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Creating Bootable CD/DVD's Without A:\Floppy
Drive
This step-by-step guide makes it easy to create a
bootable CD or DVD either *with* or *without* a floppy
drive.
Another title for this guide could have
been 'A Guide to Using WinImage', being as that is the key program that will allow
creating a bootable CD or DVD without A:\ floppy drive.
Did your PC come without a floppy drive? This streamlined configuration is
becoming more common, especially on laptops. But a computer
sans floppy can
make it difficult to
create a bootable CD or DVD, because many of the programs that
create bootable discs will ask for the boot files via a floppy disk
inserted into the floppy drive.
This guide teaches you the mojo on how to create a bootable CD or
DVD without a floppy drive.
I
prefer using bootable CD's because they boot much faster than floppy disks.
I developed this method while researching how best to create custom boot
files and add them to a CD containing the DOS-based version of Norton Ghost, so I wouldn't have to
use the Windows-interface version, which I find less reliable for creating and restoring back-up images.
So, even if your system *does* contain a floppy
drive, I think you will glean some helpful insights about creating
bootable CD/DVD's. So I encourage you to review the material.
If
you wish to jump right in and get busy, bypassing further background
information, skip to Project #1 now.
This Guide will
be organized into 5 different Projects, as described
below.
Project #1
is a 'Standard Ghost Bootable CD/DVD--on Steroids'.
Project #2 will
be a 'Standard
Ghost Bootable CD/DVD with the 'Panasonic USB Drivers'.
Project #3 will
be a 'Standard Ghost Bootable CD/DVD with Menu to select:
- a. 'No USB Support',
- b. Panasonic USB Support, or
- c. Norton Ghost's USB Support.
Project #4 will
be a 'Utility Bootable CD/DVD Disc' which will allow you to have
Ghost, PartitionMagic, Fdisk, and other DOS Utility Programs available on
a bootable CD that is Menu driven like #3 above.
Project #5 will be
'Using Ghost's Two Disk Floppy Boot Set to Create a Single Bootable CD or
DVD disc'.
I will continue to develop this
page, so bookmark it so you can return periodically to see the next
NightOwl project.
|
Notice: This Guide is still under development. So expect to see
changes in the format and layout. But the functional information in
Project #1 is complete, and will allow you to proceed. |
Introduction:
This guide is primarily designed to be a companion guide to
Rad's
Guide to Norton
Ghost with emphasis
on the Ghost 2003 version. But I'm sure it can be applied to earlier Ghost
versions as well. And it has many other possible, interesting applications
if you use any other DOS utilities such as PartitionMagic, Microsoft's
Fdisk, a Disk Editor, etc.
Project
#1 is the foundation of this Guide. You need
to understand the basics of using the program WinImage in order to create a bootable CD or
DVD. All the other 'Projects' will build from this basic
foundation.
Disclaimers: Some words about
'Safe Computing'!
So--you do not have
a floppy drive, and maybe you want to... :
Here's a list of reasons you may want to try
this Guide!
Okay, so possible
solutions by the numbers, from easiest to less
easy: To avoid this
Guide--install a floppy disk drive!
So Why Is Following This
Guide 'Less Easy' Than Some Other Solutions:
Because:
- it involves using several programs to achieve
the final results,
- you have to download some programs and
files,
- you have to follow multiple steps (I will try
to make them as clear as possible),
- if you want to get more creative with customized boot menus, etc.,
the complexity increases, and you may have to understand DOS Commands to
achieve your purpose.
So, this is not a single program with a 'One Button'
solution that creates the final result for you with a single
'Click'!
Project
#1: Starts Here!
Page 1: Standard Ghost Boot CD/DVD--on
Steroids!
This is a brief description of Project #1.
Page 2: Programs and Files You Need:
You need to get setup before you proceed by downloading
the necessary files and programs.
Page 3: The Step-by-Step instructions on making the 'Standard Ghost Boot CD/DVD--on
Steroids' without a A:\ floppy drive!
Did you see the possibilities using
WinImage?!
Without
having
a floppy drive, you can download probably any of the floppy boot disk
(.exe) files on BootDisk.com designed to create a floppy boot disk, use
WinImage to open the 'hidden' floppy boot image file inside that '.exe'
program file, and use that image file to create an
'.IMA'
CD/DVD boot sector image file that your burning program can
use to create a bootable CD or DVD!
All, without ever needing a
floppy drive! Laptop users--are you paying attention?!
Now,
in Project #1 above, I modified those boot files to be specific for use
with Ghost, but you can use those floppy boot disk files from BootDisk.com
for creating any of those boot disks on CD or DVD, as is, without
modifications.
Project #2 thru
#5 : (Under Development)
Additional Resources:
As all things Windows (and DOS),
there is usually more than one alternate way to accomplish a similar task.
The following Google search and links may offer alternate approaches to
creating bootable CD's or DVD's:
Pre-defined Google search: Creating
a bootable CD without a floppy
drive.
Other resources: BootDisk.com
Ultimate Boot CD
Bart's way
to create bootable
CD-Roms
Bart's PE Builder
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Questions? Go to Radified Forums
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