Startup disk for XP?

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 3 May 2003 10:29 pm

I want to make a startup floppy for my XP home edition, in case of future failure. The only problem is, I don't know how to do it, I'm a complete dummy on computers!!
Can anyone guide me through it?
Thanks, R B.

Roger Evilsizor · Post by **Roger Evilsizor** » 3 May 2003 11:20 pm

Richard,
I admit that I'm not familiar with Windows XP, but I'm hoping that it is similar enough to Windows 98. At least this may be worth a try...Click on START and then CONTROL PANEL. When the Control Panel opens, look for ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS and click on this. When the screen opens up, look for the tab across the top that is labeled STARTUP DISK and click on this and follow the instructions. I HOPE there's enough similarities in XP and 98 to make this work for you.

Roger

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Zumsteel SD-10P Session 500 Profex II
Laredo Band

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 4 May 2003 5:27 am

Richard,

No can do. WinXP does not contain a bootdisk. It is an operating system that runs on the NTFS system. The Win98 style bootdisks that are out there are all for FAT systems.

However, some very fine 3rd party people have come up with WinXP boot disks for sale.

What do you need a boot disk for? Has your system crashed? Just curious. The more you need the boot disk to do, the more expensive they are. Norton even has one out now! I think it is called G-Disk or something like that.

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 4 May 2003 10:37 am

I have only recently bought this computer, equipped with XP home, and was advised to make a startup disk in case of future crashes. I'll just have to hope that that event never happens.
Thanks, everyone, R B.

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 5 May 2003 6:18 am

If you ever have problems with the new system booting, your first step may be to boot from the WinXP installation CD that you should have gotten with the new computer. I'm assuming it's a new enough computer that can boot from the CD drive.[This message was edited by Don Walters on 05 May 2003 at 07:18 AM.][This message was edited by Don Walters on 05 May 2003 at 07:19 AM.]

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 7 May 2003 12:06 pm

Mark,

Is XP Professional different than XP Home in this regard?

I have XP Professional and there is a backup wizzard that you can enter "advanced" mode on and select the Automatic Recovery Set -- or something like that. It's supposed to back up your system files and subsequently create a recovery diskette.

However, when I used it, because I was backing up to a smaller second hard drive, I had to abort the backup and deselect some photos and music files. After restarting the backup I was never prompted to create the recovery disk. I figured I should be able to boot from the XP install CD and restore that way.

I'm considering buying an external USB-2 drive and backing up to it. I could then backup my daughter's box too. If lightning strikes it would likely whack both internal drives. I really don't want to have to re-install software and then repeat all the automatic updates.

Everett Cox · Post by **Everett Cox** » 7 May 2003 2:34 pm

http://www.bootdisk.com/

Much FREE info on the various systems INCLUDING Boot Disks.

Top of page provides links to creating boot disks. Win NT/XP have links to Microsoft's instructions/downloads for creating a set of floppies for INSTALLING the system. There is a download for a 'Custom Install set' that I have not yet analysed - it MAY work for an emergancy bootup(or could be modified).

Bottom of page provides 'How To' guides including links to Microsoft's info on installing/using the Recovery Console.

There also are links for a 'Repair Install'.

--Everett

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 7 May 2003 5:39 pm

Ron,

As far as I know...there is NO boot disk for Windows XP. You will should be able to boot off of the CD-ROM in order to recover from crash.

As far as recovering from a crash, I always burn CD's of my important stuff (My Documents folder, My pictures, My music and stuff like that). I can always reinstall all of my software because I have all of the CD's. So if my system crashes, I just rebuild. However, since I have put Windows XP onto my computers at home and even on my network at work...I have had ZERO crashes (watch, I will have a ton of crashes now that I said this). IMHO, XP is the best thing that Microsoft has put out.

Ron, as far as differences in XP Home and Professional. Basially, XP Pro is able to connect to Networks and XP Home is not able to (well, not easily). THat is about the only real difference.

Hope this helps
Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 8 May 2003 6:34 pm

Thanks Mark.

I have one package -- Roxio Easy Creator Platinum -- that I bought over the web. My install CD is just the base package. So I worry about recovering that as well as the automatic updates to Norton, Quicken, XP, etc. Would the automatic updates be able to go back a few years and bring you up to date?

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 9 May 2003 7:16 am

Ron,

I am pretty sure that Package CD you have from your manufacturer will be bootable. As far as the updates...well, just think of all the time it has taken to install all of those updates. It will take the same amount of time again.

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com