quick Q:

If i copy the windows\ebd contents along with command.com to a CD will it become a boot CD?
Even if there are other files on it?
I can try yes, but I dont want to waste a CD...

Nope! You have to use a special option of your burner software. There should be an option to create a bootable CD.

or burning from a iso image should work. but then what am thinking is that if i choose that then I cant add other files to it like the win98 setup files. I use Nero.
I want to be able to boot from the CD and install 98 from it.

Windows 98 CD's are already bootable!

DO NOT SHOOT THE MESSENGER

If you scroll down the left hand side of the first pane in Nero, below Data CD, Music CD etc is a bootable option.

Nero will ask you for a image source. You can make this by using the 'sys' command on a floppy disk. Alternatively you could try using a traditional startup disk, but I'm not sure which files it copies. I can't see any need to have the 'boot with CDROM support' option.

Don't forget to put other useful files in the root directory such as fdisk, format and scandisk.

""""Windows 98 CD's are already bootable!"""

For the umpteenth gaziilllionthsssszz time, no, not all of them are!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As above, there should be an option to create a bootable cd. You will need a separate image or floppy to do that.

I'm not sure, been awhile--I THINK you need a separate progam like ISO buster to extract the boot image (if there is one) of the cd you are using for a source, and by that I mean IF IF IF the cd you are using for a source is IN FACT bootable.

What I know from experience:

None of the several '98 UPGRADE cd's I have will boot.

NONE of the several '98 "full editon" store bought "RETAIL" cd's will boot.

ALL of the several so called "OEM" says "To be supplied only with a new PC"

All of the last type I have will boot.

Hello ham30, rimfire, name, rogerashley.

Thanks for responses. I have created a boot cd seeing ham30's post using Nero's 'Make Bootable CD' When asked for the image source I just selected Nero's DOS boot rather than reading from a floppy.
When I tried this CD I got to know its Caldera DOS. When I tried win98 setup the setup hung after the "copying files needed for setup" stage giving me a DOS error. This is not bad media or corrupted installation files as I have tried from other CDs (and from the HD where I have a back up) with the same result. I remember having had problems installing 98 booting from Caldera DOS.

The next thing is to make a bootable floppy and ask nero to read from it rather than make its own Caledra Boot. Now I have to go buy a floppy! darn!

How about asking Nero to burn from the iso image of a boot disk that i took off the net?
would that work? (the site said it would, I will give the link in a few mins). But if I do that I cant add any other files to the CD.
If I try to edit that iso then I may not be able to get the CD to boot.

Now assuming I had no floppy drive, what could I do to make a boot cd in which other files (win98 setup) can also be written?

Thanks, I appritiate the patience, I will follow this thread!

See my response at http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/158095.html that contains links to two articles about "Fred Langa explains how to make a custom, bootable CD containing the right tools to fix just about any system trouble"

HTH
Bryan

Bryco thanks!!
I was looking for something after this CD I made with nero did NOT work as I wanted it to. It would boot DOS yes, but the 98 setup would hang.

i meant - the CD i made earlier...am now reading your links.

Bryco- i read the article but that basically says what I already know. Am wanting to know if its possible to make a boot cd with other stuff on it when there is no access to a floppy at all.

Basically, YES, if if if your burning software supports making a boot cd from a boot image--not all of them do.

Otherwise, you'll have to use some sort of "ISO BUSTER" type software to FIRST create a bootable ISO image--something I'm not real familiar with, and then use your burner software to burn the ISO to your CD.

What version of Nero do you have?

Nero 6 that came with my Writer.

If u are working with a laptop with no floppy drive then I would remove the laptop HD and attach it to a working desktop system using a special 1de adaptor.

You may then get cdrom support from your win 98 floppy.

Format your laptop HD to make it bootable (format c:/s)

Then copy the cab files (win98 directory) from the win98 cdrom to c:\win98

Reconnect laptop HD to laptop

Run setup from win98 directory on c:

This should work

Chris

The HD on some laptops may be difficult to remove. If so then use a desktop PC to create a partition that is bootable and contains the win98 cab files (win98 directory on win98 cd)

Use Bootit NG to resize your existing partition on the desktop. This will create free space. The free space should be large enough to store the cab files (300 MB is plenty).

Format the freespace fat32.
Boot PC from win98 bootdisk. Use the sys command to transfer system boot files to your 300 MB partition created above.

Boot PC normmally. Copy win98 directory of win98 CD to 300 MB partition.

Use Bootit to create image of 300 MB partition onto a CD disk. Choose low write speed (8X) and choose to verify image.

Use bootit to restore CD image onto laptop HD. No need to verify on the restore.

Resize partition to desired size. The Windows partition must be smaller than the data partition. Otherwise the backup image of C: cannot be written on the data partition. If HD space is limited then write the backup image on CD instead.

Boot Laptop to C:\> prompt and run setup from win98 directory on c:

NB If laptop has no floppy drive then you will need to create a bootit boot CD. Also you will need a CD burner and CD burning software.

I have tried this and it worked for me!

Chris

The HD on some laptops may be difficult to remove. If so then use a desktop PC to create a partition that is bootable and contains the win98 cab files (win98 directory on win98 cd)

Use Bootit NG to resize your existing partition on the desktop. This will create free space. The free space should be large enough to store the cab files (300 MB is plenty).

Format the freespace fat32.
Boot PC from win98 bootdisk. Use the sys command to transfer system boot files to your 300 MB partition created above.

Boot PC normmally. Copy win98 directory of win98 CD to 300 MB partition.

Use Bootit to create image of 300 MB partition onto a CD disk. Choose low write speed (8X).

Use bootit to restore CD image onto laptop HD.

Resize partition to desired size. The Windows partition must be smaller than the data partition. Otherwise the backup image of C: cannot be written on the data partition. If HD space is limited then write the backup image on CD instead.

Boot Laptop to C:\> prompt and run setup from win98 directory on c:

NB If laptop has no floppy drive then you will need to create a bootit boot CD. Also you will need a CD burner and CD burning software.

I have tried this and it worked for me!

Chris