XP: Install Windows from a Bootable Floppy Disc

Contributed by AlexTheBeast

December 18, 2003

Tagged: Windows installation

This recipe describes the mechanism for installing XP if you do not have bootable CD-ROM.

Microsoft assumed that everybody that installed XP would have a bootable CD-ROM. Well, if you don’t have any working drivers, previously you were in trouble.

Now Microsoft has developed a mechanism to help you.

The downloadable programs are designed to be placed on floppies. Once these floppies are booted and installed, they attempt to take control of your CD-ROM so that you can complete your XP installation.

Install the service pack editions if you CD-ROM states that it already includes the service pack on your installation CD-ROM. These boot discs are not interchangable… so make sure you get the correct one.

XP Home Floppy Install
XP Home SP1 Floppy Install
XP Home SP1a Floppy Install

XP Pro Floppy Install
XP Pro SP1 Floppy Install

This recipe describes creating a boot floppy for an installation. If you need a boot floppy in XP for other reasons try the following recipe:
Make a Boot Disc in 2k/XP

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Viewing 7 Comments

jello 4 years ago 1 point
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HOW CAN I PUT A 4 MB file in a booteble disk???

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Anonymous 4 years ago 1 point
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<ul id="quote"><h6>jello wrote:</h6>HOW CAN I PUT A 4 MB file in a booteble disk???</ul>

The 4 meg installation program(s) mentioned in the recipe above installs itself onto 3 floppies.

.

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Anonymous 4 years ago 1 point
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<ul id="quote"><h6>jello wrote:</h6>HOW CAN I PUT A 4 MB file in a booteble disk???</ul>
save it on "your files" open it from here with a cd writer if you have one from here it will not save it on a cd but on six floppys worked for me ..

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redbaron 4 years ago 1 point
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Update your CD-Roms firmware before loading XP. Save yourself a lot of work.

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Anonymous 4 years ago 1 point
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i used the windows boot disc for xp prof. sp1 but wen i get to the sixth disc, it stops working, just freezes. ive tryed this many times with different discs but nothing happens. i cant even get into bios.

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BretHarding 3 years ago 1 point
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After i have downloaded one of the programs from the following message

"Description
This recipe describes the mechanism for installing XP if you do not have bootable CD-ROM.

Directions
Microsoft assumed that everybody that installed XP would have a bootable CD-ROM. Well, if you don't have any working drivers, previously you were in trouble.

Now Microsoft has developed a mechanism to help you.

The downloadable programs are designed to be placed on floppies. Once these floppies are booted and installed, they attempt to take control of your CD-ROM so that you can complete your XP installation.

Install the service pack editions if you CD-ROM states that it already includes the service pack on your installation CD-ROM. These boot discs are not interchangable... so make sure you get the correct one.

XP Home Floppy Install
XP Home SP1 Floppy Install
XP Home SP1a Floppy Install

XP Pro Floppy Install
XP Pro SP1 Floppy Install

This recipe describes creating a boot floppy for an installation. If you need a boot floppy in XP for other reasons try the following recipe:
Make a Boot Disc in 2k/XP "

Then when i run the program it comes up with the following message

"16 bit MS-DOS subsystem. The system files is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows Applications. Chose close to terminate the application"

So how am I able to run this program. Any help given will be very appreciated as i have used so many other methods.

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AMCDeathKnight 2 years ago 1 point
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Links no longer work.

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