Creating your own Bootable Windows XP CD-ROM and installing XP from boot disk

Contributed by seamonkey420

August 1, 2004

Tagged: Windows installation

This recipe requires the following ingredients:
Windows XP Professional Setup disc,
Neroburn 5 or 6,
Windows 98 Bootdisk, smartdrv.exe,
FAT32 Parition to install XP on (REQUIRED, NTFS is not detected in DOS w/o appropriate software)

This recipe will explain how to make a copy of your windows xp bootable from cd. This requires a FAT32 Partition! NTFS partitions are not accessible with Win98 Bootdisk

First, you will need your copy of windows xp setup disk, a windows 98se floppy boot disk (go here to get one: http://www.bootdisk.com/ ), a copy of smartdrv.exe, and neroburn 5 or 6 installed.

Creating Bootable Windows XP Setupdisk
1. Copy the contents of your Windows XP Setupdisk to your PC’s harddrive, be sure you copy ALL the files. (for our example, we’ll copy them to c:\winxpboot\ )
2. Then copy the file: smartdrv.exe to this same folder (c:\winxpboot) (smartdrv.exe can be found with the windows 98 or on the web)
3. Open neroburn.
4. In the wizard or startsmart, go to Create Bootable Disc.
5. Put in the windows 98 boot disk floppy
6. Nero will ask for either the boot image locatoin or to use the Floppy, use the floppy. Then Click NEW.
7. Now go to the C:\winxpboot folder and copy all of the files on the CD project. and then Burn the disk, be sure to finalize the disk too!

Once it finishes, you will have a bootable windows xp disk. When it boots, it will boot up like when you put in the windows 98 floppy disk. Very helpful for installing OS when you don’t have a floppy or want to bother with the floppy.

Installing XP from this Boot Disk:

1. First things first, go into your PC’s BIOS and change the Boot Order, so your PC Boots your CD Drive first. Save your settings and put in your bootable XP disk we made.
2. It will boot to the Windows 98 Setup screen, click Boot with CD-ROM
3. Once it finishes going though setting up the cd drivers, and ramddrive, it will bring you back to a A:\ prompt.
4. If you have to create partitions or format the harddrive do so now.
5. Once the drives are ready, reboot again with the BIOS Settings as they were and the xp bootable disk in. Again, choose to Boot with CD-ROM.
6. Once at the A:\ again, go to the drive assocated with your CD (for example, the e drive) by typing e:

smartdrv

disk cache enabled.

The reason i suggest using smartdrv when installing from dos is that it drastically improves file transfer speed and XP reommends it.

7. Now that smartdrv is enabled, we will want to start the installation process. We should still be at the E:\ prompt.

CD i386

E:\I386\

winnt

8. This will start the Windows XP installation program.
Once it gets down copying files, it will tell you that you will need to reboot. Hit Enter to reboot.

NOTE!!!! When it is rebooting, we will need to be sure to go into the PC’s BOIS Settings again and change the boot order so that the Harddrive is the first boot device or just remove the cd until the xp installation program starts again (since we have the cd set as the primary boot device and the cd is a bootable disk, we would just boot back into our bootdisk rather than the windows xp installation program that gets copied to the computers harddrive)

9. Now the rest of the windows xp installation will be like any other method.

peace
seamonkey420

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AlexTheBeast

Great recipe. Can download smartdrv from here:
http://bios.driverfiles.net/page,show,14572,323...

LaLA

Why? Windows XP cd IS bootable...

seamonkey420

except for the upgrade version cds.. plus i like the utilties handy...
and i usually make custom bootable dvd install disks (i can fit win98, win2000, and winxp with all service packs on one bootable dvd... )

convienent..

peace
seamonkey420

nobody

This won't work (i.e yyou will not be able to access files on the hard drive)if the file system is NTFS.

Anonymous

Yes will not work on ntfs.

Wish i saw that awhile ago.

seamonkey420

updated recipe to state REQUIRES FAT32 partition...

thanks!

