Making a Bootable Data Disk

[Frog]

I am attempting to make a bootable CD for my system using Nero 6
Express. I am being directed by the Nero software to the Windows
operating system for help in making a "boot floppy disk". Here comes my
really stupid question---how do I get to the Windows operating system
where this help is located?

I have a backup of my system that was made using Casper software...this
backup is located on an external hard drive. The Casper software
package includes a Casper.ISO file that, when burned to a bootable CD,
will allow one to start their system without having to enter the Windows
world. My goal is to find a way, when using Nero 6 Express, to place
the bootable information on a CD with the Casper.ISO file.

Windows-XP Pro. SP-3

Thanks for any help or advice sent my way.

Frog

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

Download and install the particular burning software version from the above
link.

To make a bootable CD from the ISO file>right-click on the ISO file>"Copy
Image to CD"

That is automatically put in the right-click options with that buring
software.

 

[M.I.5¾]

I am attempting to make a bootable CD for my system using Nero 6 Express.
I am being directed by the Nero software to the Windows operating system
for help in making a "boot floppy disk". Here comes my really stupid
question---how do I get to the Windows operating system where this help is
located?

I have a backup of my system that was made using Casper software...this
backup is located on an external hard drive. The Casper software package
includes a Casper.ISO file that, when burned to a bootable CD, will allow
one to start their system without having to enter the Windows world. My
goal is to find a way, when using Nero 6 Express, to place the bootable
information on a CD with the Casper.ISO file.

To make a bootable CD, Nero first has to have acess to bootable image that
it can store in the image of the bootable media on the target CD. The image
is normally taken from a bootable floppy disc (hence why Nero is pointing
you that way). Alternatively, Nero should be able to use a pre existing
image of bootable media, but whether Nero is provided with one or not, I
can't say as I don't use Nero.

To make a bootable floppy disc, simply right click on the floppy drive and
select 'Format'. One of the options make a bootable disc. If you don't
have a floppy drive on your system, a suitable USB floppy drive can be had
for a small fee from any good PC store (and I believe PC world sells them as
well).

 

[Lil' Dave]

They're talking about using the onboard help and support selection in XP.
Its available and visible at the desktop when pressing start. Keyword would
be "system disk". Find "format a disk" under full-text search matches.
The resulting ms-dos startup disk is what Nero needs for boot media
reference to make the CD bootable.

That aside, based on what your goal is, does not apply to your situation.

If I remember correctly, the resulting Casper CD will be bootable when using
CD creating software to implement a CD image (iso) to creating of a CD.
There was a nag in that portion of earlier Nero versions. The default was
".nrg" instead of ".iso" when it looked for CD image files. Select "all
files" when in that portion of the menu if that's the case.

 

[Anna]

They're talking about using the onboard help and support selection in XP.
Its available and visible at the desktop when pressing start. Keyword
would be "system disk". Find "format a disk" under full-text search
matches.
The resulting ms-dos startup disk is what Nero needs for boot media
reference to make the CD bootable.

That aside, based on what your goal is, does not apply to your situation.

If I remember correctly, the resulting Casper CD will be bootable when
using CD creating software to implement a CD image (iso) to creating of a
CD. There was a nag in that portion of earlier Nero versions. The default
was ".nrg" instead of ".iso" when it looked for CD image files. Select
"all files" when in that portion of the menu if that's the case.

Frog:
As Dave has indicated it's ordinarily a simple matter for the Nero CD
burning program (I'm pretty sure that includes the v6 you're working with)
to create the Casper Startup CD. Merely double-click on the CASPER.ISO file
and the Nero Burning ROM program (which I'm assuming has been installed in
the Nero program) should automatically open. Then simply click on the Burn
button.
Anna

 

[Frog]

To make a bootable CD, Nero first has to have acess to bootable image that
it can store in the image of the bootable media on the target CD. The image
is normally taken from a bootable floppy disc (hence why Nero is pointing
you that way). Alternatively, Nero should be able to use a pre existing
image of bootable media, but whether Nero is provided with one or not, I
can't say as I don't use Nero.

