[RESOLVED] Boot disk

[GregL]

I have one dos 6.2 boot disk that works fine.
I want to copy it so as to have a spare backup, you all know why!
If i enable my file viewer in windows to see all hidden files, then select all and copy to another floppy, on boot it comes up as non system disk error.
How can I copy this disk??

[DR]

I would just go to the floppy drive icon, right click, select copy disk. That should copy all files no matter what the attributes are set to.

[Archer]

Dont know whats causing your problem but you need to format the floppies to 1.6mb before you copy files over on DOS 6.22 as a standard floppy is not large enough.

[Cave_Dweller]

Diskdupe should work.
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/1,10150,0-10001-103-0-1-7,00.html?tag=srch&qt=diskdupe&cn=&ca=10001

[Platypus]

At a DOS prompt, DISKCOPY A: A: should do it.

[Geek #1]

If i enable my file viewer in windows to see all hidden files, then select all and copy to another floppy, on boot it comes up as non system disk error.
How can I copy this disk??

Generally, I don't know why, but you have to format the disk with a /s option, before adding any additional files. Copying the files straight over never seems to work.

[Cave_Dweller]

Simply copying system files to a disk will not make the disk bootable. Formatting using the /s switch, selecting "copy system files" on the 9.x format window, or copying a boot disk with a utility such as Diskdupe will.

[Sly]

If you a trying to make a disk that will load you cd-rom for gaming, start at a dos promt type "format A: /s" this will make the disk bootable, than you can copy all files from your 1st disk to the new one. Make sure your autoexec.bat, and config.sys are correct.

You might want to add MSCDEX.EXE to the disk

HTH.... <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/cool.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

[Mustang]

Originally posted by Platypus:
<STRONG>At a DOS prompt, DISKCOPY A: A: should do it.</STRONG>

This is the correct answer.

if someone has a functioning boot disk and needs to make a copy then (in dos) you use the commands listed above.

if copying it in win9x you can right click on the drive letter and select copy disk.

both of these procedures will allow you to make a backup copy of the functioning BOOT disk

[lesbentley]

You can't just copy all the files across, as some boot files need to be in specific places on the disk. From the DOS prompt enter:

diskcopy A: B:

This will make an exact clone of any floppy. It don't mater that you dont have a B: drive, you will be prompted to chainge floppys. if you only need a boot disk enter:

format A:/s

This will transfer the system files and make the disk bootable, then you can copy any other files you want to the disk, attrib.exe, edit.com, fdisk, and format, are handy to have on a boot disk, you might also want chkdsk.exe, mem.exe, mode.com. If your running Win98 these should be in the C:\windows\command directory.

[melee5]

If you copy io.sys over first and then msdos.sys that will make the disk bootable. File order after that is not important. This trick will even work on a hard drive.

[Chosen One]

The above will do what you want to accomplish. What I would suggest is what I do to archive boot disks and things of that nature. I use Winimage. You can download it for free from download.com. You can then read the data from the disks you want to store and keep an image of it so if you ever need it again, just run the program, open the image and run it. I use it for diagnostic disks because they always get lost in the shop, end up in peoples systems that leave, etc.

Hope this helps someone.

[MeanMachine]

hiho to all first time on. Having same type problem can not make boot floppy under WinME and cmdcom no longer supports "format A: /s" also used sys cmd but only applies to c: drive and can not use emergency disk because it re-arrenges the emm 386 please if you have solution send quick have to flash my bios, am I the only one to really miss DOS.

[melee5]

Hi, Mean Machine. You really don't need ME boot disk just to Flash BIOS with. Any boot disk could work. Be SURE to read up on Flashing BIOS as it can really foul things up if it goes wrong. Make sure BIOS is set to allow Flashing and to use shadow ram. BIOS code will then be in and operate out of ram while you Flash (re-write) the code in the BIOS chip.

No memory managers allowed so X the emm386.exe or others. Get the latest BIOS.rom file and Flashing Program from your mobo site and best of luck. For bootdisks go here

<a href="http://www.bootdisk.com" target="_blank">http://www.bootdisk.com</a>

[Mayet]

Thanks guys.....
that just helped with my boot disk problems too........

[Key]

Use the disk using format a:/s, copy the disk then change the disk label to disk 1. (disk then 6 spaces then 1)

If you ned to make backup copies of the other disks use the same format disk then 6 spaces and the dsik number.

[AlienDyne]

Go to My Computer and right-click the floppy drive having the disk in. Select Copy Disk. It should work too.

[firemonkey]

I have had this problem before, the disk would not copy under any of the normal means. It turned out it was a bad disk, even after a format, I ran NDD on it, it fixed it and I made my copy and was a happy camper,

[rewep]

what did you use to set the attributes? i find simply typing "attrib -h -s -r *.*" has always worked the best.