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Trying to create a boot-CD for my Windows XP Pro. The system is working fine, I just need security to be able to boot other than from HD. I checked with my original XP CD, I can boot from that one. According to Mr. Google, the easiest way is to copy some files to your CD (boot.ini, ntdetect.com and ntldr). I do not need any fancy stuff, I just want to be able to boot to Windows XP.
Problem now is; when starting up, I'm getting message : "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key"
OK, so he thinks it is not a boot device, my burned CD. OK, what do I miss ?
I saw you can create bootable CD's from burner soft, but you need an IMG or IMA file for that. Do I need that ? I mean, if you can boot from a diskette (you know, the ancient stuff) with having only 3 files on it ...
Maybe I am dense but I don't understand what you wish to do. If you are referring to an alternate method to boot into your installed version of WinXP then I really don't understand. If the hard drive has malfunctioned or is corrupted how do you propose to run WinXP from that drive?
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For as far as it is relevant : I am going to introduce a multi-boot functionality.
It's very simple : insert CD, start Windows. That is my goal at the moment. Suppose my primary hard-disk has got a boot issue, but the Windows XP copy on it, is still OK.
Actually, I can use my original XP disc to do what I require, but I want to create a boot-disc myself.
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I don't think you are going to be able to do that by 'yourself'. It would take extensive knowledge and some programming. You would have to analyze the Master Boot Record to determine where the XP Partition Boot Record is, and then pass control to it.
You could look into 'Boot Managers'. You 'might' find one that will do what you want. But I think any boot manager would assume that all the boot code is working ok.
Of course, creating a bootable CD is easy. Any CD burning program should have instructions on how to do that.
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Hi Othehill, yes it's me. Yesterday someone came in with the same nick as me. There were some problems correcting that and I had to change my nick.
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"Of course, creating a bootable CD is easy. Any CD burning program should have instructions on how to do that."
Yes, but they require an IMG or ISO file, which I don't have, and which is not included on my original XP CD.
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If you PM Justin Weber he can fix that for you. I had the same issue. Someone hacked both our user names here. I couldn't even log in so I had to open a new account in order to contact Justin. All is well for me now. You post count will start over if you don't get your old name back.
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Hmmm, Nero used to have the option to create a bootable CD, but I don't see that on my current version. I would do a search for a burner that will do it, but I think you are wasting your time, so I'm not going to bother.
But there are free programs that will make an ISO image. EasyISO is one.
Thanks Othehill, but it's no big thing. I'll just stay with the new one. I couldn't care less about the 'post count'. :-)
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tvc
You would probably be better off using a boot manager. You will have more flexibility that way.
Look at the link below for information on how to do what you want.
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I decided to do a search for a burner that creates bootable CDs. I found a free one at:
http://en.kioskea.net/telecharger/t...
It creates an image first (from files you select) and then burns to CD. It isn't all that user friendly, but it does work.
(edit) Correction, Nero does have the 'Create bootable CD' option. Unfortunately, for some reason that option doesn't work on my system (locks up the system), so I can't check it out.
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Have a look at Barts bbie boot extractor.
You can extract the boot sector from a bootable cd, then use Magic iso to add it to other files?
I think.
Before posting try google. Backup. Use anti virus software.
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"You would probably be better off using a boot manager. You will have more flexibility that way."
It is because I will be using a bootmanager, that I want to assure booting from something else than my primary hard disk.
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"I decided to do a search for a burner that creates bootable CDs. I found a free one at:
http://en.kioskea.net/telecharger/t...
I have exactly that one, but the problem is that YOU have to provide the files to burn. And it does not work with only ntldr, ntdetect.com and boot.ini
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"Have a look at Barts bbie boot extractor.
You can extract the boot sector from a bootable cd, then use Magic iso to add it to other files?"
Problem is that I do NOT have a bootable CD to start with. My Windows XP CD takes me to re-install/recovery functionality ... no regulat startup with that CD.
I can create a floppy though, to which I can boot to DOS. But that is only half the solution, since I want to boot to Windows. And it is possible : http://www.scribd.com/doc/430494/Ma...
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Also Linux makes a mess out of it:
They've created a command to create a floppy-boot disk (called mkbootdisk). Only one problem: the stuff needed to boot, does not fit the drive.
It's throwing "no space left on device" errors ...
What a joke.
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Why is it a joke? Because it doesn't fit your needs? I don't understand what in the world you are trying to accomplish anyway.
Why do you need a bootable CD to get into Windows?
If you wish to multi-boot then get a free boot loader. Why re-invent the wheel.
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I'm trying to boot to an OS, without using the hard disk. I know, nobody in the world ever had a corrupt MBR or a failing bootloader.
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Does not work from CD, but it does now from disk:
- Just copying boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com to a boot disk will not make your disk boot
- Using "format A:", then performing the above, does not either. In old Windows, it may have worked with "format A: /s" or "sys C: A:", but *NOT* on Windows XP (this is called : progress)
- You can use the format from the GUI in Windows, then check the "Create an MS-DOS startup disk" option. This will boot to DOS. I didn't have access to the C: drive then. Starting up Windows from there, I don't know how.
- You can format your A: drive using xpquick.exe from http://www.bootdisk.com/txtfiles/xp... and then copy whatever boot.ini, ntldr and/or ntdetect.com over the ones copied there by default (assuming YOU know what you are doing). This will boot straight (but slowly) into Windows XP.
I tried to boot into Linux using the same Windows bootloader, by altering boot.ini on the A drive, but this did not work.
There you are, booting to Windows XP from a floppy. Wanted to do the same from CD, but I don't bother about that now.
Thanks for your help
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If the MBR or boot loader gets corrupted won't you need to fix it anyway? You do that by booting to the WinXP install CD.
There are a host of other reasons you may not be able to boot into your OS, including hard drive failure.
Imaging the partitions will allow you to correct every one of those issues.
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