Create a Rescue Disk That Reads Your CD-ROM

Create a bootable "rescue" floppy disk that will read your CDROM.
1. Insert a good blank disk.
2. Select Start/Settings/Control Panel, double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.
Click on the Startup Disk tab then click on Create Disk. When Win95 is done, make the disk read-only, label it and test it to be sure you can boot your computer from it.
3. Then, You must create an Autoexec.bat that reads:
A:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MTMIDE01 /M:15 /E and copy the mscdex.exe on your disk.
The MTM part is mine for Mitsumi, you have to substitute your CD parameters.
4. The following is a simple AUTOEXEC.BAT File:
A:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MTMIDE01 /M:15 /
-------------------
5. You must create a Config.sys that reads:
DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=A:\EMM386.EXE
DEVICE=A:\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:MTMIDE0 [Substitute your CD parameters here.]
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
6. The following is My CONFIG.SYS File. Note that I'm using my Mitsumi CD-ROM Parameters.
-------------------
DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=A:\EMM386.EXE
DEVICE=A:\MTMCDAI.SYS (Your CD ROM Driver would go here)
-------------------
7. The following are the Files I have on my disk.
[(MTMCDIA.SYS), [MSCDEX.EXE], [HIMEM.SYS], [EMM386.EXE], EDIT.COM, FORMAT.COM, REGEDIT.EXE, FDISK.EXE, SYS.COM, XCOPY.EXE, DELTREE.EXE, ATTRIB.EXE, DISKCOPY.EXE, CHKDSK.EXE, DEBUG.EXE, SCANDISK.EXE, (This Would Be Your CD ROM Driver)
---------------
To be extra safe, make two boot disks.
A Simple Re-Install (Over Existing Installation)
Note: Always Backup your Registry 1st!!!
WRPV3.ZIP is the Best and easiest Registry Backup/Restore I've Seen. Get it Or Download HERE
, then Install and backup. This is a well written batch file driven bakup and restore, so it writes nothing to your system. Far better than Microsofts URU.
---------------
This is an option you might want to use if you suspect a corrupted Registry, Windows95 or Application (FILES).
It would be the first suggestion because it involves the least risk and is the quickest method to try.
---------------
From dos insert your CD and run from your cd this command...
(setup /d /p f) When setup prompts you for "Full or Custom Setup", choose Custom. This allows you to have control over every step of the setup.
This will do a compare and replace missing or corrupted files and will take you back where you were before the error.

A Close Up Look At MSCDEX Switches

Provides access to CD-ROM drives:

Command-Line Switches for MSCDEX.EXE includes versions,
Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.x, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22
Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98

Mscdex.exe is available from CD-ROM vendors, with the MS-DOS 6 Upgrade, 6.2 Upgrade, and 6.21 Upgrade, and with Windows 95/98.

Mscdex.exe is a CD-ROM "redirector." It hooks into the MS-DOS or Windows operating system the same way the network redirector does to obtain access to files that are not on local hard or floppy disks. As far as MS-DOS or Windows is concerned,

CD-ROM drives look just like network drives. MSCDEX splices itself in front of the network redirector and takes requests belonging to CD-ROM drives and passes the rest to redirectors (such as network redirectors).

COMMAND LINE SWITCHES

The following is the command line for MSCDEX.EXE:

MSCDEX.EXE: /D:x /M:n /E /V /L:x /S /K

The following table defines the MSCDEX.EXE command-line switches:

Switch
/D:<device name>
- Allows you to specify a name for the device driver. This name must be identical to the device name used in the CONFIG.SYS file.

/M:<n>
- Specifies the number of sector buffers used to cache the path table of a CD-ROM disk. Typically, each drive should have a minimum of four to five buffers. The larger this number is, the less your computer will have to read directly from the CD-ROM drive.

/E
- Tells MSCDEX.EXE to use expanded memory if your system is using expanded memory.

/V
- Displays information on memory usage when you boot your PC.

/L:<drive letter>
- Allows you to specify the letter you want to assign to the first CD-ROM drive.

/S
- Allows the CD-ROM to be shared on MS-NET based systems.

