Starting Oracle from sqlplus on windows.

I've been trying to figure out how to use sqlplus instead of svrmgrl. I can't seem to figure out how to start sqlplus when the instance isn't running.

,----[ THE DOCUMENTATION SAYS. ]
| Preparing to Start an Instance
| You need to perform some preliminary steps before attempting to
| start an instance of your database .
|
| Start SQL*Plus without connecting to the database by entering:
| SQLPLUS
|
| Connect to Oracle as SYSDBA:
| CONNECT username/password AS sysdba
`----

So, I shut down the instance leaving the listener running. I then type sqlplus as the command line and I get the following. ,----
| > sqlplus
|
| SQL*Plus: Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production on Wed Sep 19 20:40:09 2001
|
| (c) Copyright 2000 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
|
| Enter user-name:

`----

I then can't get any further.

How do I get a prompt that allows me to
"CONNECT username/password as SYSDBA" when the instance isn't running?

-- 
Galen Boyer
It seems to me, I remember every single thing I know.