To make a bootable floppy disc, simply right click on the floppy drive and
select 'Format'. One of the options make a bootable disc. If you don't
have a floppy drive on your system, a suitable USB floppy drive can be had
for a small fee from any good PC store (and I believe PC world sells them as
well).

I was successful in making a bootable floppy. I then used it as I was
making my Nero 6 CD. Well, the newly made CD did have the boot
information on it, but it would only take me to an A prompt point. I
attempted to direct it to the Casper.ISO drive (my D drive) and it would
not go there. I know that the BIOS in my system are properly set as
other CDs are found on startup. Thus, this process did not solve my
problem of being able to make a bootable Casper.ISO CD.

Thanks for your help.

Frog

 

[Frog]

Frog:
As Dave has indicated it's ordinarily a simple matter for the Nero CD
burning program (I'm pretty sure that includes the v6 you're working with)
to create the Casper Startup CD. Merely double-click on the CASPER.ISO file
and the Nero Burning ROM program (which I'm assuming has been installed in
the Nero program) should automatically open. Then simply click on the Burn
button.
Anna

Hi Anna,

I did as you suggested...double clicked the Caspar.ISO file and the
"Open With" window appeared. Nero was not included in the listing that
appeared. I then browsed for Nero Express and had it included in the
Open With selections. I again double clicked on the Caspar.ISO file and
then selected Nero Express in the listing. This time I got the
following message:

E:\Software\Caspar 5.0-IExplorer\CASPER.ISO is not a valid Win32
application.

I realize that I really wasn't attempting to open this Caspar.ISO
file...but that is the window that appeared when I double clicked on
this file.

Thanks again Anna for helping me.

Frog

 

[Frog]

They're talking about using the onboard help and support selection in XP.
Its available and visible at the desktop when pressing start. Keyword would
be "system disk". Find "format a disk" under full-text search matches.
The resulting ms-dos startup disk is what Nero needs for boot media
reference to make the CD bootable.

That aside, based on what your goal is, does not apply to your situation.

If I remember correctly, the resulting Casper CD will be bootable when using
CD creating software to implement a CD image (iso) to creating of a CD.
There was a nag in that portion of earlier Nero versions. The default was
".nrg" instead of ".iso" when it looked for CD image files. Select "all
files" when in that portion of the menu if that's the case.

You are right when you state "the resulting Casper CD will be bootable
when using CD creating software to implement a CD image (iso) to
creating of a CD". I also did the select "all files" during the process
(as you suggested)and that did not solve the problem.

Thanks fr your help.

Frog

 

[Frog]

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

Download and install the particular burning software version from the above
link.

To make a bootable CD from the ISO file>right-click on the ISO file>"Copy
Image to CD"

That is automatically put in the right-click options with that buring
software.

I haven't overlooked your suggestion...just attempting to make Nero 6
work. I did visit the site you recommended and it appears that I will
need to download the "CreateCD - command-line CD burning tool for
Windows XP (all versions), Windows 2003 and Windows Vista" version of
this software since I my operating system is Windows-XP Pro SP3. Is
that the correct version for my system? I will continue my search for a
program that will produce a bootable Casper.ISO CD.

Thanks for your help.

Frog

 

[Anna]

I did as you suggested...double clicked the Caspar.ISO file and the "Open
With" window appeared. Nero was not included in the listing that
appeared. I then browsed for Nero Express and had it included in the Open
With selections. I again double clicked on the Caspar.ISO file and then
selected Nero Express in the listing. This time I got the following
message:

E:\Software\Caspar 5.0-IExplorer\CASPER.ISO is not a valid Win32
application.

I realize that I really wasn't attempting to open this Caspar.ISO
file...but that is the window that appeared when I double clicked on this
file.

Thanks again Anna for helping me.

Frog

Frog:
The problem may be that the Nero Burning ROM program is not installed in
your earlier version of Nero (v6). I know working with versions 7 & 8 that
application was part of the overall Nero program and it's included in their
latest v9 program (which I haven't worked with).

