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W I N 9 5 B O O T D I S K
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NOTE: This is very important, so pay attention here!
You need to use the correct operating system to create your new boot disk.
If you are trying to install ANY version of Win95, you cannot use a Win98 boot disk to put system files on the drive to make the hard drive bootable.
It will fail because Win95 cannot read Win98 files. You can use an older boot disk on a newer operating system, but you can't use a newer boot disk on an older
operating system.
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What is a boot disk?
It is a floppy disk used to start up a
computer and load the drivers for the CD-ROM. It should also have utilities like "FDISK", "FORMAT", "EDIT",
ETC. on it.
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To make one follow these steps: |
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Put a NEW, unused floppy in drive "A".
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Double-click on the "My Computer" icon on the desktop.
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Right-click on the "A" drive.
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Choose "format".
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In the new window check "full", "display summary...", and "copy system files".
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When done look for errors in the summary such as "bad sectors" etc...
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Then add the following files to the floppy (right-click on the files, choose "send to", choose "floppy")
[ From the "Windows" folder ]
| FILE TO COPY: |
REASON NEEDED: |
| EMM386.EXE |
FOR CONFIG.SYS |
| HIMEM.SYS |
FOR CONFIG.SYS |
| REGEDIT.EXE |
JUST IN CASE - FOR WORKING WITH THE REGISTRY |
| SMARTDRV.EXE |
FOR AUTOEXEC.BAT - SPEEDS UP THE HARD DRIVE |
[ From the "Windows\Command" folder ]
| FILE TO COPY: |
REASON NEEDED: |
| ATTRIB.EXE |
ALLOWS YOU TO SEE HIDDEN FILES, CHANGE ATTRIBUTES |
| CHKDSK.EXE |
QUICK WAY TO CHECK HARD DRIVE |
| DEBUG.EXE |
ALMOST NEVER USED, BUT NEEDED SOMETIMES |
| FDISK.EXE |
TO CHANGE PARTITIONS ETC.. |
| MEM.EXE |
TO CHECK MEMORY STATUS |
| MSCDEX.EXE |
IN AUTOEXEC.BAT, FOR CD-ROM TO WORK |
| SCANDISK.EXE |
THOROUGH WAY TO CHECK THE HARD-DRIVE |
| XCOPY.EXE |
IT'S MORE ROBUST THAN THE STANDARD COPY COMMAND |
| EDIT.COM |
USED TO EDIT FILES |
| FORMAT.COM |
USED TO FORMAT HARD-DRIVES |
| SYS.COM |
USED TO PUT SYSTEM FILES ON A HARD-DRIVE FOR A FORMATTED DRIVE TO BOOT. |
Next you need to add your "
real mode
" CD-ROM driver(a MUST) and mouse driver(optional).
Each are different, so look in your CD-ROM manual or go to their website for instructions. I repeat, you
MUSThave a CD-ROM driver or you won't be able to install Win95! After that you need to make a
config.sys file and an autoexec.bat file to put on your new boot disk. Use notepad and make sure you save them on the
boot disk with these filenames(autoexec.bat and config.sys). Here are samples that you can copy for your use.
NOTE: the CD-ROM line at the bottom of the sample
config.sys WILL be different from what you NEED! You need to put the name of your CD-ROM driver where this sample shows
CDROM.SYS - keep the rest of it the same.
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config.sys for boot disk: |
DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM:OFF
DEVICE=A:\EMM386.EXE RAM
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
FILES=40
BUFFERS=10
LASTDRIVE=Z
FCBS=1
STACKS=0,0
DEVICEHIGH=A:\CDROM.SYS /D:MSCD000
NOTE: the /D:MSCD000
switch is to give your CD-ROM a "name", NOT a drive letter! Leave it this way.
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autoexec.bat for boot disk |
@ECHO OFF
PATH A:\;
PROMPT=$P$G
A:\MSCDEX /D:MSCD000
/E /L:D /M:10
A:\SMARTDRV
A:\MOUSE
NOTE: the
/L:D switch is to state the drive letter for your CD-ROM. If your CD-ROM
drive letter is different, put that drive letter there instead of the D. Or you can use X and
avoid this issue.
Once you get it done run "scandisk" on
the floppy to make sure it's ok. Then
shut down your computer all the way with the power off. Wait 30 seconds or so, then reboot with the boot disk in the
floppy drive. Look for error messages. If none, verify that you can read a CD-ROM by putting a CD in the CD-ROM
drive and then boot with the boot disk. Type "
D:
" (OR your CD-ROM drive letter if different OR X if you
used that). Then press enter, type "DIR
" press enter, and see if you can read the CD.
Do these steps at least TWICE! You must be sure that the boot disk works correctly! If you format
your hard-drive without a WORKING boot disk you are NOT going to be happy!
This boot disk will not be the same as a START UP DISK that you can create either during the install of Win98 or after Win98 is installed. However, you should create a
START UP DISK. It can be very helpful at times as well! :::smiles:::
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