How do I boot up in dos w/o windows access?

[sinister contrivance]

I want to retrieve some information in a text file from a hard drive that decided it didn't want to load up windows anymore.  I know the necesary dos commands to get to my document (i have been researching) however, being [unfortunately] raised on windows, i don't know how to boot in Dos without windows access.

[SKy]

I can think of 3 ways:

1) Press the function key F8 when your computer booting, just as windows is loading (I think must be before the window logo). U will be prompt whether u want to boot to normal mode, safe mode or DOS mode.

2) Put a windows startup disk and set the PC to boot from your bootdisk 1st.

3) Disconnect the faulty disk and reconnect it in another working PC with same or newer OS as a seconday harddisk.

[sinister contrivance]

Thanks much, SKy.  #1 sounds like it will be best for me.

[Computer_Commando]

Thanks much, SKy.  #1 sounds like it will be best for me.

This will work for Win98, Win95, but not WinXP or Win2k.   See: http://www.bootdisk.com/