Resolved Automatic System Recovery won't read floppy

I prepared an automatic system recovery file, and the wizard also created an ASR floppy with two .sif files and a log file on it.

I wanted to test this, and especially to see if it would read the large .bkf file from a remote hard drive.

But when I rebooted with the Windows installation CD in the CD drive, and the ASR floppy in the floppy drive, the system reads some from the CD, then goes to the floppy and stops, giving a text message that I need to remove the media from the drive and hit any key to continue. If I remove the floppy, the computer just restarts normally, and never goes to the ASR. If I leave the floppy in and hit a key, it just gives the message again.

I've tried this with and without following the XP instructions to hit F2 when the text screen loading portion of XP. Same thing happens either way.

I checked my bios, and it calls for it to read the floppy first, then main hard drive with the system files on it, then CD drive. Since it eventually starts the floppy and lights its light, it seems to be trying.



I'm glad I tested it, because if I'd needed it, it wouldn't have worked. Any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong?

 

You might have a bad floppy disk or drive.
Here is a link with a quick synopsis on how to use ASR.

 

Amdace,

It was not the floppy or its drive. When I followed the instructions carefully on the link you sent me to me, it worked. I had put the floppy in before it had called for it (when I rebooted the computer), and that was messing up the process.


I took it as far as hitting the F2 key, watching that it started to read the floppy, then I hit the escape key and then clicked the reset button. I got out of the process before it started to format the drive.



Does anyone know for a fact that by that time in the installation, or at least by the time it is ready to read the backup.bkf file, that XP will be able to read from an external hard drive via USB? If I know that works, I'll be all set.

Thanks for the help


Terry

 

From reading your post it appeared that your system was booting from floppy.
It is a good bet that ASR won't read your usb drive. If your can copy the usb driver to floppy then you can hit F6 when it prompts you and load the driver.

 

Arie,

Thanks for the additional and useful information. The link in your email provides very clear instructions for use of ASR.

Terry