MS DOS computer startup

[mfabien]

Created a rescue disk from Windows XP

Added files Config.nt and Autoexec.nt (unchanged) from
c:\Windows\system32

Upon restarting the computer, I get and only get the A:\ >>prompt.
Cannot access C: drive

Questions:

1. How do I get access to the C: drive

2. Once I get the C: drive, what command do I enter to open up Windows
XP?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Created a rescue disk from Windows XP

Added files Config.nt and Autoexec.nt (unchanged) from
c:\Windows\system32

Upon restarting the computer, I get and only get the A:\ >>prompt.
Cannot access C: drive

Questions:

1. How do I get access to the C: drive

2. Once I get the C: drive, what command do I enter to open up Windows
XP?

You cannot use rescue disks or DOS to access your WinXP
files. If Windows refuses to start then the usual way is to start
the machine in Recovery Console mode, by booting it with your
WinXP CD.

It is not possible to "open up Windows XP" from the Recovery
Console mode or from DOS.

What are you actually trying to achieve?

 

[Malke]

Created a rescue disk from Windows XP

Added files Config.nt and Autoexec.nt (unchanged) from
c:\Windows\system32

Upon restarting the computer, I get and only get the A:\ >>prompt.
Cannot access C: drive

Questions:

1. How do I get access to the C: drive

2. Once I get the C: drive, what command do I enter to open up Windows
XP?

What are you trying to do? Config.nt and Autoexec.nt are not used in
booting XP; they are there for legacy programs. I don't know what you
mean by "open up Windows XP".

Here is a link that will explain what details you need to include in a
newsgroup post so you can get focused help:

http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Malke

 

[mfabien]

Understood. No MS DOS start up.

My Windows XP was installed by the computer maker. No XP CD supplied
but recovery can be activated with F9 when powering up. All Windows
files are contained on the HDD.

I don't have a problem with Windows or the Computer... just planning
ahead!

Thanks.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Understood. No MS DOS start up.

My Windows XP was installed by the computer maker. No XP CD supplied
but recovery can be activated with F9 when powering up. All Windows
files are contained on the HDD.

I don't have a problem with Windows or the Computer... just planning
ahead!

Thanks.

This is *such* a bad idea.. when the hard disk dies, the recovery partition
will be gone too, as will the Recovery Console.

Pressing F9 won't help access a dead drive. You will then have to buy
another XP install license AND a new hard disk.

Contact the maker for directions on making a copy of the recovery partition,
or making a recovery CD.

I really can't say that this type of system configuration has much going for
it except from a cost-saving perspective.

And no, you can't access NTFS partitions via DOS disks. You need a
bootable XP CD.

HTH
-pk

 

[Wesley Vogel]

With a startup disk, you can start your computer if the startup record
becomes corrupted.

Make one of these, test it and set it aside just in case.

Create a Boot Disk for XP

Creating a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311073

How To Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305595

How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being unable
to start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314079

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I assume you're telling us that you have a laptop without
a Windows CD but with a recovery CD that lets you
restore your installation from a hidden recovery partition
on the hard disk.

If this was my machine then I would do this:
- Connect an empty hard disk as a slave disk.
- Partition & format it.
- Boot the machine with a Bart PE CD.
- Copy the system drive to the empty disk, using
the appropriate switches.
- Disconnect the master disk and turn the spare disk
into the master disk.
- Test the copy.

 

[mfabien]

Thank you Wesly. The following:

"How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being
unable
to start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314079 "

works. I created a floppy from the above and restarted the computer.
The net effect of the floppy with copies of Boot.ini, Ntldr and
Ntdetect.com makes Windows XP start as if there was no floppy in the
drive. It is a seamless start.

I repeat, this exercise is a precaution step only. My Windows XP has
never failed.
Now that this is done, should I, as one suggested, get in touch with
Cicero (computer manufacturer) for a Windows CD rather than relying on
the files stored on the HDD and recovery done by pressing F9 at
startup? As far as you know, can recovery, from these files or from the
CD, repair damaged files, or, is the only recovery essentially a new
install with complete data loss?

