emergency disk

[bridget]

I know I saw it but now I can't find it.
How do you make an emergency disk in case you have a crash?

 

[Kaylene aka Taurarian]

Hi Bridget, the WinXP CD is bootable.

Links for information, in case you're interested
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310994
Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305595
HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314079
How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to
Start Windows XP

 

[Bob Harris]

Yes and no. XP can make a DOS bootable floppy disk, but if you actually use
it you will find that it says Windsow ME, not XP. Further, such a disk will
not see any NTFS formated partitions.

There is a 5 disk bootable floppy set that can be downloaded from Microsoft.
It is primarily intended to help install XP on PCs that can not boot from a
CD.

However, the XP CDROM is bootable, and most modern PC can use it to boot.
Note that depending on how your PC was made, you may need to change a BIOS
setting to permit botting from CD before booting from hard drive. The XP
CDROM contains a set of prgrams called the "recovery console". They provide
a DOS-like environment from which you can fix some things that might prevent
XP from booting to the desktop level. Here are some links about using the
recovery console:

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm

http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy33.htm (near bottom)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_rec.htm

Be warned that the recovery console is for fixing things, not running
programs, and it is definitely not a version of DOS. Also, by default it
will not allow access to most of the computer, only the operating system.
Here is info to permit a wider use of the recovery console. Note that some
options must be invoked while XP is still running happily, or they will not
be available to the recovery console:

By default, the recovery console asks for the local administrator password,
meaning the PW of the person you first installed XP. Other administrator
PWs will not work. If an OEM computer (e.g., Dell, Gateway), it may not at
all clear what to use.



Thus, avoid the whole problem by telling XP that no PW is required!



BUT, you can only do this if XP is running normally, because you have to use
REGEDIT. If a disaster happens it will be too late!



A related item is the SET command, which by default is NOT permitted in the
recovery console. It is very useful to have to copy files off of the PC, so
enable it. Again, this must be done while XP is running normally.



If you waste time like I did to try the XP help, you will go in circles and
get nowhere, at least with XP home, which talks about some local PC policy
thing that really is more of an XP professional concept.



Instead, just run REGEDIT and change two things that appear on the same
page:



Start à Run à Regedit


Navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Setup\Recover
yConsole


Set the DWORD SecurityLevel value to 1



HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Setup\
RecoveryConsole



Set the DWORD SetCommand value to 1




Exit REGEDIT, reboot, and test the recovery console lack of PW and ability
to use SET, thereby copying any little file to A:\ or a ZIP, etc. Note that
before you can copy to A:\, you must issue the command:



Set allowremovablemedia = true

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

There's normally no need for an ERD (Emergency Rescue Disk) with
WinXP. The WinXP installation CD is bootable, and provides access to
the Recovery Console.

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=kb;en-us;Q314058


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

 

[losl(removethis)]

Sorry for interrupting the thread!

I have difficulty on using the "Recovery Console". When I boot my PC
from the WinXP Pro installation CD-ROM I never get the "Welcome to
Setup" blue screen (http://www.wown.com/img/gif_wxp/wxpins02.gif) on
which i have options for running the Console. The setup screen gose
directly from this (http://www.wown.com/img/gif_wxp/wxpins01.gif) to
this (http://www.wown.com/img/gif_wxp/wxpins04.gif). Do you know why?
How could i reach the screen
(http://www.wown.com/img/gif_wxp/wxpins02.gif) with the R option?

Thank you!!

**************************************************************************
Stephen Lo, Vancouver, BC., CA.