boot disk

[marcus]

How do I make a boot disk for windows xp? I t keep's
asking for it.

[Amethyst]

marcus wrote:

> How do I make a boot disk for windows xp? I t keep's
> asking for it.

Please read [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url] to learn how to submit a good
post.

Could you please elaborate on "it keeps asking for it"? There is no need for
a boot disk as the XP CD itself is bootable - you need to set the CD drive
as the first bootable device in the BIOS (if you don't know how to do that
see the documentation that came with your system).

Could you tell me exactly what it is you're attempting to accomplish?



--
Cassandra
Card carrying member of the Fresh Start Club 'The Undead Are People
Too!'

Reply address is fake. Please send all praise, abuse, insults, bequests
of £1million to cassandra (at) craigy34 (dot) freeserve (dot) co (dot)
uk. Change the obvious to the obvious.
Private requests for assistance will not be acknowledged. Please post
all correspondence to the group so that all may benefit. Thank you.

[Michael Stevens]

marcus wrote:

> How do I make a boot disk for windows xp? I t keep's
> asking for it.

What "I t" keeps asking for it? Sorry, my crystal ball is on the blink.
For all kinds of bootdisks, Click on or copy and paste the link below into
your web browser address box.
[url]http://www.bootdisk.com[/url]
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
[email]xpnews@michaelstevenstech.com[/email]
[url]http://michaelstevenstech.com[/url]
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
[url]http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm[/url]

[Blue Ice]

WinXP Pro
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=55820edb-5039-4955-bcb7-4fed408ea73f&DisplayLang=en[/url]

WinXP Home
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e8fe6868-6e4f-471c-b455-bd5afee126d8&DisplayLang=en[/url]

WinXP Pro + SP1a
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bbe82a74-76af-4c21-b853-d9f07cbfa559&DisplayLang=en[/url]

WinXP Home + SP1a
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=33a21833-7773-4f59-bd90-63cacb89ac4e&DisplayLang=en[/url]


"marcus" <marcus.gunches@cox.net> wrote in message
news:095301c34b7a$ae791510$a301280a@phx.gbl...

> How do I make a boot disk for windows xp? I t keep's
> asking for it.

[Michael Stevens]

"sqr" <sqr@sqr.sqr> wrote in message
news:%23U2uwf7SDHA.2228@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

>

> >How do I make a boot disk for windows xp?

>
> Do this to create a boot floppy for windows XP
> 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 and the Ntdetect.com files from the I386 folder on

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.
> 3.. 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 IDE drive with
> Windows XP installed in the \Windows 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= multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
>
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="Windo ws XP"
> If your computer boots from a SCSI hard drive, you may need to replace
> the multi(0) entry with scsi(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 to the root of the Setup disk, and then rename it Ntbootdd.sys.
> Change the disk(0) number to represent the SCSI-ID of the hard drive you
> want to boot to. If you are using multi(x) in the Boot.ini file, you do

not

> need to do this.
> 4.. Start your computer by using the floppy disk, and then log on to
> Windows XP.
> HTH
>
>
> --
> sqr
> Overseer: alt.os.windows-xp
> --
> [url]ftp://sqr.myftp.biz[/url]
>
>

sqr,
Thanks for the info, makes us lazy guys and gals that post links to
[url]http://www.bootdisk.com[/url] look incompetent. LOL

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
[email]xpnews@michaelstevenstech.com[/email]
[url]http://michaelstevenstech.com[/url]

> "marcus" <marcus.gunches@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:095301c34b7a$ae791510$a301280a@phx.gbl...

> > How do I make a boot disk for windows xp? I t keep's
> > asking for it.

>
>

[lallous]

Hello,

I have an SCO bootdisk, it got files like:
../unix
../rootFS
../...

how can I see what is inside these files (and how can I rewrite to these
files)?

I tried WinZip to open them as .gz files but they didn't open.
Also tried to untar but failed.

Regards,
Elias

[Jean-Pierre Radley]

lallous typed (on Sat, Aug 09, 2003 at 05:36:21PM +0300):
| Hello,
|
| I have an SCO bootdisk, it got files like:
| ./unix
| ./rootFS
| ./...
|
| how can I see what is inside these files (and how can I rewrite to these
| files)?
|

What do you want to know about them? And what possible reason do you have
for wanting to overwrite anything?

| I tried WinZip to open them as .gz files but they didn't open.

