Converting a HD with multi-partitions to DVD

[ryan.d.rembaum]

I have two very small, old hard drives, that I would like to put to a
different purpose. The drives are both 1.4 gigs and have mutiple
partitions (they are old - 1.4 gigs was a lot when these drives were in
their prime). When used together the drive can boot up into dos,
Win3.1 etc allowing access to older applications...) I thought it would
be great if I could ghost the each drive to a DVD (1 drive per DVD),
and then just throw in the DVDs when I wanted to boot from the old
drives (I have two DVD players), access the old data, etc. Is there
any application that might allow this (does Ghost)? I am thinking that
there is not, that perhaps I may only be able to save the data, and not
the boot structure, etc, but figured it could not hurt to ask.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Roby]

I have two very small, old hard drives, that I would like to put to a
different purpose. The drives are both 1.4 gigs and have mutiple
partitions (they are old - 1.4 gigs was a lot when these drives were in
their prime). When used together the drive can boot up into dos,
Win3.1 etc allowing access to older applications...) I thought it would
be great if I could ghost the each drive to a DVD (1 drive per DVD),
and then just throw in the DVDs when I wanted to boot from the old
drives (I have two DVD players), access the old data, etc. Is there
any application that might allow this (does Ghost)? I am thinking that
there is not, that perhaps I may only be able to save the data, and not
the boot structure, etc, but figured it could not hurt to ask.

Thanks,
Ryan

DOS (and Windows) mount the hard drive(s) read/write. DVD's are read
only. There's the problem.

Windows needs to write to its swap (aka paging) file. You could handle
that one by presetting Windows to use a swap file on your hard drive
before writing it to the DVD. But it's likely that some of your apps
also write to the HD (often to the subdirectory where they're installed)
and probably without you even knowing it's happening. Convincing these
apps to write elsewhere might be impossible ... short of editing the
binary itself.

Suggestions:

1. Copy the stuff on the old hard drives to your machine's usual HD.
You'll need to deal with changes in drive letters known to the apps
to make things work. And perhaps live with the rewards of running
old code on a much faster machine with lots more memory ... not
necessarily good things.

2. Obtain a clunker, put the drives in it and run the old stuff there.
Look in the basement, garage, attic. Or curbside an trash day. Free
stuff.

Roby

 

[jaster]

DOS (and Windows) mount the hard drive(s) read/write. DVD's are read
only. There's the problem.

Windows needs to write to its swap (aka paging) file. You could handle
that one by presetting Windows to use a swap file on your hard drive
before writing it to the DVD. But it's likely that some of your apps also
write to the HD (often to the subdirectory where they're installed) and
probably without you even knowing it's happening. Convincing these apps
to write elsewhere might be impossible ... short of editing the binary
itself.

Suggestions:

1. Copy the stuff on the old hard drives to your machine's usual HD.
You'll need to deal with changes in drive letters known to the apps to
make things work. And perhaps live with the rewards of running old code
on a much faster machine with lots more memory ... not necessarily good
things.

2. Obtain a clunker, put the drives in it and run the old stuff there.
Look in the basement, garage, attic. Or curbside an trash day. Free
stuff.

Roby

Yep, I don't think you boot from the dvd because Win needs to write
something, somewhere.

The simple answer is to just copy the data to DVDs R or RW as uncompressed
data. Then you put the DVD in when you need the data.

If you're using XP chances are the programs won't work under XP anyway so
data only DVDs is simple. There are plenty of CD ISOs available that boot
DOS if you need it.

OTH, if you absolutely need a Win 3.1 you could try a USB storage.
Install Win 3.1 to at least a 1GB USB memory then you could boot the USB
and run the programs off the DVD. Programs won't work if those absolutely
need C:\program files directory.

I forget how but El Torrito and ET based utilites allow you to make
bootable CD/DVDs.

 

[DonLogan]

Yep, I don't think you boot from the dvd because Win needs to write
something, somewhere.

The simple answer is to just copy the data to DVDs R or RW as uncompressed
data. Then you put the DVD in when you need the data.

If you're using XP chances are the programs won't work under XP anyway so
data only DVDs is simple. There are plenty of CD ISOs available that boot
DOS if you need it.

OTH, if you absolutely need a Win 3.1 you could try a USB storage.
Install Win 3.1 to at least a 1GB USB memory then you could boot the USB

great. what mbs & bios support this?

 

[jaster]

great. what mbs & bios support this?

I don't know. What do you suggest?

 

[DonLogan]

I don't know. What do you suggest?

your suggestion, i thought you knew?
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/usb-boot.mspx
snip

 

[jaster]

your suggestion, i thought you knew?
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/usb-boot.mspx


snip

Thanks for the tip. Nope didn't know but IIRC the OP has 2 1.4G drives.
They make 4G USB devices now. Basically, if his newer PCs can boot USB he
can make a bootable USB right. I mean it wasn't that long ago we could
boot off a DOS floppy and start Win 3.1 right?