Trying to BOOT CD from MS-DOS Start-Up Floppy

[[email protected]]

We have been tearing out hairs out attempting to boot an MS-DOS
start-up floppy disk
to essentially BOOT an OS CD on a Compaq laptop with no avail...

When the laptop starts, it gives THIS message:

"NTDLR is missing"

OK, we went to the Microsoft website and it says to get the
"bcupdate.exe utility"...

We got a download of this app, burned it to CD on a working laptop....
...put that CD in the broken laptop to boot (would it?)

...and the problem is we can't BOOT the CD-ROM drive to even get to
that!

I wish there was somewhere on the web where they simply SCREENSHOT a
display
on how to EXACTLY enter codes after the A:\ prompt FROM the start-up
disk!!

I mean, after the A:\ prompt...we enter 'help"...and NOTHING!!

Any help is greatly appreciated.

-Infnet

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> We have been tearing out hairs out attempting to boot an MS-DOS
> start-up floppy disk
> to essentially BOOT an OS CD on a Compaq laptop with no avail...
>
> When the laptop starts, it gives THIS message:
>
> "NTDLR is missing"
>
> OK, we went to the Microsoft website and it says to get the
> "bcupdate.exe utility"...
>
> We got a download of this app, burned it to CD on a working laptop....
> ..put that CD in the broken laptop to boot (would it?)
>
> ..and the problem is we can't BOOT the CD-ROM drive to even get to
> that!
>
> I wish there was somewhere on the web where they simply SCREENSHOT a
> display
> on how to EXACTLY enter codes after the A:\ prompt FROM the start-up
> disk!!
>
> I mean, after the A:\ prompt...we enter 'help"...and NOTHING!!
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> -Infnet
>

There are several different types of boot floppies/CDs.
A good starting point would be for you to state what
exactly you wish to achieve with your boot CD.

[Dave Patrick]

Try creating a boot disk. For the floppy to successfully boot Windows XP the
disk must contain the "NT" boot sector. Format a diskette (on a Windows XP
machine, not a DOS/Win9x, so the NT boot sector gets written to the floppy),
and copy Windows XP versions of ntldr, ntdetect.com, and boot.ini to it.
Edit the boot.ini to give it a correct ARC path for the machine you wish to
boot. Below is an example of boot.ini. The default is to start the operating
system located on the first partition of the primary or first drive
(drive0). Then drive0 partition 2 and so on.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Window s
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows XP 0,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\Windows="Windows XP 0,2"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\Windows="Windows XP 1,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\Windows="Windows XP 1,2"

Another possibility is to try loading the controller driver also from
floppy. For the floppy to successfully boot Windows XP the disk must contain
the "NT" boot sector. Format a diskette (on a Windows XP machine, not a
DOS/Win9x, so the "NT" boot sector gets written to the floppy), then copy
ntldr, ntdetect.com, and boot.ini to it. Edit the boot.ini to give it a
correct ARC path for the machine you wish to boot.

In order for this to work you'll want to change the arc path in boot.ini
from multi syntax to scsi syntax to indicate that Windows XP will load a
boot device driver and use that driver to access the boot partition. Then
also copy the correct manufacturer scsi driver to the floppy but renamed to
ntbootdd.sys


Something like this below;

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows
[operating systems]
scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows XP 0,1"
scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\Windows="Windows XP 0,2"
scsi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows XP 1,1"
scsi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(2)\Windows="Windows XP 1,2"


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

> wrote:
| We have been tearing out hairs out attempting to boot an MS-DOS
| start-up floppy disk
| to essentially BOOT an OS CD on a Compaq laptop with no avail...
|
| When the laptop starts, it gives THIS message:
|
| "NTDLR is missing"
|
| OK, we went to the Microsoft website and it says to get the
| "bcupdate.exe utility"...
|
| We got a download of this app, burned it to CD on a working laptop....
| ..put that CD in the broken laptop to boot (would it?)
|
| ..and the problem is we can't BOOT the CD-ROM drive to even get to
| that!
|
| I wish there was somewhere on the web where they simply SCREENSHOT a
| display
| on how to EXACTLY enter codes after the A:\ prompt FROM the start-up
| disk!!
|
| I mean, after the A:\ prompt...we enter 'help"...and NOTHING!!
|
| Any help is greatly appreciated.
|
| -Infnet
|

[[email protected]]

OK, here's the deal:

We attempted to install XP on the laptop in question...
..during install, it wouldn't load a driver....