I'm assuming you have the Nero StartSmart program as a component of your
Nero 6 program, so open that program and click on the burn icon on the
bottom left corner of the opening screen. Does the application list that
displays indicate the Nero BurningROM is included in the Application list?
If not, can you find any way in v6 to install that program?

Another thing to try assuming the Nero BurningROM application *is* included
as part of your Nero program...
Download the .exe file to create the .iso file *directly* to your HDD rather
than downloading to a flash drive or other removable media. Then create the
ISO file by double-clicking on the .exe file so that the ISO file will be
located on your HDD. Although this might not be *your* problem, sometimes
there's a problem in executing a program from removable media. Anyway
something to try assuming the Nero BurningROM is included as a component of
your Nero program.

If not, perhaps you could download the trial version of v9 and hopefully be
able to install the Nero BurningROM program during the setup process.

Also, there are a number of free (or shareware) programs that are designed
to burn CDs from ISO images. Take a look at...
http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/dvdcdburning.shtml

Perhaps others coming upon this thread can make recommendations re a
desirable free or shareware program to burn a ISO image.
Anna

 

[Frog]

Thank you everybody for your help...the problem seems to be solved at
this point. Here are some details about how this problem was solved.

The version of Nero that is on my system is 6.6.0.17 OEM. I open
this software from an ICON on my desktop. Once open, I am able
to make a number of selections under the following headings: Favorites,
Data, Audio, Photo and Video, Copy and Backup, and Extras. I was
attempting to make a CD from the "Make Bootable CD" under the Data
heading. Of course, this did not work as the information was an image
and not a data file. I started looking at other possibilities (after
receiving Anna's message); and I found a category listed under Extras,
that seemed to fit the bill...(i.e., Burn Image to Disk). I made a CD
of the Casper.ISO file using this category, and it worked. I then
restarted my computer with this CD in the CD/DVD drive, and it loaded
the startup disk without a problem. That made me a happy camper, to say
the least.

The bottom line is--there was no problem with Nero 6 doing this job,
there was no problem with the Casper.ISO image and there was a big
problem with the operator not knowing what he was doing. I will spend a
little more time documenting how I made this CD after completing this
message...I don't want to have to learn all over again the next time I
make a Casper.ISO startup disk.

Again, your help and support was very much appreciated.

Frog

 

[Guest]

I am attempting to make a bootable CD for my system using Nero 6
Express. I am being directed by the Nero software to the Windows
operating system for help in making a "boot floppy disk". Here comes my
really stupid question---how do I get to the Windows operating system
where this help is located?

I have a backup of my system that was made using Casper software...this
backup is located on an external hard drive. The Casper software
package includes a Casper.ISO file that, when burned to a bootable CD,
will allow one to start their system without having to enter the Windows
world. My goal is to find a way, when using Nero 6 Express, to place
the bootable information on a CD with the Casper.ISO file.

Windows-XP Pro. SP-3

Thanks for any help or advice sent my way.

Frog

The .iso file is an IMAGE of the disk.
You cannnot make it bootable if it's not already bootable...
without editing the .iso file or some other external sw.
In Nero express, you have to choose "disk image or saved project"
But you still can't see the file, because Nero likes to
make you think you have to use their extension.
Change the file filter to "files of type...all files"
Now, you can see the .iso file, just open it and it will burn.
Just did it and it works.
mike

 

[Anna]

Thank you everybody for your help...the problem seems to be solved at this
point. Here are some details about how this problem was solved.

The version of Nero that is on my system is 6.6.0.17 OEM. I open
this software from an ICON on my desktop. Once open, I am able
to make a number of selections under the following headings: Favorites,
Data, Audio, Photo and Video, Copy and Backup, and Extras. I was
attempting to make a CD from the "Make Bootable CD" under the Data
heading. Of course, this did not work as the information was an image and
not a data file. I started looking at other possibilities (after
receiving Anna's message); and I found a category listed under Extras,
that seemed to fit the bill...(i.e., Burn Image to Disk). I made a CD of
the Casper.ISO file using this category, and it worked. I then restarted
my computer with this CD in the CD/DVD drive, and it loaded the startup
disk without a problem. That made me a happy camper, to say the least.

