How to Create a Start-Up Floppy Disk

A startup floppy disk provides an emergency method for starting the computer when the hard drive is not functioning properly. Three methods for creating a startup disk are described below. The Windows procedures require Windows 95 or 98; the DOS procedure requires DOS 3 or higher (ideal for older systems).

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Floppy Disks
• Floppy disks

Windows Startup Disk

1. Click the Start icon and choose Settings.

2. When the Settings menu appears, click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

3. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

4. Click the Startup Disk tab.

5. Click Create Disk. The computer will request the Windows 98 CD-ROM.

6. Insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM.

7. Label a blank, formatted floppy disk and insert it into the floppy drive. The computer will format the disk and copy system files to the disk.

8. Click OK to exit. The startup disk is ready for use.

Windows

9. Label a blank floppy disk and insert it into the floppy drive.

10. On the Windows desktop, double-click My Computer.

11. Select the 3 1/2 floppy (A:) drive.

12. Open the File menu and select Copy Disk.

13. Change the disk capacity to match your floppy disk (usually 1.4 MB); change the format type if you need to format the disk or if you just want to copy the system files.

14. Type a label for the startup disk (optional).

15. Click to put a check mark next to "Copy system files."

16. Click Start. The computer will format the disk and copy system files to the disk.

DOS

17. Start the computer in DOS. To bypass Windows, press and hold the F8 key after the computer displays the system settings. The C:\ prompt should appear.

18. Label a blank, formatted floppy disk and insert it into the floppy drive.

19. At the DOS prompt, type: FORMAT A: /S. The /S option prompts the computer to copy system files to the floppy disk. The computer will format the disk and copy system files to the disk.

20. Type "No" to end the format command. The startup disk is ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• To use the startup disk for hard drive partitioning and formatting, copy the DOS commands FORMAT and FDISK to the startup disk.
• Create the startup disk on the operating system for which it will be used. Different DOS versions, for example, do not communicate with each other.
• Make sure that you correctly specify the disk you want to format to prevent accidental formatting of the wrong disk.
• The format procedure deletes all files on the floppy disk. This action is not reversible. Be sure to back up any files you want to keep.

[kalanziut]

on 3/18/2007 sir, does the computer automatically bootup / startup from the floppy or there is a manual way of doing it? and if it is done manually, does it require special previlleges or you can even do it from the limitted user accounts. thankyou

on 11/22/2005 A word of warning. You can't do all that in Windows XP. You have to go to Microsoft's site and type these words in the search on the support area: "XP startup disk" or put your Windows XP disk in, restart the computer, make your CD ROM the startup drive in the bios, and follow the prompts for startup.