Question about boot disks - China DOS Union Forum - China DOS Union

I followed material provided online and wanted to make a boot floppy that would enter the DOS A: drive right after startup, then start the mouse and enter ghost. First I put three required files on a clean floppy: IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM (but these are files from 98), plus mouse and ghost2003. Then I made a batch file. As long as the A:\ prompt appears, typing go and pressing Enter will automatically load the mouse and automatically enter the ghost interface. I also have a printed copy of the illustrated “Reinstall Windows with Norton Ghost in Ten Minutes,” and from then on reinstalling Windows only takes 20 minutes, without even needing activation. But my first step did not succeed: after booting it cannot enter DOS. The later steps I have already used before (I used another boot disk to get to the A: prompt, then inserted this self-made disk, typed go and pressed Enter, and everything proceeded from there). Please, could some expert help me complete the first step? I would be extremely grateful. My system is winXP, and this is my first time dealing with DOS, so please explain in detail. Thank you!

I also tried the format option from the floppy drive's right-click menu—Create an MS-DOS boot disk, but it takes up too much space—555kb. Then a 1.44 floppy can't hold the 56kb mouse and the 970kb Ghost, plus the batch file... Could you help me create a smaller DOS boot disk? Then the problem would be solved.

Simply copying IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM to the floppy is useless, because these three files must be placed in the first few sectors at the front of the first track of the floppy. This requires using the SYS command under DOS to transfer these files, or using FORMAT A：/S.

Make a WIN98 boot disk (you know how to do that, right), then delete all the files in it (delete them, don't format it), extract the archive below onto your floppy, and then copy in GHOST2003, and it will do what you want. (You don't need to copy in MOUSE anymore, I've already taken care of everything for you, including the GO.BAT batch file.) Then you can boot with this disk, and when you type GO it will automatically load the mouse and enter GHOST.
Open attachment

Originally I had already made a boot disk for you (with GHOST2003 already put in it), but the forum has a size limit for uploaded attachments, so I could only upload the archive above.

Many thanks! I completed it according to your instructions. Because I saw your reply rather late, my reply is also a bit late. By the way, may I ask where I can see your Yiyesong Boot Star? Thank you!

Go read the post below.
http://www2.zzu.edu.cn/ie/newdos/dispbbs.asp?boardID=2&ID=354

Floor1　新用户	Posted 2002-11-22 00:00
初级用户　Posts 3　Credits 110
I followed material provided online and wanted to make a boot floppy that would enter the DOS A: drive right after startup, then start the mouse and enter ghost. First I put three required files on a clean floppy: IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM (but these are files from 98), plus mouse and ghost2003. Then I made a batch file. As long as the A:\ prompt appears, typing go and pressing Enter will automatically load the mouse and automatically enter the ghost interface. I also have a printed copy of the illustrated “Reinstall Windows with Norton Ghost in Ten Minutes,” and from then on reinstalling Windows only takes 20 minutes, without even needing activation. But my first step did not succeed: after booting it cannot enter DOS. The later steps I have already used before (I used another boot disk to get to the A: prompt, then inserted this self-made disk, typed go and pressed Enter, and everything proceeded from there). Please, could some expert help me complete the first step? I would be extremely grateful. My system is winXP, and this is my first time dealing with DOS, so please explain in detail. Thank you!

Floor2　新用户	Posted 2002-11-23 00:00
初级用户　Posts 3　Credits 110
I also tried the format option from the floppy drive's right-click menu—Create an MS-DOS boot disk, but it takes up too much space—555kb. Then a 1.44 floppy can't hold the 56kb mouse and the 970kb Ghost, plus the batch file... Could you help me create a smaller DOS boot disk? Then the problem would be solved.

Floor3　yiyesong	Posted 2002-11-23 00:00
元老会员　Posts 632　Credits 1,987
Simply copying IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM to the floppy is useless, because these three files must be placed in the first few sectors at the front of the first track of the floppy. This requires using the SYS command under DOS to transfer these files, or using FORMAT A：/S.

Floor4　yiyesong	Posted 2002-11-23 00:00
元老会员　Posts 632　Credits 1,987
Make a WIN98 boot disk (you know how to do that, right), then delete all the files in it (delete them, don't format it), extract the archive below onto your floppy, and then copy in GHOST2003, and it will do what you want. (You don't need to copy in MOUSE anymore, I've already taken care of everything for you, including the GO.BAT batch file.) Then you can boot with this disk, and when you type GO it will automatically load the mouse and enter GHOST. Open attachment Originally I had already made a boot disk for you (with GHOST2003 already put in it), but the forum has a size limit for uploaded attachments, so I could only upload the archive above.

Floor5　新用户	Posted 2002-11-24 00:00
初级用户　Posts 3　Credits 110
Many thanks! I completed it according to your instructions. Because I saw your reply rather late, my reply is also a bit late. By the way, may I ask where I can see your Yiyesong Boot Star? Thank you!

Floor6　yiyesong	Posted 2002-11-24 00:00
元老会员　Posts 632　Credits 1,987
Go read the post below. http://www2.zzu.edu.cn/ie/newdos/dispbbs.asp?boardID=2&ID=354