FreeDOS: Bad or Missing Command Interpreter Error

[rando]

Hello Everyone.

This is my first time posting here, so I apologize if there is a more appropriate place to ask this. I am having issues getting Spinrite to boot. I keep getting the following error:

"Bad or missing Command Interpreter: - /P /E:256
Please enter the correct location (for example C:\COMMAND.COM):"

I have tried reinstalling Spinrite on the USB drive, and it says that it installed successfully. Has anyone else ran into this or have any advice on how to fix this?

 

[PHolder]

"Bad or missing Command Interpreter: - /P /E:256

How did you make the USB drive? It seems like it's missing COMMAND.COM. You can try using the GRC utility InitDisk ( https://www.grc.com/initdisk.htm ) and supplying the FREEDOS command line option to install a bootable FreeDOS environment on the USB stick. Then just copy your SpinRite.exe onto that disk.

 

[rando]

How did you make the USB drive? It seems like it's missing COMMAND.COM. You can try using the GRC utility InitDisk ( https://www.grc.com/initdisk.htm ) and supplying the FREEDOS command line option to install a bootable FreeDOS environment on the USB stick. Then just copy your SpinRite.exe onto that disk.

Thanks. I'll give that a shot. I used the SpinRite program to make the USB drive. Is that not the correct way to do it? It seems to be letting me attach screenshots now, so I've added them to this reply.

 

[PHolder]

Well I suspect that should work, BUT SpinRite 6 is from 2003 or so, and PC's have moved on a fair ways since then. Perhaps there's some sort of weird incompatibility you've run into. Certainly SpinRite 6.1 will have newer tech, as it will have the functionality of the utility I linked above (InitDisk) built it. (InitDisk was actually built as a test of that new tech with the intention to include it into SpinRite 6.1.)

 

[rando]

Well I suspect that should work, BUT SpinRite 6 is from 2003 or so, and PC's have moved on a fair ways since then. Perhaps there's some sort of weird incompatibility you've run into. Certainly SpinRite 6.1 will have newer tech, as it will have the functionality of the utility I linked above (InitDisk) built it. (InitDisk was actually built as a test of that new tech with the intention to include it into SpinRite 6.1.)

Is there a trick to adding the freedos token when using InitDisk? The only thing it will let me type is NUKE.

 

[PHolder]

freedos token

You need to invoke it from the command line. Bring up a CMD window, then invoke InitDisk FREEDOS on the command line. (You may need to CD (change directory) to where the InitDisk command is first so it is found in the current directory/path.) You will need to invoke the CMD Window with administrative rights or else you will see the error message I show below. If you need help elevating the CMD prompt, press and release the Windows key on your keyboard, type the letters C M D and then it should look like what I depicted in the attached picture, and click on the highlighted option.

 

[rando]

You need to invoke it from the command line. Bring up a CMD window, then invoke InitDisk FREEDOS on the command line. (You may need to CD (change directory) to where the InitDisk command is first so it is found in the current directory/path.) You will need to invoke the CMD Window with administrative rights or else you will see the error message I show below. If you need help elevating the CMD prompt, press and release the Windows key on your keyboard, type the letters C M D and then it should look like what I depicted in the attached picture, and click on the highlighted option.

That did the trick. Thank you!