/K
- Tells MSCDEX.EXE to use any KANJI (Japanese) file structures, if present, rather than the default of alphanumeric file structures.

e-mail  Back to Home Page

MSCDEX 2

The CD-ROM device driver must be loaded
Your CONFIG.SYS file must include a DEVICE or DEVICEHIGH command that loads the CD-ROM device driver that came with your CD-ROM drive. The CD-ROM driver's command line should include
a /D:drivername parameter. This parameter assigns a driver name (also called a driver signature) to the CD-ROM device driver.
The MSCDEX command must include a /D:drivername parameter that matches the /D:drivername parameter on the CD-ROM device driver's command line. MSCDEX uses the /D:drivername parameter to identify the correct CD-ROM device driver. The driver name is usually a name similar to MSCD000.
Each CD-ROM device driver currently in use must have a unique driver name.

e-mail  Back to Home Page

Limit on number of logical drives

The number of logical drive letters available on your computer can limit the number of CD-ROM drives you can have. The number of logical drives is determined by the LASTDRIVE command in your CONFIG.SYS file. By the time MSCDEX loads, some of the available drive letters might be used by other programs, such as a network, DriveSpace, or DoubleSpace.

e-mail  Back to Home Page

SMARTDrive and MSCDEX

If you use SMARTDrive, make sure the MSCDEX command appears before the SMARTDRV command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. SMARTDrive can significantly speed up your CD-ROM drive by read-caching it.
By default, when SMARTDrive loads, it checks for the presence of MSCDEX; if MSCDEX is present, CD-ROM caching is enabled. For more information, see the (SMARTDRIVE) command.

e-mail  Back to Home Page

MSCDEX Examples

Loading and enabling a single CD-ROM device driver
This example shows the relevant CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT commands for a computer with one CD-ROM drive.
The CONFIG.SYS file contains the following DEVICE command:
device=c:\devices\cdromdrv.sys /d:mscd000
This command loads the device driver CDROMDRV.SYS, which came with the CD-ROM drive.
The AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains the following MSCDEX command:
c:\dos\mscdex /d:mscd000 /l:g
This command enables the device driver that has the driver signature MSCD000. The /E switch specifies that the driver be allowed to use expanded memory, if available. The /L:G switch assigns the drive letter G to the CD-ROM drive.
Loading and enabling more than one CD-ROM device driver
This example shows the relevant CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT commands for a computer that has two CD-ROM drives from two different manufacturers.
The CONFIG.SYS file contains the following DEVICE commands:
device = c:\aspi\aspicd.sys /d:mscd000
device = c:\cdrom\tslcdr.sys /d:mscd001
Each command loads the device driver that came with that CD-ROM drive. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains the following MSCDEX command:
c:\dos\mscdex /d:mscd000 /d:mscd001 /l:j
This command enables both device drivers. The first driver has the driver signature MSCD000; the second has the driver signature MSCD001. The /L:J switch specifies that the first CD-ROM drive, MSCD000, will be drive J and the second CD-ROM drive will be drive K. 

98 Rescue Disk and Setup

Making an emergency boot disk for Windows is simple, and if you can't remember where you put your boot disk, you can create a fresh one at any time: Open Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs option, click on the Startup Disk tab, then click on the Create Disk button.

The Windows 98 boot disk includes generic SCSI and IDE drivers that let you access most CD-ROM drives. Adding CD-ROM support for Win98's boot disk (or putting it on when those generic drives don't work with your CD-ROM drive) is, unfortunately, a much more difficult process. If you want to have access to a CD-ROM drive when you boot to a DOS prompt, you must load at least two files, one or more real-mode device drivers that allow DOS to recognize your hardware, and the Microsoft CD-ROM extension (Mscdex.exe, found in the \Windows\Command folder), which allows the operating system to access the CD-ROM file system. If you have a SCSI drive, you'll need to load ASPI drivers for the SCSI adapter as well.

Most hardware drivers will work only with a specific drive model. If you have a DOS driver disk, use the driver on it. Your next-best option is to ask the PC manufacturer for real-mode CD-ROM drivers; Dell and Gateway, for example, offer a full selection of drivers on their Web sites. If you have no luck with either of these options, you'll have to track down drivers the hard way, by searching for them, but if you post your drive type and model we'll find them for you.

Download the correct driver file, then copy it and Mscdex.exe to the boot floppy. Next, modify the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files on the boot disk as follows, substituting the name of the driver you downloaded. Note that in the following examples the /D switch is required; the label that follows the switch must be identical in both startup files. The /L switch is optional; use it to control the letter assigned to the CD-ROM drive at startup.

Add the following line to Config.sys:
DEVICE=a:\driver_name.sys /D:MSCD001

Add the following line to Autoexec.bat:
A:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001 /L:<driveletter>

Finally, test the boot disk to make sure you can access the CD properly. After verifying that the disk works, put it in an envelope and tape it to the side of your PC, where you'll be able to find it in case of emergency.