..we unplugged it, turned it on and still get the message:

"NTDLR is missing"
==========================================
We have a MS-DOS start-up disk that says at the start:

'Microsoft Windows Millenium 1981-1991"

THEN, the prompt displays as

A:\
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SO OUR QUESTIONS ARE:

Exactly 'what' do you enter AFTER this prompt to re-boot to the
CD-ROM??

We need instructions here people.....simple as that!

If one cannot DO this after the prompt, indicate and explain why...

Thx!

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> OK, here's the deal:
>
> We attempted to install XP on the laptop in question...
> .during install, it wouldn't load a driver....
>
> .we unplugged it, turned it on and still get the message:
>
> "NTDLR is missing"
> ==========================================
> We have a MS-DOS start-up disk that says at the start:
>
> 'Microsoft Windows Millenium 1981-1991"
>
> THEN, the prompt displays as
>
> A:\
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> SO OUR QUESTIONS ARE:
>
> Exactly 'what' do you enter AFTER this prompt to re-boot to the
> CD-ROM??
>
> We need instructions here people.....simple as that!
>
> If one cannot DO this after the prompt, indicate and explain why...
>
> Thx!
>

Your reply makes it much clearer: You're after a boot disk
that allows you to load WinXP.

The normal way is to boot the machine with the WinXP CD.
In the very rare cases when this does not work, you can do
this:
- Create a Win98 boot floppy (www.bootdisk.com).
- Burn a bootable CD from this boot floppy.
- Boot the laptop with this boot CD.
- Run fdisk.exe and format.exe in order to create a FAT32
partition.
- Run fdisk.exe to mark it "active".
- Run smartdrv.exe.
- Insert your WinXP CD.
- Run this command off the WinXP CD:
d:\i386\winnt
where D: is your CD drive letter.
- When finished installing WinXP, start a Command
Prompt and run this command to convert the FAT32
partition to NTFS: convert c: /fs:ntfs

[Dave Patrick]

Sounds like you're not booting the CD-Rom. Possibly set the boot order in
cmos setup to CD-Rom first in boot sequence. Also look for the keystroke (if
necessary) at POST to force boot from CD-Rom drive or check your mobo/pc
manual for instructions.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

> wrote:
| OK, here's the deal:
|
| We attempted to install XP on the laptop in question...
| .during install, it wouldn't load a driver....
|
| .we unplugged it, turned it on and still get the message:
|
| "NTDLR is missing"
| ==========================================
| We have a MS-DOS start-up disk that says at the start:
|
| 'Microsoft Windows Millenium 1981-1991"
|
| THEN, the prompt displays as
|
| A:\
| +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
| SO OUR QUESTIONS ARE:
|
| Exactly 'what' do you enter AFTER this prompt to re-boot to the
| CD-ROM??
|
| We need instructions here people.....simple as that!
|
| If one cannot DO this after the prompt, indicate and explain why...
|
| Thx!
|

[[email protected]]

NO - NO -NO!!

We want tro know WHAT you exactly 'enter' AFTER the A:\ prompt for the
MS-DOS disk to do ANYTHING!!

We haven't recieved a reply on this very simple question!!

If you cannot....indiocate WHY...

Thanks!

[Dave Patrick]

Depends on what you're wanting to accomplish.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

> wrote:
| NO - NO -NO!!
|
| We want tro know WHAT you exactly 'enter' AFTER the A:\ prompt for the
| MS-DOS disk to do ANYTHING!!
|
| We haven't recieved a reply on this very simple question!!
|
| If you cannot....indiocate WHY...
|
| Thanks!
|

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> NO - NO -NO!!
>
> We want tro know WHAT you exactly 'enter' AFTER the A:\ prompt for the
> MS-DOS disk to do ANYTHING!!
>
> We haven't recieved a reply on this very simple question!!
>
> If you cannot....indiocate WHY...
>
> Thanks!
>

I gave you a clear an concise answer. Read it!

