable only from Linux. What should I do if I don't have a Linux environment?

GRUB for DOS/NTLDR was developed in this forum. It is an enhanced + modified version of GNU GRUB (it can be run directly from DOS or called by NTLDR, and it also adds quite a few functions), not the GRUB you downloaded from other websites that runs under Linux and other systems. There is a GRUB for DOS/NTLDR download in the forum's "DOS Boot Disk / LOGO Technology" section.

Wengier :
Looks like this thread has turned into a discussion of virtual floppy usage!
Is my idea of DOS under ME impossible to realize?
Is there really no way?

The following is quoted from Wengier's post on 2004-3-26 11:50:40:
GRUB for DOS/NTLDR was developed in this forum. It is an enhanced + modified version of GNU GRUB (it can be run directly from DOS or called by NTLDR, and it also adds quite a few functions), not the GRUB you downloaded from other websites that runs under Linux and other systems. There is a GRUB for DOS/NTLDR download in the forum's "DOS Boot Disk / LOGO Technology" section.

To Hellen: I'm very sorry I couldn't help you, and that I pulled your post off topic.

To Wengier: I searched through all the posts with GRUB in the "DOS Boot Disk / LOGO Technology" section, but I couldn't find the GRUB for DOS/NTLDR you mentioned. Could you give a direct link?

Climbing: Then try downloading the GRUB for DOS/NTLDR 0.2.0 test version here:

http://newdos.yginfo.net/dosware/grub/grub020p.zip

Hellen: Have you tried installing a boot manager like SPFDISK to install a full DOS? WinME's DOS is not easy to use.

Wengier: Thanks. I looked over the installation process, and it seems pretty complicated to use. Also, it seems to require the floppy image to be stored contiguously, which is even more restrictive than Vfloppy. What a hassle. I don't know what advantage it has?