MS-DOS startup disk

Hi,

Can anyone tell me please, how to use Windows XP Professional MS-DOS startup disk.
That is, when to use it and how???

If someone can explain me this in few sentences, that would be great!!!

But please don´t post me link to Microsoft Support page´s.

Thanks!!!

 

After you create all six disks, insert the first disk in the floppy disk drive, and then restart the computer. Note that the computer must be configured to boot from the floppy disk drive. In some cases, you may need to modify your computer's BIOS settings to do this.

The Setup process starts. Insert the other floppy disks as you are prompted to do so. Note that you will need to use the Windows XP CD-ROM to finish Setup.

And where did I get such precise and well thought out instructions? You guessed it!

Daizy

 

it's almost worthless

Simple boot to A drive if the bios has this feature "enabled ". I have notice there is NO cdrom support on mine so this *****. As far as the USE goes I don't waste me time, instead use a win98se "Startup Disk ", much better.

 

OK, it´seem´s that You misunderstand me.

What I mean is... MS-DOS startup disk that You create after You install OS.

Start > My Computer > Right click on Floopy drive > Format > Create an MS-DOS startup disk

What ½that½ MS-DOS startup disk is for, and how to use it???

 

It's supposed to be used as a troubleshooting tool should you have problems starting your computer. You'd put it in the floppy drive and boot from it.

Daizy

 

And it will create a DOS startup disk that will allow your PC to get up and running. It WILL NOT give you any access to XP.

Win95/98/ME were all basically GUI (graphical) shells that ran as a fancy DOS program. The underlying, enabling operating system was DOS. It sorta got confusing though since 95/98/ME could also run a DOS window as a program they controlled. You could boot to DOS, look around, and then start the "operating system" by running a command.

NT/2K/XP don't work that way. No DOS required, needed, or used. They are real operating systems (called NT4, NT5, NT5.1). The only similarity to the 95/98/ME systems is they can also run a program to give you a DOS window but it is simply another program as far as the OS is concerned.

BTW - 2K & XP have a repair console that does boot you to a command prompt but it is not DOS (although it looks similar). It is simply the basic, bare bones OS without the GUI part.

 

OK, when I put it in the floppy drive and boot from it, than what, do I need to write something, like some kind of command or something.

 

Hello -z--k-,

Newt has explained quite clear, there is no "start up disk" for Windows XP.
In other words, you can start to MS-DOS.

If you have bootable floppy, then you can use it, but I doubt it is old MS-DOS or created from Windows 95/98... Then you can use it to start your computer in MS-DOS. Please note that if your HD is formatted in NTFS, then the harddisk is completely unreadable from you start in that (old) MS-DOS.

 

It is true that the DOS disk that XP creates is practically worthless.

What I recommend instead is that you format a disk while your XP system is still healthy and place the three hidden system files on it so it can be used to boot your system when something goes wrong with the MBR or any root files required for booting.

Go to START > RUN > type FORMAT A: <enter>

Then copy the three files below to that disk:

NTLDR
NTDETECT.COM
BOOT.INI

They are hidden system files so you will need to have the View set properly to show them. They are all located on the root of the C: drive.

(It is imperative that the Format be done using XP since it works differently than Win9x.)

To test the disk, reboot the computer with the disk inserted in the drive. If you are running GoBack or any drive overlay software, do not place the disk in the drive until those programs load and offer the option of booting from a floppy. It should boot all the way into Windows XP. It will use the files contained on the disk for boot loading instructions and will not rely on any bootloader files (MBR included) from the hard drive. This may be handy sometime for restoring a system that is otherwise unbootable due to damage to any of these files.

After testing mark the disk as "XP Boot Disk" and store it in a safe place and hope you never need it.

 

Yep. What Zephyr said.
How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP

 

Awesome

Zephyr has done it again

 

OK guy´s I know this is boring to You, I know, I know, but please, I´m beginner, and don´t understand all You saying, so... don´t be mad when I ask You something few time´s.

Above all, as You can see, my english in not the very best one ha-ha...

OK, so I put floopy disk in the floppy drive, and than search this files:

-Boot.ini
-NTLDR
Ntdetect.com

Where are correct this files are???
Can You write me path to this files please???

When I find them, than what, do I use right click > copy and then paste them on floppy disk, or what...

And last question, when I needed this boot disk, and I hope that I will never do, since I have GoBack, I wait first to GoBack screen past than put floopy disk in floopy drive, or what???
That is maybe most importatn questions for me, so please explaine me this better, when and what to do PRECISE.

Thank You people so much, You are the best!!!

 

Finders fee only...

The full credit goes to Kan Yubumoto at XXCOPY who developed and posted this well in advance of M$. Perhaps they read his site for ideas.

I didn't post the link earlier for fear of muddying the water too much. Not that I have, I recommend XXCOPY very highly. I have used and followed its developments for years. It's a remarkable tool if you take the time to learn all its capabilities.

Regards.

 

Oh my gosh

-Z--K- you have intermediate not beginner as you experience level!! So we figure you know where the "root" drive is? If not it's like zephyr said, in the C:\. So look there, if to much trub do a search at C:\ then copy them raschals to drive A. Drive A=floppy By the way, you must have a "tick" in Show Hidden Files & Folders, and NO checkmark in Hide Protected Operating System Files.

 

When I say beginner I mean that we are all begginer in some way regarding computers, right!!!

Of course that I know where is C:, please gime little more credit.
I´m just trying to do it in a simple way.
When I trying to explaine something to someone I explaine everything, I will draw it if I have to, because it is simple to understand when You explane it like that.

And that was not that hard to answer my question was´t it

 

FORMAT A:
XCOPY C:\NTLDR A:\ /H
XCOPY C:\NTDETECT.COM A:\ /H
XCOPY C:\BOOT.INI A:\ /h

Those commands will get it done -Z--K-.

Since you have GoBack, the proper procedure is to hit the space bar when the GoBack screen first appears. Then insert the boot disk and select "Boot From Floppy" from the menu it displays.

You may even choose to create a batch file using the script above since that would automate the process and allow you to create an XP boot disk whenever you choose. Just copy the script and paste it in Notepad. Then save it as C:\XPdisk.bat

Thereafter when you want to create an XP startup disk, just place a disk in the A: drive, go to START> RUN and type xpdisk and hit enter.

Good luck with your new one eyed friend!

 

Gothcha

Ok -Z--K- calm down we savvy where you are! Can you uncheck the "read only" attributes of the files we are trying to help you with? Have you gone to windows explorer & unhide system files and folders? And lastly, have you gone to the LINK Kevin pointed to? http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314079
BTW, we are all learning from each other here

 

OOOPS

Zephyr , the Start/Run type xpdisk thing don't work for my xppro but does from the command prompt

 

That's most likely because XP ships with a PATH statement that doesn't include the C:\ root.

You should change that:

Right click "My Computer" > Properties > Advanced > Environmental Variable button > and click on PATH > EDIT and type C:\ at the end of the line you see there.

I always forget that I did that on mine so things would be found and wonder why MS choose not to include it??

As an alternate of course, you can place the batch file somewhere that is on the present path, such as the Windows directory or the Windows\system directory. Just like all my junk on the root so I can find it easily.

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH Zephyr, I really mean that, for Your help.

Now, when I open Command Promp, it saying something like this:

C:\Documents and Settings\-Z--K->

And when I write FORMAT A:, automaticly start to format A:

How can I write all the rest I need to make boot disk???

And one more thing, this last little ½h½, is that how suppose to be or You make mistake or it doesn't matter.
Is that how I exactly have to write it down???
When I have to press ENTER???

FORMAT A:
XCOPY C:\NTLDR A:\ /H
XCOPY C:\NTDETECT.COM A:\ /H
XCOPY C:\BOOT.INI A:\ /h