downloaded bootdisks

[tetonbob]

I have bootdisks for all my different OSs made from the systems themselves. I have seen advice given here, and have given some myself, to download a bootdisk from any of a number of well known sites. I figured I should try it myself to make sure I could do what was being advised.

I downloaded a Win98 bootdisk from www.bootdisk.com, saved it to a folder, ran the .exe, put in the fresh formatted floppy when asked, files were copied. Files can be seen on the disk, are comparable to my own bootdisk, but here's the thing: I can't get this or any other downloaded bootdisk to actually boot a system. I know the system's boot order is right, as it will boot from my own bootdisk.

I tried another site's download-

http://ouraynet.com/files/windows/utilities/boot%20disks/boot98.exe

used the same process, got the same results, a floppy with files on it, which won't boot.


What am I missing here? :embarrass

Many thanks in advance,

Bob

[degsy]

You seem to be doing everything correct.

Do you get error messages when trying to boot from the floppy?

Have you tried a different floppy disk as it may be corrupt.

[tetonbob]

Good call, Degsy-

Tried a different floppy, and it worked like a charm, as I had hoped.

Should I just toss that one, or can it be used somehow still? Would a thorough format on it help?

Thanks!

Bob

[Bad Dog]

tetonbob, I used your link, d/l'd w98.exe to a windows folder, inserted a formatted flop and ran w98.exe and it copied files. Shutdown and changed my boot order to a: and then booted my bootdisk. It came up and I chose #2 no cdrom support so it copied my diag files to d: and left me at the a: prompt to continue as I wish.
I have windows 98FE. This does not help you but confirms it works.
Good luck.
BD:disgust:

[degsy]

Good call, Degsy-

Tried a different floppy, and it worked like a charm, as I had hoped.

Should I just toss that one, or can it be used somehow still? Would a thorough format on it help?

Thanks!

Bob
cool :cool:

just bin the disk :)

[tetonbob]

Cheers!

Sometimes the bargain bin of 40 disks isn't such a bargain. I think I've got a few in this batch acting poorly.

Thanks again. :-)

Bob

[engnrjeff]

Bob,
I'm trying to make a boot disk too, and I also downloaded mine from bootdisk.com. I need an NT 4.01 boot disk. After successfully downloading the file and then running it, I receive the error:
Disk Error on Track XX, Head XX (where XX is a number)
Error in reading
Abort Retry Ignore

I thought it might just be a bad disk, so I tried a few more, but always with the same results. If I ignore the error and try to continue, I get the same message again with a different track & head #. Has anyone run into this one before? BTW, my desktop is running Windows XP; the boot disk is for my laptop.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Bad Dog]

Have you tried this:
CREATING A WINDOWS NT BOOT DISK

To create a boot diskette you must have access to the i386 directory located on your Windows NT CD or possibly your Hard disk drive.

Format the floppy diskette you wish to make a bootable Windows NT boot disk using the Windows NT machine.

Copy boot.ini, ntdetect.com and ntldr to the floppy diskette just formatted.

If you are using any SCSI (http://www.computerhope.com/help/scsi.htm) devices which you need access to you will also need to load these drivers onto the diskette

BD:disgust:

[engnrjeff]

Baddog,
Unfortunately the NT machine isn't running right now. Any other ideas?

Jeff

[tetonbob]

The floppy reader might be going south. Does it do this on all disks? Swap drives if you can.