HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition with Windows XP (Q305595)

The information in this article applies to:

 

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

IN THIS TASK

• SUMMARY

  Requirements

  Create a Boot Floppy Disk with a Windows XP-Based Computer

  Create a Boot Floppy Disk Without a Windows XP-Based Computer

  Troubleshooting

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to create a boot disk for Windows XP to access a drive with a faulty boot sequence on an Intel-processor-based computer.

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Requirements

• A blank floppy disk.
  
   
• The Windows XP CD-ROM or an operational Windows XP-based computer.
  
   

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Create a Boot Floppy Disk with a Windows XP-Based Computer

1. Format a floppy disk by using the Windows XP format utility. For example, with the floppy disk in the floppy disk drive, type format a: at a command prompt, and then press ENTER.
   
    
2. Copy the Ntldr file from the Windows XP Setup CD-ROM, Windows XP Setup floppy disk, or from a computer that is running the same version of Windows XP as the computer that you want to access with the boot floppy. You may need to expand this file from Ntldr._ to Ntldr by using the expand ntldr._ ntldr command.
   
    
3. Copy the Ntdetect.com file to the disk.
   
    
4. Create a Boot.ini file (or copy one from a computer that is running Windows XP), and then modify it to match the computer that you are trying to access. The following example works for a single-partition SCSI drive with Windows XP installed in the \WINNT folder, but the exact value in the [operating systems] section depends on the configuration of the Windows XP computer that you are trying to access:

   [boot loader]
   timeout=30
   Default= scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\winnt
   
   [operating systems]
   scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\winnt="Windows NT"

   If your computer starts from an IDE, EIDE, or ESDI hard drive, replace the scsi(0) entry with multi(0) . If you are using scsi(x) in the Boot.ini file, copy the correct device driver for the SCSI controller that is in use on the computer, and then rename it to Ntbootdd.sys. If you are using multi(x) in the Boot.ini file, you do not need to do this.
   
    

5. Start your computer by using the floppy disk, and then log on to Windows XP.
   
    

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Create a Boot Floppy Disk Without a Windows XP-Based Computer

1. Create a copy of the first Windows XP Setup disk by using the diskcopy command, and then delete all files on the new disk.
   
    
2. Copy the Ntdetect.com and Ntldr files from the i386 folder on the Windows XP CD-ROM to the new disk.
   
    
3. Rename the Ntldr file to Setupldr.bin.
   
    
4. Create a Boot.ini file. The following example works for a single-partition SCSI drive with Windows NT installed in the \WINNT folder, but the exact value in the [operating systems] section depends on the configuration of the Windows XP computer that you want to boot:

   [boot loader]
   timeout=30
   Default= scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\winnt
   
   [operating systems]
   scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\winnt="Windows NT"

   If your computer boots from an IDE, EIDE, or ESDI hard drive, replace the scsi(0) entry with multi(0) . If you are using scsi(x) in the Boot.ini file, copy the correct device driver for the SCSI controller in use on the computer, and then rename it Ntbootdd.sys. If you are using multi(x) in the Boot.ini file, you do not need to do this.
   
    

5. Start your computer by using the floppy disk, and then log on to Windows XP.
   
    

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Troubleshooting

If the path that points to the system files is incorrect or includes the drive letter, you may receive the following error message:

Windows XP could not start because of the following ARC firmware boot configuration problem:
Did not properly generate ARC name for HAL and system paths. Please check the Windows XP (TM) documentation about ARC configuration options and your hardware reference manuals for additional information. Boot Failed.

If an incorrect SCSI driver has been selected or the Ntbootdd.sys file does not exist, you may receive the following error message:

Windows XP could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the Windows XP (TM) documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information. Boot Failed.

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