Anonymous

and my system crashed so now :( what are my options?

seamonkey420

what you need now if you have an ntfs drive, is to get an ntfs boot disk... prob be able to use a ms one or find one or make one yourself..
however, you'll need to be sure to put drivers on it for your cd drive so you can access it to install the os...

hope that points ya in the right direction..

i can search and post some links to a few place if you want...
peace
seamonkey420

Anonymous

here is a DOS boot disk w/ ntfs
http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

Anonymous

I actually have a question.... and a stupid one Im sure being that I am a beginner...... I know theres a way to create a bootable disk by using a floppy and then copying it to cd by using the DOS. I tried it on my computer I got as far as partitioning the floppy and then I got stuck.... any answers anyone could give me-would be so greatly appreciated cause IM really stuck (and feel pretty stupid by now...LOL) thanks :?

seamonkey420

wassup.. no quesiton is a stupid one.. unless its stupid.. haha.. j/k..

anywho...

dude.. sorry about the late reply.. but..

in windows, you can't just copy the files.. cuz the boot record is not getting transferred and in dos its a bit more complex...

you have to make an image of the bootable floppy disk, i'd recommend using undisker, its an awesome tool for creating boot disks. my recommendation in creating boot disks/images is to actually create it on an actual floppy and test it... then once your done, make an image of the disk (you can do this in nero, i think but not sure since i don't have a floppy drive anymore kind of a backwards way but works...

open nero, use the wizard to make a bootable cd-rom...
choose your floppy drive as the image location, then uncheck the box that says clear image file after burn or something to that extent.. basically we want nero to not delete the image it creates of the floppy....
then add your cd contents you want available when you boot to the floppy.. and burn away

or just use undisker to create an image of the floppy and then choose the image in the nero bootable cd-rom wizard..

hehe...

and then your offf!

peace
seamonkey420

Anonymous

<ul id="quote">
LaLA wrote:
Why? Windows XP cd IS bootable...</ul>

Guest

If i want to convert a trial version of a program into a fully workable version program.
what converting program would you recommend?

foozbear

I have a question and hope i can sort it out before i get a reply but its good to have fall backs. ok I have just changed from a desktop case to a tower case and everything is in and i get a disk is a non system disk. it isnt even reading my ms-dos disk i created in winxp. it seems to be having issues with booting up my new 160gig drive . the cmos is seeing it as what it is. Also i have a second drive that is 3 gig and now the computer wont see it or start up with it. so now im using the original c drive and my cdrom and have 163gig of hard disk that i cant use. can anyone help?

eddie57

I am not a computer expert but i am having problems with my laptop starting up. This started after I replaced the LCD. At startup I keep getting the message saying "couldn't find NTLDR". Anyway, after I created the bootable cd from the instructions below I got to the part below that says "-now type: CD i386". After I type that and enter I get the message "Invalid directory specified" Anyone know what the problem is?

thanks in advance.
Eddie :?

Below is a copy from a prior post from this site:

Installing XP from this Boot Disk:

1. First things first, go into your PC's BIOS and change the Boot Order, so your PC Boots your CD Drive first. Save your settings and put in your bootable XP disk we made.
2. It will boot to the Windows 98 Setup screen, click Boot with CD-ROM
3. Once it finishes going though setting up the cd drivers, and ramddrive, it will bring you back to a A: prompt.
4. If you have to create partitions or format the harddrive do so now.
5. Once the drives are ready, reboot again with the BIOS Settings as they were and the xp bootable disk in. Again, choose to Boot with CD-ROM.
6. Once at the A: again, go to the drive assocated with your CD (for example, the e drive) by typing e:

-now you will be at a: e:
-now type: smartdrv
-then type it again, it will hopefully show your C drive with disk cache enabled.

The reason i suggest using smartdrv when installing from dos is that it drastically improves file transfer speed and XP reommends it.

7. Now that smartdrv is enabled, we will want to start the installation process. We should still be at the E: prompt.

-now type: CD i386
the prompt should change to: E:I386
-then type: winnt

8. This will start the Windows XP installation program.
Once it gets down copying files, it will tell you that you will need to reboot. Hit Enter to reboot.

zapp

all the XP cd's I have will seize up your system if you attempt to copy anything off them.
what's the workaround? [I think someone already mentioned this minor flaw in the recipe, but didn't state a workaround]

zapp

zapp

question
i have a copy of a copy of XP Pro. How can i determine for sure whether it is an Upgrade Version or a Retail Version, or an OEM version ????

thx much
zapp

Flash

One question...what if your comp has no FDD, then what? Mine dosen't so it's a little hard for me. Any suggestions?

