Bootable Floppy

[krys]

How do I make such a thing. I need it to upgrade my bios...what I have is a recovery CD...but the directions require a bootable floppy!?

Why does this make me so nervous???

krys

[krys]

I kinda freaked out...sorry. I want to learn this stuff and now I have to do this, but I feel like I am trying to untangle a knot in my fine gold locket chain with boxing gloves.

I found this:

________________________________

Here's a simple procedure to create a Quick Boot diskette for

WinNT/2000/XP. It allows you to start up the Windows NT/2000/XP

system with a minimum hassle in case of bootup trouble.

Assume that you are running a healthy WinNT/2000/XP system.

Here's how to create the "Windows Quick Boot" diskette:

1. Open a DOS Box (Start > Run... > cmd).

2. FORMAT A:

3. XXCOPY16 C:NTLDR A: /H

4. XXCOPY16 C:NTDETECT.COM A: /H

5. XXCOPY16 C:BOOT.INI A:

Note: if you don't have XXCOPY16, use the standard ATTRIB

and COPY command to copy the hidden files. XXCOPY16 is a 16-bit

version of the XXCOPY freeware utility that is available at

http://www.xxcopy.com.

The three files listed above (NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, and BOOT.INI)

are all essential. Optionally, you may copy the following files

if they are present in the root directory (needed only when you

need to boot into Win9x/ME as a dual-boot system)

6. XXCOPY16 C:IO.SYS A: /H

7. XXCOPY16 C:MSDOS.SYS A: /H

8. XXCOPY16 C:CONFIG.SYS A:

9. XXCOPY16 C:AUTOEXEC.BAT A:

If you use a SCSI disk, you also need NTBOOTDD.SYS.

That is it!!!

_________________________________

I believe all I have to do is # 1 - 5 above...then download the updated BIOS onto that disk, then turn off the computer.

Then insert this disk and turn computer on. Is that correct??

What kinds of commands or suggestions may present themselves during this process that I should be aware of.

Thanks....

krys...who is still shaking...but not as much

[Bluzeman]

Krys:

Once you boot with the floppy, you will probably just get an A: prompt. You will then have to type the name of the bios update file. I haven't flashed my bios for a long time, but If I remember correctly, you will have the option of backing up your current settings. If you get this options, do it.

Maybe someone who has done it more recently than me can give you more advice.

Rick

[Zixar]

Yes, a lot of times, the command is AWDFLASH from the A: prompt.

There may be an easier way to make a boot floppy, though. Put a blank floppy in the A: drive, go into Windows Explorer, and click with the right mouse button on the A: drive. Pick "Format" off the menu and see if there is an option to make a "system disk" or transfer the system files to the disk--that makes it bootable when it completes the format.

There's even a way to make a DOS boot disk for an old application by going through the DOS prompt in a window, but I've forgotten how to do it. Something with the Compatibility Properties that lets you create a DOS boot disk for a program that won't run otherwise. If I recall it, I'll let you know.

[igotout]

Click here for all manner of boot disks

You can also boot up with the windows CD in place if you make your CD your 1st item to be recognized upon boot up.

(I just removed my useless floppy drive and installed a front panel USB2 and Firewire ports where it used to be.)

[Steve!]

Zixar -

No, not with NT/W2K and forward. You've got to explicitly add those files, or you won't have a bootable floppy.

Maybe someday they'll set it up so that you can do it the way you described, but it ain't that way yet.