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How to Create a System Boot Disk

For some operating systems (O/Ss), it's wise to create a System Boot Disk, or reboot disc for an emergency. A reboot disc is usually a floppy disc that contains Windows system files and setup files. In an emergency, its purpose is to enable you to boot your system when the hard drive is unable to do so.

The Three Standard ReBoots

Before an emergency disc is needed, always try to reboot a crashed computer using standard reboot methods. Start with 1 and (if necessary) work your way down the list:

1. Start Menu - Rebooting through the Start menu is the usual way to close down or reboot a computer. This method will often work. But, if it doesn't work,

2. Soft ReBoot - Press Ctrl + Alt + Del at the same time.

3. Hard ReBoot - If the above two don't work then you must force the computer down. To do this, press in on the on/off switch on the front of the computer and keep pressing until the computer closes down. That should take about 10-20 seconds, possibly longer on some machines. Leave the computer off for 1-3 minutes, then turn it on.

Two Emergency ReBoots

If none of the above worked, then you have a serious system crash (as if we had to tell you). The next step is an emergency reboot. There are two ways to emergency reboot after a system crash:

1. The System Boot Disk, or

2. The Operating System (O/S) Installation CD.

These two are equally effective. However, the Installation CD only works on some O/Ss.

Which One to Use?

Following are our recommendations and observations.

Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium (ME), use a System Boot Disk.

Windows NT is not for inexperienced people. However, If you administer a Windows NT system, you know that after a crash, Windows NT will display the Blue Screen of Death with the cause of the crash and the state of the system at the time of the crash. This will remain on the screen until the system is rebooted.

You can set Windows NT to automatically reboot after a crash by setting the value of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\CrashControl\AutoReboot to 1. Once you've set this value, Windows NT will automatically reboot itself after it writes the crash log file.

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista  These O/Ss come with a full-featured Installation CD or DVD that include a complete system boot. This is the best and easiest way to reboot in an emergency.

Simply insert it into the CD-ROM / DVD player, and follow instructions on the screen.

Note: Since we're on the topic of Installation CDs & DVDs, now is a good time to locate your copy. Make sure it is kept in a CD/DVD protective hard case, and store it in a very safe place.

How to Create a System Boot Disk

Windows 95, Windows 98, & Windows Millennium (ME)
When booting from a System Boot Disk, the reboot takes place in DOS. This enables the use of DOS utility programs, which can identify and repair problems on the hard drive and Windows, and copy important files for safety. If all else fails, it will reinstall Windows.

Check CD Ability to Boot (Windows 98 or Windows ME only): Even well-made System Boot Disks sometimes become accidentally damaged or unintentionally corrupted. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check and see if your computer will accept a boot from the Installation CD. To do this, you need to enter the BIOS utility and check CMOS.

1. Boot-up the computer and enter BIOS as normal. (Details on how to enter BIOS can be found in Step 14: BIOS Configuration in our tutorial, How to Build Your Own Computer, which is on this website.)

2. In CMOS Setup, if you can see the same DOS prompt as on the floppy System Boot Disk, then your computer supports CD-ROM boot-up.

3. If you do not see the same DOS prompt, then while in CMOS you need to add the CD-ROM to the list as either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Boot Device.

1. To Copy to the System Boot Disk:

1. Place a blank formatted floppy disc into Drive: A

2. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel

3. Click on Add/Remove Programs

4. Click the Startup Disk tab

5. Click the Create Disk button. The disc will be automatically created.

6. You can test the disc by booting your system off of it.

While the above procedure will provide you with a System Boot Disk than the Windows 98 or Windows ME Installation CD, it will lack some of the key files needed to get your system up and running.

2. Add Configuration Files:

In a recovery situation you will need to have the following configuration files on your boot disc. If they don't fit on your floppy, use a second floppy disc. All the following are in Local Disk (C:)

1. autoexec.bat

2. config.sys

3. system.ini

4. win.ini

5. scanreg.exe (but not scanregw.exe)

6. user.dat

7. system.dat

3. Add Tool Files:

You should have the following tools available during a disaster recovery:

• command.com
• Drvspace.bin
• Io.sys
• Msdos.sys
• fdisk.exe
• format.com
• edit.com
• Qbasic.exe
• regedit.exe
• Uninstall.exe
• sys.com
• scandisk.ini
• chkdsk.exe
• attrib.exe
• Edit.Com
• QBasic.exe

4. Accessing Additional Files

In the process of re-establishing the full system and achieving full disaster recovery, it may be necessary to access even more files. Right now, you should check the ability to make such an access.

1. Insert the System Boot Disk (that you have just made) into Drive: A. This will place the computer system into DOS mode.

2. Insert the Windows 98 or ME Installation CD into the CD-ROM drive. Type the command dir n (assuming n is the letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive). Because the system is in DOS mode, you should see a list of files that are on the CD.

3. Occasionally, the list of files in DOS mode will not appear. That means the correct CD-ROM driver was not supplied by the boot disc. If that is the case, install the correct driver (the one that came with the CD-ROM) now.

With this done, you will now have a good System Boot Disk. Don't forget to do the following:

1. Flip the write-protect latch over to keep the disk from being corrupted.

2. Label the disc(s).

3. Place each disc in a protective disc case.

4. Store it in a safe place. If you made two copies, place put them in two different locations.

Although this guide is about creating a System Boot Disk, nevertheless I have provided some information and comments about disaster recovery systems found in the Windows NT family. This is not comprehensive.

System Restore

Usually, System Restore will do the job of restoration for you. If Windows will start up, then you can run System Restore. To access it, go to: Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System Restore.

If it refuses to run, here are a few things you can do to encourage System Restore to run:

1. Insert the installation CD > select Repair.

2. If this fails, start Windows in Safe Mode and try again to run System Restore via the Control Panel.

3. If this doesn't work, then it's on to the dreaded last-ditch effort, Recovery Console.

Recovery Console

Recovery Console is available in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003.

By using Recovery Console, someone qualified may be able to determine the problem. Namely, whether the trouble is with the boot partition or the master boot record (MBR). With this knowledge, it may be possible to do a repair and get the system up again. But this is serious technical work requiring a clear understanding of the operating system environment.

Automated System Recovery (ASR)

This is available with Windows Server 2003 and the Professional Edition (NOT the Home Edition) of Windows XP. With this interesting and unique system, important files and registry configuration settings are saved and later restored after a disaster. But you must first successfully reboot your system before using ASR. ASR itself is NOT bootable.

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