Simple ? - How Do I create a Bootable CD in Vista??

I need to install a WD Scorpio driver off a bootable cd dos prompt.

Use to be able to type ..

format d:/s...not no more

 

any windows boot disk will work. Are you trying to install XP on a sata drive?

 

No I need to put a WH scorpio HDD control driver from Dell on an IDE drive.

I need to create the boot disk first and then install from that disk.

and then if I put the OS disk in...I cant get to a DOS prompt and then change to another disk.

 

I know sonic burning ROM can make bootable cds.

I recommend a usb flash drive. you can make it bootable and put the driver on it without having to install software or cost a disk.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/serveroptions/us/download/23839.html

This is HP's software to make a flash drive bootable. ALso place the scorpio driver on the flashdrive, change your boot sequence and your done. GL

 

Just tried the HP angle with my flash...doesnt work, not even on a compaQ...nice try though.

Gonna have to get Nero or something similar...roxio.

 

I use a flash drive to run asset.exe and change service tags on dells. I use a cheap 512 memorex that I bought last xmas for $9 (BB). There should be more ways on the net to make a flash drive bootable

 

Why am I running into these things that use to be so simple but are now so difficult..

First, I just wanted to set up a pass through from my laptop to a desktop to fix it...Nooo... not even adhoc have I got working.

Then, followed exact instructions to make my Netgear and Access point but no...

Now...I just want to go to DOS and create a boot disk the old way 'format d:/s'

Things have become so complicated.

I guess on the upside, I have got Vista premium flying on my sons inherited 700M with a m1.6, 512Kb ram and an 80GbHD. I actually think its faster than my other sons brand new Compac with 1Gb ram.

 

That is quite an accomplishment!

 

I know...It shocks the heck out of me...

 

My D600 also has a 1.6/512 but with a 40gig I rarely use it since I am mouse spoiled. My daughter uses it more than I. I did just sell a 6400 with a dualcore 1.73 and 2 gigs of ram. But it was way more than I needed. I like to play with computers as a hobby. I have several USB wireless adapters and can afford to part with one (all) your welcome to it.

 

I was actually pointing out the typo. You put 512Kb instead of 512MB. Kilobits are a whole heckuva lot smaller than megabytes

 

oh sorry.....lol

I just need to get rid of this and, apparently with this (see below) drive, I can only do it from a dos booted disk with the file on it...

 

I think you could do it from a BartPE CD. It's a live Windows CD of sorts, similar to WinPE. BartPE and WinPE 2.0 both support USB, so you could put the driver on your thumb drive, boot into the live Windows environment, and do it from there.

Edit: I reread the license stipulations for both, and it appears that BartPE is more legal for legal owners of XP or Server 2003 to use than WinPE is. Plus, BartPE has a functioning GUI and many more features where WinPE has a funny command line - GUI combination.

 

Download and burn Hiren's BootCD - http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

 

The problem with Hiren's is that it contains a bit of warez, unless that has changed lately. BartPE is legal.

 

Where can I find BartPE? Ya...tons of stuff on Hirens - 95Mb worth.

 

Here is a basic (read: non-detailed) tutorial as well as the source for the builder. You need to actually assemble the BartPE yourself using either an existing XP install (needs certain install files that haven't been cleaned up) or an XP CD, either Home or Pro. I believe this is to help with the licensing issues.

There is also UBCD4WIN (Ultimate Boot CD for Windows). It is based off of BartPE, but has many additions, all of which I believe are legal. You still need to build it using an XP CD. Fortunately, neither of these require a ton of manual work, the builders pretty much do it all for you.

 

Thanks but again...Where have we gone when we cant just DOS prompt a 'format d" /s'???

We became so difficult somewhere along the line.

 

It's easy enough to do that with a floppy disc, but I wasn't aware that you could do that with a CD. I don't know if there's any support for formatting a CD from the command prompt using format.

BartPE and UBCD4WIN aren't terribly difficult to make or use. They just take a little bit of time. Plus, they are both potentially useful tools for diagnostic and repair work in the future. I've been using Linux live CDs for that work for a while, but the Windows alternatives might be more suited for some computers or for some technicians.

 

I think you are right. I just showed my age because I don't believe you could use that command on anything other than the dreaded floppy.

 

Really? I thought it was legit. I guess I had no reason of knowing. What's the problem with Hiren's?

I also use the Ultimate Boot CD - are there issues with it too?

 

It does contain a lot of legal software, both free and "abandonware," but there are also multiple unlicensed, non-free pieces of software on it. I don't have a list of all the warez on it, but I'll point you to the wikipedia article here. There is a list of what software is included, and the first on the list is Partition Magic Pro 8.05, which falls under the warez category. I'm not sure which of the others are illegal.

As far as I know, UBCD is legal, I do know that BartPE is legal, and I don't believe that UBCD added any illegal software to it.

On the note of using floppy discs, I just installed XP onto my D630 in addition to Vista, and the only way I could figure out how to install the Intel Matrix driver for my SATA drive was with a floppy. Luckily, I bought a USB floppy drive years ago. I have never had to use it until a couple days ago, but I'm certainly glad that I have it.

Edit: Interestingly enough, I found this page on the Hiren website explaining how to make a bootable DOS CD. It's definitely more complicated than making a floppy...