 

[Rock]

Thank you Wesly. The following:

"How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being
unable
to start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314079 "

works. I created a floppy from the above and restarted the computer.
The net effect of the floppy with copies of Boot.ini, Ntldr and
Ntdetect.com makes Windows XP start as if there was no floppy in the
drive. It is a seamless start.

I repeat, this exercise is a precaution step only. My Windows XP has
never failed.
Now that this is done, should I, as one suggested, get in touch with
Cicero (computer manufacturer) for a Windows CD rather than relying on
the files stored on the HDD and recovery done by pressing F9 at
startup? As far as you know, can recovery, from these files or from the
CD, repair damaged files, or, is the only recovery essentially a new
install with complete data loss?

You'll have to check the documentation or talk to the computer
manufacturer's tech support to find out how the recovery process works.
Sometimes it can allow for both non destructive and destructive recovery,
but many times the only option is non destructive. A compressed image of
the drive is stored in the recover partition and for recovery this image is
restored, in essence making the system as it was when it came from the
factory, loosing all data and other installed programs.

It certainly is a good idea, I consider it essential, to have an XP
installation CD, not just a recovery CD or partition. The vendor may or may
not be willing to supply at a cost.

You might also want to look into getting a drive imaging program to backup
the system. These can create a compressed image of the drive which can be
stored on external media such as DVD or even better on an external USB hard
drive. If something bombs the system restore the most recent image.
Restores are usually relatively fast. It's like the recovery partition
discussed above, but one which you update so it's current. I use this style
as my main backup and it has saved me several times. Make an image
regularly and before making and significant system changes.

One such program that does this, and is highly regarded these days is
Acronis True Image.

 

[mfabien]

I think the image external drive is a good idea. I understand I can
make an image of my current main drive at any time. Now, supposing I
have a problem with the main drive, can I simply reverse the process
and copy the "image" to the main drive? And is that a function of
Acronis True Image?

 

[mfabien]

....this external drive would be connected via USB. Is there a need to
make the new disk a "Slave"?

 

[caver1]

...this external drive would be connected via USB. Is there a need to
make the new disk a "Slave"?

Look at the instructions that come with the external drive. The one I
have must be set as master. Being that it is not set on the same
controller as the other drive what would it be a slave to. My
understanding is that only drives on the same controller have a
master/slave relationship.

 

[Rock]

I think the image external drive is a good idea. I understand I can
make an image of my current main drive at any time. Now, supposing I
have a problem with the main drive, can I simply reverse the process
and copy the "image" to the main drive? And is that a function of
Acronis True Image?

Yes. Make sure you test it so you know how it works and that it does what
you expect, but that's how drive imaging programs work.

 

[Rock]

...this external drive would be connected via USB. Is there a need to
make the new disk a "Slave"?

Drives connected by USB should be set to Master.

 

[jameshanley39]

Created a rescue disk from Windows XP

where did you ge that term?

there is an option to create an msdos boot disk from windows xp. That
is actually a win9x boot disk. specifically, I think, WinME.

there is what i'd call a win xp 3 file boot disk. that's no use to you.
And there's a (many disk) recovery console thing. Though for the
recovery console you can use a win xp cd. And there is a Win9X boot
disk you could use.. though as you can see, a win9x disk can't
naturally access an NTFS partition.

Added files Config.nt and Autoexec.nt (unchanged) from
c:\Windows\system32

why?!
NT is windows.. this is a DOS disk. Those files wouldn't be on it. You
would probably want autoexec.bat and config.sys though.

But why even do it like that?
where are you getting these methods?

www.bootdisk.com can make a boot disk, if that was even a good idea.