There were gzipped files on the diskettes? Who told you so?

| Also tried to untar but failed.

Which file was a tar archive?

--
JP

[Bela Lubkin]

lallous wrote:

> The bootdisk as I said have:

> > | ./unix
> > | ./rootFS
> > What do you want to know about them?

> for learning purpose and curiosity, I would like to learn how to see what
> files are embedded inside these compressed files.
>

> > And what possible reason do you have for wanting to overwrite anything?

> I might want to add my own stuff into them or modify existing behaviours to
> fit my own demands.
>

> > | I tried WinZip to open them as .gz files but they didn't open.
> > There were gzipped files on the diskettes? Who told you so?
> > | Also tried to untar but failed.
> > Which file was a tar archive?

> As the disk boots up, a message says: "uncompressing" and a bunch of dots
> appear on the screen...in addition the content of these files made me assume
> that they are compressed.
>
> My question is that how is it possible to dissects the contents of these
> files and study them further.

Start with file(C) and dtype(C).

>Bela<

[lallous]

Hi,

> | The bootdisk as I said have:
> | > | ./unix
> | > | ./rootFS
> | > What do you want to know about them?
> | for learning purpose and curiosity, I would like to learn how to see

what

> | files are embedded inside these compressed files.
>
> Then just read /usr/lib/mkdev/fd.

That file does not exist!

> |
> | > And what possible reason do you have for wanting to overwrite

anything?

> | I might want to add my own stuff into them or modify existing behaviours

to

> | fit my own demands.
>
> Since you hadn't even thought of reading the file I just mentioned, then
> you don't know enough to even *think* of modifying it.

I don't really want to modify them more than trying to understand what is
there first.
Having more experience in MS operating systems doesn't make me *very*
clueless in other operating systems;)

> | My question is that how is it possible to dissects the contents of these
> | files and study them further.
>
> I've just told you. But don't waste your time anyhow. Not one person or
> customer that I know running OSR 5 is making and/or using SCO emergency
> diskettes; they're all using Lone-Tar or BackupEDGE. You're well advised
> to do so as well.

Yes, your advises has helped many times before in this newsgroup and I
appreciate it.
However, in this case, I am just seeking to understand a boot disk as is,
but as I am blocked with these two compressed files I cannot understand more
unless I uncompress them.

Thanks again,
Elias

[Jean-Pierre Radley]

lallous typed (on Sun, Aug 10, 2003 at 12:07:06AM +0300):

| Hi,
|
| > | The bootdisk as I said have:
| > |
| > | > | ./unix rootFS
| > | >
| > | > What do you want to know about them?
| > |
| > | for learning purpose and curiosity, I would like to learn how to
| > | see what files are embedded inside these compressed files.
| >
| > Then just read /usr/lib/mkdev/fd.
|
| That file does not exist!

Really???
Can we see the output of 'lf /usr/lib/mkdev' ?

--
JP

[Jean-Pierre Radley]

lallous typed (on Sun, Aug 10, 2003 at 12:13:36AM +0300):
| Hello Bela,
|
| The 'file' and 'dtype' where helpful.
|
| They showed that 'rootFS' and 'unix' are: LZH-compressed data
| I tried to find / -name *zip* on my system but couldn't find 'gzip' nor
| *lha* or *lzh* related utilities.
|
| How can I still uncompress this data and see what is inside ?

What about using 'uncompress'?

--
JP

[lallous]

Hello Bela,

The 'file' and 'dtype' where helpful.

They showed that 'rootFS' and 'unix' are: LZH-compressed data
I tried to find / -name *zip* on my system but couldn't find 'gzip' nor
*lha* or *lzh* related utilities.

How can I still uncompress this data and see what is inside ?

Regards,
Elias

> > My question is that how is it possible to dissects the contents of these
> > files and study them further.

>
> Start with file(C) and dtype(C).
>

> >Bela

[lallous]

hi,

> Really???
> Can we see the output of 'lf /usr/lib/mkdev' ?

my mistake; the file exists and clears out many things.

| The 'file' and 'dtype' where helpful.
| They showed that 'rootFS' and 'unix' are: LZH-compressed data
| I tried to find / -name *zip* on my system but couldn't find 'gzip' nor
| *lha* or *lzh* related utilities.
|
| How can I still uncompress this data and see what is inside ?

