How to Create a Windows XP MS-DOS Boot CD

No need to get this frustrated. You can create an MS DOS boot disk.

There are times when you need to boot your computer from the MS DOS prompt instead of from Windows. Usually, this is because Windows is not working properly. Doing this doe require a little bit of knowledge of computers, but it is not too difficult to do.

Things You'll Need

• A floppy disk
• A computer running Windows XP which has a floppy disk drive

Instructions

Create a boot disk

1. Boot the computer with Windows XP. If your computer is not working, use a different one at work or at the home of a friend or relative. You may also be able to find a computer at Internet cafes or your local library.

2. Insert your floppy disk, click "Start">"Run." In the box that comes up, type format a:\. If your floppy drive is not a:\, then use b:\ or whatever the appropriate letter is. Click OK.

3. Open my computer and navigate to c:\I386. Open a second My Computer window and navigate to a:\. In the I386 window, find NTldr and ntdetect.com. Click either of them once. Then, hold the "Ctrl" button and click once on the second one. Now drag the files onto the window for a:\. When Windows asks if you'd like to copy the files, click yes or ok.

4. Click start, accessories and then notepad. Type the following code:

   [boot loader]
   timeout=30
   Default= multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
   [operating systems]
   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="<Windows XP Home>"

   Note: If you are trying to load Windows XP Professional, replace the word Home with Professional.

   Click the file menu, click save as, at the bottom change the file type to "all files, *.*". Navigate to a:\ (or to wherever your floppy disk is located). Type the filename Boot.ini. Click save.
   You are now done.

Tips & Warnings

• Tip: If you don't have a floppy drive, you can do something similar with a blank cd rom. Just remove the step for formatting the disk and instead, when you have finished copying the files, you can just click "burn these files to CD."

• Your new disk can be used to boot any computer running the same version of Windows (i.e. if you made a disk from Windows XP Home, you can boot Windows XP Home only). If you made one from Windows XP Professional, you can boot computers with Windows XP Professional only.

References

• Microsoft: How to create a boot disk