Windows 98 packs a hefty package of essential system-configuration utilities onto a single 1.44MB boot floppy disk. It includes five drivers for common IDE CD-ROMs as well as generic SCSI drivers. It also has a full set of DOS utilities.
Unfortunately, Microsoft chose to make the boot disk needlessly complex by loading many of its utilities onto a RAM disk.
The RAM disk software loads before any other drivers, which uses up a drive letter and bumps your CD-ROM to a different drive letter than the one it uses under Windows. It makes the boot process slower. And if for any reason you are unable to create a RAM disk, you won't have access to crucial system files, most notably Mscdex.exe, without which you'll be unable to access your CD-ROM.

The generic disk is an extremely useful all-purpose tool. But we recommend you also customize a leaner, trimmer boot disk just for your computer. Create a brand-new boot disk using the Add/Remove Programs option in Control Panel, then follow these steps (this procedure assumes that one of the Windows 98 drivers will work with your CD-ROM drive):

Step 1.  Start your computer using the new boot disk. As it loads, watch the text messages to determine which CD-ROM driver your system uses. If the boot disk loads an ASPI driver for access to SCSI devices, make a note of its name as well.

Step 2.  Create a folder called C:\Bootdisk on your hard disk. Open an Explorer window showing the contents of your emergency boot disk, and copy all files except the compressed Cabinet file Ebd.cab to the folder you just created. Then open Ebd.cab and drag its contents--12 files in all--into the folder you just created.

Step 3.  Open an Explorer window showing the contents of C:\Bootdisk. Delete all files with the .sys extension except Config.sys, Ebd.sys, Himem.sys, Io.sys, Msdos.sys, and the driver files you noted in Step 1.

Step 4.  Open the copy of Config.sys in C:\Bootdisk using Notepad or another text editor. Remove the line that begins menuitem=HELP. Under the [CD] section, remove all lines except the ones that refer to Himem.sys and the files you noted in Step 1. Delete the [HELP] heading and the line underneath it. Under the [Common] section, remove the line that refers to Ramdrive.sys. Close the file, saving your changes.

Step 5.  Edit Autoexec.bat so that it reads as follows:
@IF "%config%"=="CD" MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001
Close the file, saving your changes.

Step 6.  Delete all files from the boot floppy and copy the contents of C:\Bootdisk to the floppy.
Step 7.  Use "Find, Files and Folders" and look for "Edit.com". It should be in your \windows\command folder. Copy that file to the floppy.  Then look for Emm386.exe and transfer that as well. It should be in your \windows folder.
Test your new boot disk to verify that it works properly. Your CD-ROM should once again have its correct drive letter, and the new floppy should boot up much more quickly than the default Windows 98 disk.

THIS NEXT PART IS EVEN EASIER, SETTING UP YOUR HARD DRIVE.

Step 1.  Boot your system to the disk that you built above. At the "A:/" prompt, type “Fdisk” without quotes.
Step 2.  Remove each of the partitions, starting with any extended partitions and logical drives, then remove the primary partition.
Step 3.  Now build a new primary partition equal to the full size of the hard drive. Make sure you make this partition active.
Step 4.  Reboot the system again to the floppy. At the "A:/" prompt, type:
Format c:/s
Then press the enter Key.

You will be asked whether you want large block addressing, and you enter "Y" (no quotes). The format will go through the entire  disk and ask you for a label at the end, just touch enter. When complete, remove the floppy from the drive and reboot the system.

Step 5.  Now your ready to begin setting up Windows 98.

Copy the following files to your C:\ drive

Himem.sys     Emm386.exe   mscdex.exe    edit.com
(your CDRom).sys   config.sys   autoexec.bat

Step 6.  Once the above files are copied, type "Edit" (no quotes) as the dos prompt and open your config.sys file and change it to look similar to this:

DEVICE=C:\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\EMM386.EXE
DEVICE=C:\yourCD Rom sys file /D:MSCD000 /Q

(save this file)

Step 7.  Repeat the procedure for your Autoexec.bat file. It should look similar to this:

PROMPT $P$G
C:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000 /V /M:12

(save this file)

Step 8.  Once the changes have been made and your certain all of the files are in the root of the "C" drive, restart the system and verify that you can access the cd rom drive.

Step 9.  Now your ready to install Windows 98. At the dos prompt, C:\ type D:\setup (with "D" being your cd rom drive) and touch enter. Instead of a basic install, choose custom and select the components you want in each area.

How to Create a Windows 98 Startup Disk from MS-DOS

This article describes how to make a Windows 98 Startup disk from MS-DOS. This may be necessary if you cannot start Windows 98 normally, but you can start your computer to a command prompt and access your hard disk. This may also be necessary if you have a laptop computer that has a CD-ROM drive and a floppy disk drive that are interchangeable.

