I did a CD copy of my HD, using Adaptec Take2 back-up and restore software on my HP Omniboook Xe2 (Model DB) Laptop, with a HP 8230e CD-Writer (8200 series), which connects to the back of my laptop with a USB cable. Back-up was successful. Then, I made a Take2 Emergency Boot Floppy Disk (EBD), with a computer re-boot to VERIFY that floppy would initiate proper device drivers for writer/CD backup set (CD’s are read-ready). Results: boot floppy searched for lots of tools to work with---ASPI4DOS.sys, adapters, et cetera failing to find what it needed, then moved on to using a Take2 DOS Restore App, and so on, but it's default content and commands failed to find a way to use the USB connection (for DOS driver pathways?)---so boot verification failed...dead end. Its true, I could forget "the emergency" part of restore and just use any drive that will read my backup CD's---but what will this Emergency Boot Floppy Disk do, when there is a full system crash? That is the application question, here. In the Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum User's Guide, it says that the default emergency boot disk (that I made with Take Two) does not handle the following device exceptions: CD-ROM and CD-Recorders connected through PCMCIA, USB (that’s me), and parallel port. Guide says to make custom boot floppy disk with DOS drivers and some "config.sys" and "autoexec.bat" command-line changes. Well, I received this message from Adaptec/Roxio: no keys--------------------- Webmail Solution : 08/08/01 15:21:05 ewi99999 Hello from Roxio, I have reviewed your configuration Dr. audit report and have read your problem description. You will need a CD-rom device that will be supported in DOS PCMCIA will not USB will not Internal IDE or SCSI will. Parallel port will IF the default take two drivers do not load for your parallel device, then you will have to obtain a DOS driver from the manufacturer and copy this driver to the take two restore up floppy. My suggestion would be to contact the manufacturer of your device and obtain a DOS driver. Hope this answers you question no keys------------------ OK! How do I makie my CD-ROM [D:] or my HP Writer [H:] devices supported in DOS, as mentioned by the two Roxio suggestions of Internal IDE (integrated device electronics) or parallel port? I need some help understanding the mechanisms of action for these two solution-protocols (someone explain); and any specific how-to’s or any special add-on hardware and/or connections knowledge, that I should be aware of.

It's not difficult to load cdrom Dos drivers. You add a line to config.sys to load the driver and add a line to autoexec.bat to load 'mscdex' which is also needed. Use Notepad and add the following line to c:\config.sys device=c:\CDdriver.sys /d:mscd0001 Then add the following line to autoexec.bat loadhigh c:\windows\command mscdex.exe /d:mscd0001 Change 'CDdriver.sys' to the name of your driver. Make sure your 'driver' and 'mscdex' are in the specified folders. The '/d:mscd0001' ties the two entries together and must be the same in both lines If you have more than one cdrom drive add a line in config.sys for each one but change the /d:mscd0001 to /d:mscd002 for the second one. Then add the /d:mscd0002 to the 'mscdex' line in autoexec.bat like the following: loadhigh c:\windows\command mscdex.exe /d:mscd0001 /d:mscd0002 I hope this helps. If you have any problems try the Dos forum.