The bottom line is--there was no problem with Nero 6 doing this job, there
was no problem with the Casper.ISO image and there was a big problem with
the operator not knowing what he was doing. I will spend a little more
time documenting how I made this CD after completing this message...I
don't want to have to learn all over again the next time I make a
Casper.ISO startup disk.

Again, your help and support was very much appreciated.

Frog

Frog:
Glad it all worked out with your v6 of Nero. It may be a trifle easier (but
not significantly so) with the later versions of Nero in that the "Nero
Burning ROM" application is installed as part of the general setup process
when installing the Nero program. So all one has to do is simply
double-click on the ISO file, the burn program automatically opens, and the
user just clicks on the Burn button. But truth-to-tell, the method you found
seems just as good and really not more time-consuming.
Anna

 

[Andy]

I am attempting to make a bootable CD for my system using Nero 6
Express. I am being directed by the Nero software to the Windows
operating system for help in making a "boot floppy disk". Here comes my
really stupid question---how do I get to the Windows operating system
where this help is located?

I have a backup of my system that was made using Casper software...this
backup is located on an external hard drive. The Casper software
package includes a Casper.ISO file that, when burned to a bootable CD,
will allow one to start their system without having to enter the Windows
world. My goal is to find a way, when using Nero 6 Express, to place
the bootable information on a CD with the Casper.ISO file.

What would you like to burn?
Image, Project, Copy > Disk Image or Save Project
File Name: Casper.iso

 

[M.I.5¾]

I was successful in making a bootable floppy. I then used it as I was
making my Nero 6 CD. Well, the newly made CD did have the boot
information on it, but it would only take me to an A prompt point. I
attempted to direct it to the Casper.ISO drive (my D drive) and it would
not go there. I know that the BIOS in my system are properly set as other
CDs are found on startup. Thus, this process did not solve my problem of
being able to make a bootable Casper.ISO CD.

If that's what the bootable floppy did then that is what the CD will do when
you boot it. You need to include in the bootable floppy the MS-DOS CD
driver MSCDEX.EXE to provide access to the rest of the CD. You can also
include the necessary instructions in AUTOEXEC.BAT to automatically run
whatever it is you want to execute from the CD.

 

[Lil' Dave]

You are right when you state "the resulting Casper CD will be bootable
when using CD creating software to implement a CD image (iso) to creating
of a CD". I also did the select "all files" during the process (as you
suggested)and that did not solve the problem.

Thanks fr your help.

Frog

Assuming you're using the proper menu in Nero for burning CD images to CD,
you go to the location in terms of drive letter (and folder if appropriate),
then use "all files", then select the now visible "iso" file for Casper.
This works in Nero 5 as well. The default "data" portion for burning is not
the proper menu for that, unless you make some mods in what its supposed to
do, not straightforward. Neither is the boot CD making menu in any manner.

Older Nero does not open when double-clicking an ISO file type as its not
associated with that file type. This, I previously hinted with the "nrg"
file type that older Nero defaults in reference to burning CD images to
CDs.''

Can't help you with NeroExpress as I"ve always used the default Nero manual
menu instead.

 

[Lil' Dave]

I was successful in making a bootable floppy. I then used it as I was
making my Nero 6 CD. Well, the newly made CD did have the boot
information on it, but it would only take me to an A prompt point. I
attempted to direct it to the Casper.ISO drive (my D drive) and it would
not go there. I know that the BIOS in my system are properly set as other
CDs are found on startup. Thus, this process did not solve my problem of
being able to make a bootable Casper.ISO CD.

Thanks for your help.

Frog

To do what you say you're attempting for the short term, during the creation
of the bootable CD selection, there should be an option to close the session
or to make a multisession CD. The latter selection will allow you to
further write to the CD. Burn the bootable CD after selecting multisession
option. At that point, you use the data burning menu to burn the ISO image
file to the CD. If the source bootable floppy can access data CDs, so will
the bootable CD. Also the same but on the same media with be 2 different
drive letters for access. "A:" for the boot portion, and some other drive
letter for the ISO image file portion.

Irregardless, none of this is of any good for you ultimate goal.