Clever Boot CD

Hi all, I quite often get a call from a distressed/puzzled/helpless
PC user; sometimes they are not even able to boot at all.
As they mostly all have a CD ROM drive, I made a bootable CD (Win98SE), to take with me when I go to them and try to solve their problems.
So I have about 600 mega free on the CD on to which I would
copy some useful help/diagnostic apps to help solve their
problems.
My question is - what would you recommend putting on the CD, and why ?
I can then add your tips to the CD that already has my own ideas on it. I will do a directory list of the disk when it is completed,
and post it here so that you all can benefit.
regards

 

Spybot - Spy/Adware seems to be a common problem.

 

Thanks for the great suggestions and links.
Many ideas that hadn't occurred to me.
I can direct the boot-up to load Windows from (say) C: drive.
But what if the C: OS Data is corrupted and Windows will not load ?
I wonder if a small-as-possible Win98 OS on the CD would be an
idea ? I reckon you can get one running inside 300 mega from
the CD which would still leave many mega for the apps you
suggest.
regards

 

Hi all. TonyT's link gave me a 404.
PE Builder is for 2000/XP, I have 98SE - do not know if this
is a problem to creating the CD - maybe PE-builder wants to pull
stuff of my 98 OS ?
The Fred Langa pages only deal with creating useable floppies -
I cannot find the "follow-up" page he mentions regarding bootable CD ROMS. I have a free app called "Emergency Boot CD-ROM" (18 mega ) but it does not unpack correctly.
Thanks for the tips.
regards

 

Hi all, I have had to give up the idea of a bootable CD-Rom,
since no-one seems sure how to make one.
So now I carry a floppy that enables access to a CD.
On the CD I have more or less, all your suggestions.
If I boot from the floppy (with CD D:\ support), and Win98SE
is installed on the CD, do you think the command
D:\win
will load Windows OS ?
regards

 

Hi Merlin -- you can find Langa's part two here:

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=10818064

He describes making a bootable cd using Nero and Roxio. I had neither but made one using the software that came with my cdrw. The key is writing an image of the floppy to the cd, not copying the files to the cd. After the image is burned you can copy all the necessary files to the cd and not overwrite the image.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks to all !
Tony - pm sent 31/12/2004.
Dopey - thanks for the link - I am going there now ....
regards and good luck and health 2004

 

Had a struggle to DL Tony's iso (needed DL manager to complete)and also with Nero burn, but now I am a user of Tony's excellent Boot CD.
I am now copying the Tony/CDR Nero created to a CDRW - do you think it will boot and still allow me to add stuff to it ....? Will report ..
regards and thanks TonyT
PS Had some problems in the pm area - has the board glitches
in saving replies to pm ?

 

I had a look at burning the ISO to CD-RW but Nero created a CD-R
- and a bad one at that. I do not understand TonyT's worries as
there is only free stuff in the iso file - the known names like AVG
and FProt are ancient anyway and cannot be updated on the CD.
A useful CD for booting is still on my "to do" list, and I will keep in
touch with you all.
regards

 

I said I would update you all on my progress with making a bootable CD, so here's where I am at the moment ... free SW at ...
Ultimate Boot CD

Gives a great basis. It's also great in size - 56 mega zip !
Combines many DOS based apps into an .iso file for burning with
eg Nero or Easy CD Creator. Menu based, but if you choose a tool
from the menu, you have to reboot to get back to the main menu.
I do not see a way round this as the app creates a series
of boot floppy images in RAM.
I have found it essential to have an iso file editor to customise
the iso file - so I am using WinIso 5.3 which works fine and allows
me to add new directories and files to the iso image before
burning it to your CDR. I reckon I will have to update monthly or
so as I put f-prot for DOS on the CD and the definitions will need
updating. This means a new CD and a new burn but its pretty cheap and quick to do.
With the correct BIOS boot sequence, it boots fine.
The boot CD is about 150 mega - including the original iso zip file
which I added to the iso
regards