Upon restarting the computer, I get and only get the A:\ >>prompt.
Cannot access C: drive

if it's NTFS the dos boot disk won't naturally see it. You need a prog
like NTFS PRO or something. There are 3 types, one is free. They have
been mentioned once, just googlegroups "NTFS PRO" free Or something,
it'll come up with the progs like ntfs4dos or whatever. So it's
googlable. But why even bother ?

what are you trying to do. ?
To access the C drive, if you can't get into windows,
You could run Win XP PE .
You could put the HDD in another computer

tpyially peopel do the latter. i'm not sure the easiest way of doing
the former. It's probably quite easy though. there are websitres or a
website on it. Criminals may be getting it off emule too.

THere's no command to start windows for win xp. Win XP doesn't start
from DOS.

Windows 3.1 did.
Windows 9X may have, or sort of did. I think you coudl start it from
DOS. If you editted msdos,.sys and set it so windows didn't start,
maybe bootwin=0 (not bootgui=0/1, that's diff), then run the
executable).

But not Win XP, that wont' start from DOS. And probably not WIn NT (XP
is a version of NT)

 

[jameshanley39]

where did you ge that term?

there is an option to create an msdos boot disk from windows xp. That
is actually a win9x boot disk. specifically, I think, WinME.

there is what i'd call a win xp 3 file boot disk. that's no use to you.
And there's a (many disk) recovery console thing. Though for the
recovery console you can use a win xp cd. And there is a Win9X boot
disk you could use.. though as you can see, a win9x disk can't
naturally access an NTFS partition.


why?!
NT is windows.. this is a DOS disk. Those files wouldn't be on it. You
would probably want autoexec.bat and config.sys though.

But why even do it like that?
where are you getting these methods?

www.bootdisk.com can make a boot disk, if that was even a good idea.


if it's NTFS the dos boot disk won't naturally see it. You need a prog
like NTFS PRO or something. There are 3 types, one is free. They have
been mentioned once, just googlegroups "NTFS PRO" free Or something,
it'll come up with the progs like ntfs4dos or whatever. So it's
googlable. But why even bother ?

what are you trying to do. ?
To access the C drive, if you can't get into windows,
You could run Win XP PE .
You could put the HDD in another computer

tpyially peopel do the latter. i'm not sure the easiest way of doing
the former. It's probably quite easy though. there are websitres or a
website on it. Criminals may be getting it off emule too.

THere's no command to start windows for win xp. Win XP doesn't start
from DOS.

Windows 3.1 did.
Windows 9X may have, or sort of did. I think you coudl start it from
DOS. If you editted msdos,.sys and set it so windows didn't start,
maybe bootwin=0 (not bootgui=0/1, that's diff), then run the
executable).

But not Win XP, that wont' start from DOS. And probably not WIn NT (XP
is a version of NT)

actually, the win xp 3 file boot disk will work if your problem
starting windows is trivial enough. i.e. just that one of those 3 files
is corrupted.

but if that wasn't the prob then a win xp repair would be worth a try.

 

[mfabien]

If you read post # 6, I say that the Boot disk works nicely and starts
Windows seamlessly.

 

[jameshanley39]

If you read post # 6, I say that the Boot disk works nicely and starts
Windows seamlessly.

out of interest , what error did you get trying to get into windows?

clearly you didn't want to access C from a boot disk.

 

[mfabien]

Rock,

I'm looking into Acronis True Image and because I have a lot of room on
my HDD (used 25 GB with 111 GB free, on the 120 GB disk), which I'll
never use, am waiting for an answer from Acronis on how simple or
difficult it is to have their program create a new partition on my HDD
to have the Image berthed taking into consideration that the OEM has
stored a Restore area of 979 MB for Windows (replacing a Windows CD).

Upon receiving the Acronis answer, Iwould expect to download their True
Image 10 Home program.

 

[mfabien]

Never had an error regarding Windows.

But my interest was to have a solution to boot Windows, if ever I have
a problem down the road. Now I have a floppy that boots and opens
Windows.

Next coming is the Acronis True Image 10 Home. I expect, after message
exchange with Acronis, to partition my big HDD to locate the image on
the main drive.