To make a Windows 98 Startup disk from MS-DOS, use the following steps:

1.Restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

2.Insert a blank, formatted floppy disk into drive A.

3.Type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

cd windows\command smartdrv.exe bootdisk a:

NOTE: Smartdrv.exe is not required to create a Windows 98 Startup disk. It is used only to speed the creation of the startup disk.

4.Follow the instructions on the screen to finish making the Startup disk.
From http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q186/3/00.asp

How to Create a Windows 98 Startup Disk that Supports FAT32

The Windows 98 CD-ROM contains a program you can use to create a startup disk that is capable of creating and reading FAT32 partitions. To use the disk, place it in the floppy drive, and then restart your computer. Note that the disk does not contain all the programs included on the Windows 98 Startup disk.

To create a Windows 98 Startup disk that supports the FAT32 file system, use either of the following methods:

Method 1:

1. Place the Windows 98 CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive, and have a floppy disk available.

2. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.

3. Open the following folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM:

Tools\Mtsutil\Fat32ebd

4. Double-click the following file, and then follow the instructions to finish creating the disk:

Fat32ebd.exe

5. Write protect the floppy disk.

Method 2 (Standard Windows 98 Startup Disk):

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

3. On the Startup Disk tab, click Create Disk.

4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Creating the Disk in Windows 3.1

To do so, quit Windows 3.1 and create the disk from MS-DOS.

Creating the Disk from MS-DOS

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Place the Windows 98 CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. Have a floppy disk available.

2. Type each of the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

windows\smartdrv.exe <drive>: cd\tools\mtsutil\fat32ebd fat32ebd.exe
where <drive> is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive.

NOTE: Smartdrv.exe is not required to create a Windows 98 Startup disk. It is used only to speed the creation of the startup disk.

3. Follow the instructions to create the disk.

4. Write protect the floppy disk to prevent the disk from erasure or virus infection.

For additional information about the Fat32ebd.exe program, read the Fat32ebd.txt file located in the following folder:

My 98 SCSI CDROM Rescue Disk

I thought I'd show you what I have on my Rescue Boot Disk.  I always put a couple of text files on it to explain things to myself in the event I forget what the heck I'm doing.

Volume in drive C:\ is
Directory of C:\1\BootDisk SCSI\

Access CDROM.txt --------- 2 KB      2/23/00
ASPI8DOS.SYS ------------ 37 KB     4/23/99
ASPICD.SYS --------------- 29 KB     4/23/99
Attrib.EXE ------------------ 15 KB     4/23/99
AUTOEXEC.BAT ---------- 1 KB      2/23/00
CD Boot.txt -----------------  2 KB      2/23/00
COMMAND.COM --------- 92 KB     4/23/99
CONFIG.SYS -------------- 1 KB      2/23/00
D.EXE ----------------------- 6 KB      9/20/91
DELTREE.EXE ------------- 19 KB     4/23/99
DISKCOPY.COM ---------- 22 KB     4/23/99
EDIT.COM ------------------ 69 KB     4/23/99
EMM386.EXE ---------------123 KB    4/23/99
EXTRACT.EXE ------------- 92 KB     4/23/99
FDISK.EXE ----------------- 63 KB     4/23/99
FORMAT.COM ------------- 49 KB     4/23/99
HIMEM.SYS ---------------- 33 KB     4/23/99
How 2 Extract.txt ------------ 15 KB     2/23/00
IO.SYS ---------------------- 218 KB    4/23/99
msbatch.inf ------------------- 7 KB      10/3/99
MSCDEX.EXE -------------- 25 KB     4/23/99
MSDOS.SYS ---------------- 2 KB      8/25/99
OAKCDROM.SYS ---------  41 KB     4/23/99
Plextor CD.txt ---------------- 1 KB      2/23/00
plextor.sys -------------------- 10 KB     2/23/00
SCANDISK.EXE ------------ 141 KB    4/23/99
SCANREG.EXE ------------- 162 KB    4/23/99
SYS.COM ------------------- 19 KB     4/23/99
XCOPY.EXE ----------------  4 KB      4/23/99
XCOPY32.EXE -------------  4 KB      4/23/99
XCOPY32.MOD ------------ 41 KB     4/23/99

31 file(s)
Total filesize 1330 KB
11817640 kilobytes free
List generated 2/24/00 8:30:16 AM
by PrintFolder 1.1 - http://no-nonsense-software.com