Hi, Is there a way to make a bootdisk without using the DOS SYS command? I have a non-bootable disk of IBM-DOS 1.10 that I want to boot on a IBM 5150 PC W/O HDD. I tried just copying COMMAND.COM, IBMDOS.COM AND IBMBIO.COM to a 360K, even a 160K floppy and no luck! Thanks

With lesser versions of DOS one has to copy two files first and they must be in order. First is Io.sys and then Msdos.sys. After those two are on the formatted disk command.com will round it out such that the disk will boot. For your even earlier DOS attempts, I haven't a clue as to the file's IBM name equates even though I have 1.10, I haven't looked at it in years so no off hand help at least. You may have to remove system, hidden, and read only attributes in order to see/copy them and be sure to reset those on both disks when done. I'm not even sure if you have attrib.exe with 1.10! I'd have to find it, reboot, etc. and it's bedtime here.

Hi, Problem is, to use SYS or FORMAT/S you need DOS running. It's chicken/egg. You might find a downloadable bootdisk. I don't remember seeing one earlier than 3.3[?]

Try here The image is in an odd format (DIM) but that utility is included - haven't actually tried it, but the d/l is working. Confusion reigns

Tried it last night and couldn't copy any files because I only have one drive hooked up and 1.10's copy will not copy to the same drive with same name (no disk swap allowed). With two drives you might try copying ibmbio.com and then ibmdos.com and then command.com and give it a try? None of this will work if you have pre-existing files I'm thinking but I've been wrong before. The manual for 1.10 does mention 'reserved space' for system files, whatever that means exactly. I'm also thinking that the system files have to be the first in the directory of which at least DOS 7 reserves for those two system files, the actual files can be placed anywhere so what you want can be done with DOS 7 - just not so sure about 1.10.

debug.exe will allow you to write the mbr if you have patience enough, but if you have access to any machine running win2k, you can use the included app 'dskprobe' to write the boot record. see http://www.ata-atapi.com/hiwdos.htm the boot record (mbr) of a floppy looks for the files io.sys and msdos.sys ( or their ibm equivalent)which then load the command interpreter command.com. These files must be in the root dir but can be loaded any time so long as the floppy has a mbr (which may need to be modified to look for the correct .sys files) written to sector zero. good luck.

I got the bootdisk to work by using the link to TechKnight.com Thanks for all your help