[DH]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> NO - NO -NO!!
>
> We want tro know WHAT you exactly 'enter' AFTER the A:\ prompt for the
> MS-DOS disk to do ANYTHING!!
>
> We haven't recieved a reply on this very simple question!!
>
> If you cannot....indiocate WHY...
>
> Thanks!
>

Your asking the wrong question, not to mention that you are way off base.
You can give many different commands from the A: prompt, but none of them
will install XP. You are not paying attention to the previous posts.

You need to boot from the CD and not the floppy.

If you have a problem with the install because of a driver issue, repost the
error message and we will work on that issue.

Dave H.

[[email protected]]

>>> You need to boot from the CD and not the floppy....

WE KNOW...

What we're TRYING to figure out is IF THERE IS ANY COMMAND to type to
'enter'
after the A:\ prompt ON THIS DISK people...

Geez, this inquiry is so simple...yet there's NOTHING on display in a
screenshot
ANYWHERE on the web explaining this...

Let's just say we want to see 'something' OFF the disk in this mode...
...what do we enter?....."dir" ???

is 'DIR' a word to type after the prompt???

[Dave Patrick]

Yes, DIR will give you a listing of what's on the disk. At this rate this
may take hours or days to get at what you're wanting to do. You seem to have
drifted from your original goal of installing an operating system.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

> wrote:
|
| >>> You need to boot from the CD and not the floppy....
|
| WE KNOW...
|
| What we're TRYING to figure out is IF THERE IS ANY COMMAND to type to
| 'enter'
| after the A:\ prompt ON THIS DISK people...
|
| Geez, this inquiry is so simple...yet there's NOTHING on display in a
| screenshot
| ANYWHERE on the web explaining this...
|
| Let's just say we want to see 'something' OFF the disk in this mode...
| ..what do we enter?....."dir" ???
|
| is 'DIR' a word to type after the prompt???
|

[Andy]

One thing you can type is

DIR

This will show you the contents of the floppy disk.

On 13 Oct 2006 19:06:47 -0700, wrote:

>NO - NO -NO!!
>
>We want tro know WHAT you exactly 'enter' AFTER the A:\ prompt for the
>MS-DOS disk to do ANYTHING!!
>
>We haven't recieved a reply on this very simple question!!
>
>If you cannot....indiocate WHY...
>
>Thanks!

[Richard Urban]

You have been told in numerous different answers to your question that you
can NOT start the Windows XP install sequence from a standard DOS bootup
floppy, no mater WHAT command you type after you see the A:\ prompt! Yet you
still persist in knowing what you have to type, to do that which can't be
done. I'm German and can be very thick headed. Are you also?

You CAN download from Microsoft a small package that will create a set of 6
floppies that will, when you sequence through them all, allow you to do what
you want. But you need a "standard" Windows XP CD. A recovery CD from a
computer manufacturer will not do.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
>>>> You need to boot from the CD and not the floppy....
>
> WE KNOW...
>
> What we're TRYING to figure out is IF THERE IS ANY COMMAND to type to
> 'enter'
> after the A:\ prompt ON THIS DISK people...
>
> Geez, this inquiry is so simple...yet there's NOTHING on display in a
> screenshot
> ANYWHERE on the web explaining this...
>
> Let's just say we want to see 'something' OFF the disk in this mode...
> ..what do we enter?....."dir" ???
>
> is 'DIR' a word to type after the prompt???
>

[Mugsy Nabru]

Why don't you go to Google, and type in the following:

Help for incompetent and bumbling computer users. Then go to one of the web
sites that are displayed.

Maybe someone there can better explain to you - in really simple terms that
even YOU can understand - THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE!



