If I was to create a boot up disc from accessing the control panel and then add/remove programs, would it be the same as downloading an ms dos start up disc from a website?
Thanks
Yes. As long as they are for the same OS they are essentially similar. Downloadable boot disk images do tend to come in a larger number of boot configuration choices for special purposes than the all purpose, generic boot disk control panel makes.
see www.bootdisk.com
For the most part, DOS boot disks are all going to basically be the same: they’ll get you into the boot prompt. After that, anything extra is just going to be basic tools to try and repair your OS or prepare your hard drive for an OS reinstall. I’m not exactly sure what tools would be included if you made a boot disk from Add/Remove programs, and comparing the two would depend on where exactly you’re downloading it from.
well, I need to get a ms dos boot copy in order to format a friends hard drive so that I can update the computer. With this being said, is this disc going to work when I go to upgrade the computer?
As astro has posted, just get one from bootdisk.com
Download it to a place you’ll remember…then double click it. It will prompt you to insert your floppy to be copied to.
As was asked over here, are you certain you have all the software and drivers to re-install this system?
Do you fully understand that formatting will not only wipe off the data…but the operating system as well?
yes, I just really don’t want to screw this up
I don’t know how you can really screw it up if your are formatting it anyway. The format may not work but you can just get some more tools and make it work.
If you like… recap the steps you’ll be taking…and we’ll let you know if there’s something you’re missing.
- First off, the OS is Windows 98 and the system contains 2 hard drives. The first hard drive is the main one, while the second one is a back uphard drive.
- I’m just going to right click the second hard drive and format it.
- then I will put in the back up disc and restart the computer in ms dos mode
- from there I will type c:/fs.ntfs
- After the hard drive is successfuly formatted, I will take the disc out and restart the computer.
- I will then put in the windows xp disc and download it to the main hard drive.
That’s about it. Pending the fact that my xp disc doesn’t work in it (It worked fine when I updated my cpu, but for some people it distorts the graphics), will I be able to restore it back to it’s previous state? I have my original restore disc, but it says that I can only work with the machine it was distributed with. So I say I format both hard drives and my xp disc screws up, will her computer be a worthless cause?
Thanks.
sorry, I meant format c:/fs.ntfs
I believe you want a colon not a period in the format command.
If you’re trying to reuse your copy of Win XP on another computer (with different system identifier), you will probably run into activation problems. One licensed copy of XP cannot be used for multiple computers.
your right, it’s c:/fs:ntfs
Being that this is a 98 machine… have you checked that it is indeed compatible with XP?
If you are putting XP on it, you won’t even need to format with the start up disk.
Just set the computer to boot from the CD, and once set up starts…it will give you the option to format.
Your way works just as well.
I highly doubt you’ll be able to restore should anything go wrong with the install, using your own restore disk.
Does your friend have her Original 98 CD incase you have to go back to that?