How do I create a Boot CD without a floppy

When I want to create a boot disk CD with my burning software it asks me for an image file. What file should I be looking for. In the past it used to ask me for either an image file or a bootable floppy. Now I work on my new Laptop without a floppy drive it wants that Image file????
How do I create this?

Thanks

 

Hi theo54nz,

As Tony said, you can download bootdisk image files from here and get a free trial of winiso from here. I suppose one could even reverse-engineer a ghost boot CD for another purpose.

 

Thanks for your input guys! I ran WinIso and I get the same question.
It asks me for a bootable CD (wich I want to create) or for the Boot file. WHAT boot file?? I am back to square 1.
I have also downloaded the dos image file from your link Sparrow, but the burner software does nor recognize the file. Maybe I have to try some other software. All I want to do is to create a boot CD that takes me to the A:\prompt, just DOS, as bare as bare can be.
I was hoping for Image info that could be taken from the C:\drive as this is the boot drive.

 

If using Nero, select the "Make Bootable Disk" option and then use the default file "DosBootimage.IMA" for the image.

 

There is no such file on my drive. How do I create it?? Probably by inserting a floppy in the drive?? There IS no floppy drive on my Laptop.
Then by inserting a boot CD in the drive? That is what I want to create.
So I seem to run around in circles.
I think I better give up here.
I have managed to create a bootable CD in my desk top PC, but is does not recognize all partitions on my laptop. It recognizes the C:\drive but that not the C:\drive I am used to. It is the D:\drive within windows.

Is there NO way to create an image file from a C:\drive?

 

You cannot view NTFS files from a boot disk without using 3rd party software. Your XP drive (if NTFS) will be invisible when you boot to a boot disk without this special NTFSDOS software. You can get a free version of it but it is "read only." To write to an NTFS drive from a boot disk you must have the full version of the software. It is quite expensive, around $300.

Perhaps if you explain what your goal is by using a boot disk we can guide you better.