" wrote:

>
> >>> You need to boot from the CD and not the floppy....
>
> WE KNOW...
>
> What we're TRYING to figure out is IF THERE IS ANY COMMAND to type to
> 'enter'
> after the A:\ prompt ON THIS DISK people...
>
> Geez, this inquiry is so simple...yet there's NOTHING on display in a
> screenshot
> ANYWHERE on the web explaining this...
>
> Let's just say we want to see 'something' OFF the disk in this mode...
> ...what do we enter?....."dir" ???
>
> is 'DIR' a word to type after the prompt???
>
>

[Og]

Well, folks, the OP well illustrates the adage:
You can lead a mule to water...
but you can't stop the mule crapping in its own drink.
Steve

"Richard Urban" > wrote in message
...
> You have been told in numerous different answers to your question that you
> can NOT start the Windows XP install sequence from a standard DOS bootup
> floppy, no mater WHAT command you type after you see the A:\ prompt! Yet
> you still persist in knowing what you have to type, to do that which can't
> be done. I'm German and can be very thick headed. Are you also?
>
> You CAN download from Microsoft a small package that will create a set of
> 6 floppies that will, when you sequence through them all, allow you to do
> what you want. But you need a "standard" Windows XP CD. A recovery CD from
> a computer manufacturer will not do.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
> Quote from George Ankner:
> If you knew as much as you think you know,
> You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>>
>>>>> You need to boot from the CD and not the floppy....
>>
>> WE KNOW...
>>
>> What we're TRYING to figure out is IF THERE IS ANY COMMAND to type to
>> 'enter'
>> after the A:\ prompt ON THIS DISK people...
>>
>> Geez, this inquiry is so simple...yet there's NOTHING on display in a
>> screenshot
>> ANYWHERE on the web explaining this...
>>
>> Let's just say we want to see 'something' OFF the disk in this mode...
>> ..what do we enter?....."dir" ???
>>
>> is 'DIR' a word to type after the prompt???
>>
>
>

[Stan Weiss]

You can type DIR C:\/P to show all files / folders in the root of C
drive and have it stop after each full screen. For other options of DIR
type DIR /?
Stan

wrote:
>
> NO - NO -NO!!
>
> We want tro know WHAT you exactly 'enter' AFTER the A:\ prompt for the
> MS-DOS disk to do ANYTHING!!
>
> We haven't recieved a reply on this very simple question!!
>
> If you cannot....indiocate WHY...
>
> Thanks!

[DandyDon]

Read this article for a fresh approach to solve your problem.

http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=313

Good Luck.


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> We have been tearing out hairs out attempting to boot an MS-DOS
> start-up floppy disk
> to essentially BOOT an OS CD on a Compaq laptop with no avail...
>
> When the laptop starts, it gives THIS message:
>
> "NTDLR is missing"
>
> OK, we went to the Microsoft website and it says to get the
> "bcupdate.exe utility"...
>
> We got a download of this app, burned it to CD on a working laptop....
> ..put that CD in the broken laptop to boot (would it?)
>
> ..and the problem is we can't BOOT the CD-ROM drive to even get to
> that!
>
> I wish there was somewhere on the web where they simply SCREENSHOT a
> display
> on how to EXACTLY enter codes after the A:\ prompt FROM the start-up
> disk!!
>
> I mean, after the A:\ prompt...we enter 'help"...and NOTHING!!
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> -Infnet
>

[[email protected]]

AS it turned out, we set the bios for the CD-ROM to start FIRST, and
that
did the trick after numerous tries...

Apparently, the CD-ROM didn't jive with the command....it's old and
probably worn-out...

NO, we were just wondering IF an MS-DOS floppy 'can indeed' help BOOT
a CD...
...guess not!

Thanks

[Dave Patrick]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255292

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

> wrote:
| AS it turned out, we set the bios for the CD-ROM to start FIRST, and
| that
| did the trick after numerous tries...
|
| Apparently, the CD-ROM didn't jive with the command....it's old and
| probably worn-out...
|
| NO, we were just wondering IF an MS-DOS floppy 'can indeed' help BOOT
| a CD...
| ..guess not!
|
| Thanks
|

[Ken Blake, MVP]

wrote:

> AS it turned out, we set the bios for the CD-ROM to start FIRST, and
> that
> did the trick after numerous tries...
>
> Apparently, the CD-ROM didn't jive with the command....it's old and
> probably worn-out...
>
> NO, we were just wondering IF an MS-DOS floppy 'can indeed' help BOOT
> a CD...
> ..guess not!


No it can't Booting is a function of the BIOS. If the BIOS is set to boot
from the CD first, it will; if it isn't, it won't. The diskette drive isn't
involved at all, and whatever kind of floppy you may have in it or not is
irrelevant.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup