Windows xp boot disk

[Guest]

I'm downloading the Windows XP boot disk. It calls for 6 floppy disks. Can
i use an alternate such as a zip disk instead? Will it prompt me for an
additional one when the zip is full? Or a flash drive?

Thanks
Tami

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm downloading the Windows XP boot disk. It calls for 6 floppy
disks. Can i use an alternate such as a zip disk instead? Will it
prompt me for an additional one when the zip is full? Or a flash
drive?

To download - you can save to your computer.
To create - you need 6 blank floppy diskettes.

You realize all legitimate Windows XP CDs are bootable already - right?

 

[Rich Barry]

Tami, if you have a CD Burner you can make a WinXP Boot CD.
Check here
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/528/create_bootable_windows_xp_cd_rom

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I'm downloading the Windows XP boot disk. It calls for 6 floppy disks.
Can
i use an alternate such as a zip disk instead? Will it prompt me for an
additional one when the zip is full? Or a flash drive?

Thanks
Tami

I'm not sure why you'd bother with this when the install CD is bootable.

That, by the way, is why computers don't come with floppy drives any more.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

To download - you can save to your computer.
To create - you need 6 blank floppy diskettes.

You realize all legitimate Windows XP CDs are bootable already - right?

Yes, i do realize that & i'm not quite sure exactly what your comment means
to imply. I've miss placed my Windows XP CD for my boys computer & it has
the Unmountable boot volume issue. I need the reboot disks to correct it.

Tami

 

[Guest]

Tami, if you have a CD Burner you can make a WinXP Boot CD.
Check here
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/528/create_bootable_windows_xp_cd_rom

Thank you.

Tami

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm downloading the Windows XP boot disk. It calls for 6 floppy
disks. Can i use an alternate such as a zip disk instead? Will
it prompt me for an additional one when the zip is full? Or a
flash drive?

To download - you can save to your computer.
To create - you need 6 blank floppy diskettes.

You realize all legitimate Windows XP CDs are bootable already -
right?

Yes, i do realize that & i'm not quite sure exactly what your
comment means to imply. I've miss placed my Windows XP CD for my
boys computer & it has the Unmountable boot volume issue. I need
the reboot disks to correct it.

I implied nothing. I asked a question.

Also - the 'boot' (not 'reboot') diskettes, I believe, are not going to
allow
you to fix a system without the CD - everything you need to install/repair
a system is still on the installation CD - not the boot diskettes. The boot
diskettes, I'm fairly certain, are just a method for older machines (without
the ability to boot from CD) to start the installation process. Drivers,
etc.
I do not think that, without the CD, you will have the tools you need to
repair your issues.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Yes, i do realize that & i'm not quite sure exactly what your comment
means
to imply. I've miss placed my Windows XP CD for my boys computer & it has
the Unmountable boot volume issue. I need the reboot disks to correct it.

Tami

You're probably wanting to use the Recovery Console so you can run chkdsk,
then, and you can use *any* bootable XP CD for this.

It doesn't matter if it's Home or Pro, OEM or retail, full install or
upgrade. It doesn't install, so file and install key mismatches don't
matter at all.

You may be able to get to, or install, the Recovery Console from the
diskettes, but it's rather a pain and slow. If you can find or borrow any
XP CD, that's much preferred.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

Unfortunately you can't use a single zip disk for this, you have to use the
six floppies. IIRC, you download the one file, run it, and it asks for six
diskettes in sequence.

I notice that in another post, there's a link to creating a single boot
diskette. Unfortunately, this often will not work, because that page
describes a disk that can't access NTFS drives. Any drive over 40 gig is
almost certainly NTFS.

HTH
-pk

 

[John John]

I implied nothing. I asked a question.

Also - the 'boot' (not 'reboot') diskettes, I believe, are not going to
allow
you to fix a system without the CD - everything you need to install/repair
a system is still on the installation CD - not the boot diskettes. The boot
diskettes, I'm fairly certain, are just a method for older machines (without
the ability to boot from CD) to start the installation process. Drivers,
etc.
I do not think that, without the CD, you will have the tools you need to
repair your issues.

You can boot to the Recovery Console with the 6 floppy Setup Boot disk
set and all the commands availble on the CD are also available when you
boot with the diskette set, once booted to the Recovery Console there is
no difference between the two.

John

 

[Anna]

Yes, i do realize that & i'm not quite sure exactly what your comment
means
to imply. I've miss placed my Windows XP CD for my boys computer & it has
the Unmountable boot volume issue. I need the reboot disks to correct it.

Tami

Tami, if you have a CD Burner you can make a WinXP Boot CD.
Check here

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/528/create_bootable_windows_xp_cd_rom

Thank you.
Tami

I implied nothing. I asked a question.

Also - the 'boot' (not 'reboot') diskettes, I believe, are not going to
allow
you to fix a system without the CD - everything you need to install/repair
a system is still on the installation CD - not the boot diskettes. The
boot
diskettes, I'm fairly certain, are just a method for older machines
(without
the ability to boot from CD) to start the installation process. Drivers,
etc.
I do not think that, without the CD, you will have the tools you need to
repair your issues.

You're probably wanting to use the Recovery Console so you can run chkdsk,
then, and you can use *any* bootable XP CD for this.

It doesn't matter if it's Home or Pro, OEM or retail, full install or
upgrade. It doesn't install, so file and install key mismatches don't
matter at all.

You may be able to get to, or install, the Recovery Console from the
diskettes, but it's rather a pain and slow. If you can find or borrow
any
XP CD, that's much preferred.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

Unfortunately you can't use a single zip disk for this, you have to use
the
six floppies. IIRC, you download the one file, run it, and it asks for
six
diskettes in sequence.

I notice that in another post, there's a link to creating a single boot
diskette. Unfortunately, this often will not work, because that page
describes a disk that can't access NTFS drives. Any drive over 40 gig is
almost certainly NTFS.

HTH
-pk

Tami:
As you have heard from the above responders to your query, using those six
XP installation floppy disks will allow you to *only* access the Recovery
Console, i.e., the *first* repair option that appears on the initial screen.
While you could also make a fresh install of the XP operating system through
the use of those floppies, you would still need an XP installation CD to do
so. And that you haven't got, right?

I'm really pessimistic that accessing the Recovery Console and entering the
"usual" DOS-type commands in this type of situation will return your system
to a bootable, functional one. The "uncountable boot volume" error message
could signify either a hardware or software issue. Assuming the problem is a
relatively mild OS corruption problem there's a good chance that the problem
could be resolved through a Repair install of the OS (the "second" repair
option). But for that you would need the XP installation CD.

BTW, are you aware that you could order a replacement CD from Microsoft?
There would be a cost of about $30. If you're interested you can call them
at 800-360-7561 for further info. Also, if you have a friend who has an XP
installation CD, as long as it's the same edition as your XP OS (non-OEM
branded) - you could use that CD. What's important is that you have your
Product ID (the activation code number).

Anyway, you can try the Recovery Console route with the six floppies. Since
you didn't ask for any assistance with using the RC, I assume you're
conversant with the commands you intend to enter. Perhaps you'll be lucky
and be able to resurrect the system.
Anna