Anonymous

<ul id="quote">
Anonymous wrote:
here is a DOS boot disk w/ ntfs
http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm</ul>

I downloaded ISO boot disk for NTFS but, it is a ZIP archive and inside is RAR archive and there are the files. How to meke ISO in this case? Is it this bootable CD enough to boot, and delete old Windows XP and root before istalling new fresh XP? What is the diference between this CD and CD created by "seamonkey420"?

Anonymous

plz help. my attemp at a bootable xp cd from the 6 floppy disks went wrong
WHY ? I just want the six floppy's on cd .when i reboot with my cd it runs and must load info from (floppy disk 1) BUT... IT ASK'S ME TO insert floppy 2 in diskdrive A ??? I HAVE DISABLE IT IN BIOS.what am i doing wrong plz. HELP.

Eswaran

Hi

I've made the bootdisc successfully but after selecting "Start Computer with CDROM support" the cursor blinks without any response.

Dave86

How would i go about making my own bootable cd with programs that ive added, so on install window theres options to install programs with the OS???

thanks for any help

Farrukh

All of the above can be done very easily without having to know anything and without having to follow the above directions.. Please use Autopatcher for Windows XP... We have been working on it for such a long time period just to save you from all the hassle...

Download Autopatcher from this link.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak...

See what Autopatcher is and how to use it here.

http://www.autopatcher.com/

Farrukh

Anonymous

Ok ... for another stupid question.

How do I create a bootable copy of the Windows XP Installation CD ? I tried using Nero and did a Disc Copy, but it did not work. The computer did not give the "Boot from CD" option even when I have set Bios to load from CD-ROM as the first choice.

Anybody can help here ?

Anonymous

Hey first off I want to say, Thanks this was a great lesson for me and I learned alot!
I however do have one problem!
Im working on this cpu i know nothing about it, it has windows 98 on it, it boots in tries to load desktop crashes..iexplore error.
Anyways made my killer cd, followed the instructions..one step to go...shit...
Windows xp setup

An internal setup error has occurred.
Could not find a place for a swap file.
Setup cannot continue. Press Enter to exit.

Thats what im looking at now...kinda stuck dont know what to do

Anonymous

duh, im a idiot the swap file error came because i didnt have enough space to add windows in the partition so i started over, got back to the A:/ prompt and typed fdisk
Ive re formatted and now trying to install xp, im thinking cpu might of frozen up so im going to be reading up on some links.

Anonymous

upto "cd i386" it is ok but after that i get an error when i type "winnt".
It says " this program cannot be run in DOS mode".
please help.
thanks in advance.

Anonymous

Seamonkey420,

I have a problem with undisker. I was opening an ISO file and extracting all its contents to a file just as i was extracting the last file. It said "Invalid pointer operation. please help me

thanks

Anonymous

<ul id="quote">
foozbear wrote:
I have a question and hope i can sort it out before i get a reply but its good to have fall backs. ok I have just changed from a desktop case to a tower case and everything is in and i get a disk is a non system disk. it isnt even reading my ms-dos disk i created in winxp. it seems to be having issues with booting up my new 160gig drive . the cmos is seeing it as what it is. Also i have a second drive that is 3 gig and now the computer wont see it or start up with it. so now im using the original c drive and my cdrom and have 163gig of hard disk that i cant use. can anyone help?</ul>

There is not enough information to figure this out, how are your jumpers set on the drives? They should be master and slave when on the same cable, (if it's not cable select)

lisa

why would i want xp installed to a fat32 formatted hdd?

Brad

you can make a batch file to run and load smartdrv and change to the i386 drive and run the winnt all with one batch file you can name it start.bat. If you don't know how to create batch files, ask some one. maybe I will create one and inclued it here to download

ashish meher

My C and D drives are ntfs whereas E and F are fat32....so according to step 6, where should i install?? Which drive should i mention after A:\ ??

guest

I am struggling at Step 7 i have entered winnt. then that screen changes to "show the path way to WinXp setup". and the set by set guide doesn't indicated this problem. O by all means my WinXp is copied so will this contribute to this problem?

pakdin

i wold like to change window vista home basic 32 bit from my pc note book to window xp home premium to void former window for me vista is not convenience for me to use it.

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