>What about using 'uncompress'?

I tried 'uncompress' command on the 'rootFS' or 'unix' file after adding a
..Z to them, but the uncompressed file is bigger than the original file and
still *one* file, I want all the files that were inside the compressed
files.

Thanks,
Elias
"Jean-Pierre Radley" <jpr@jpr.com> wrote in message
news:20030809210909.GB20062@jpradley.jpr.com...

> lallous typed (on Sun, Aug 10, 2003 at 12:07:06AM +0300):
>
> | Hi,
> |
> | > | The bootdisk as I said have:
> | > |
> | > | > | ./unix rootFS
> | > | >
> | > | > What do you want to know about them?
> | > |
> | > | for learning purpose and curiosity, I would like to learn how to
> | > | see what files are embedded inside these compressed files.
> | >
> | > Then just read /usr/lib/mkdev/fd.
> |
> | That file does not exist!
> Really???
> Can we see the output of 'lf /usr/lib/mkdev' ?

>
> --
> JP

[Jean-Pierre Radley]

lallous typed (on Sun, Aug 10, 2003 at 12:19:40PM +0300):
| hi,
|
| > Really???
| > Can we see the output of 'lf /usr/lib/mkdev' ?
| my mistake; the file exists and clears out many things.
|
| | The 'file' and 'dtype' where helpful.
| | They showed that 'rootFS' and 'unix' are: LZH-compressed data
| | I tried to find / -name *zip* on my system but couldn't find 'gzip' nor
| | *lha* or *lzh* related utilities.
| |
| | How can I still uncompress this data and see what is inside ?
| >What about using 'uncompress'?
|
| I tried 'uncompress' command on the 'rootFS' or 'unix' file after adding a
| .Z to them, but the uncompressed file is bigger than the original file and
| still *one* file, I want all the files that were inside the compressed
| files.

Of course it's bigger - why would it have been compressed if notto make
it fit on the floppy?

And what makes you think that what you uncompressed ~contains~ anything?
Is it an archive?

--
JP

[tony@aplawrence.com]

lallous <lallous@lgwm.org> wrote:

>hi,

>> Really???
>> Can we see the output of 'lf /usr/lib/mkdev' ?

>my mistake; the file exists and clears out many things.

>| The 'file' and 'dtype' where helpful.
>| They showed that 'rootFS' and 'unix' are: LZH-compressed data
>| I tried to find / -name *zip* on my system but couldn't find 'gzip' nor
>| *lha* or *lzh* related utilities.

You can download gzip from Skunkware. See [url]http://aplawrence.com/newtosco.html[/url]
Not that it has anything to do with this; just for future reference.

>I tried 'uncompress' command on the 'rootFS' or 'unix' file after adding a
>.Z to them, but the uncompressed file is bigger than the original file and
>still *one* file, I want all the files that were inside the compressed
>files.

It isn't unusual for a compressed file to be just one file. I have no idea what
you are looking at, but it would be a good guess that "unix" is a unix
kernel - one file. "Rootfs" is probably a file system image.


--
[email]tony@aplawrence.com[/email] Unix/Linux/Mac OS X resources: [url]http://aplawrence.com[/url]
Get paid for writing about tech: [url]http://aplawrence.com/publish.html[/url]

[Bela Lubkin]

lallous wrote:

> I tried 'uncompress' command on the 'rootFS' or 'unix' file after adding a
> .Z to them, but the uncompressed file is bigger than the original file and
> still *one* file, I want all the files that were inside the compressed
> files.

Use `file` and `dtype` on them again. "rootFS" is some sort of
filesystem. There are various ways you can mount it, e.g. by writing it
to a RAM disk or a floppy (writing to the whole disk), or by using
marry(ADM). "unix" is an executable binary because it is a linked Unix
kernel. There are many tools you could use to examine it. strings(C),
hd(C), nm(CP), dis(CP) are just a few. The last two are only present if
your system has the Development System installed.

As someone said, you should really look at the script /usr/lib/mkdev/fd,
which actually constructs the boot and root floppies.

>Bela<

[lallous]

Hi Bela,

when I typed 'dtype' on the uncompressed rootFS file I got Unix 1k file
system.
Then doing 'dd of=/dev/fd0 if=uncompress_rootFS' and then mounting the
floppy did the trick!

You mentioned that it is possible to extract to RAM drive, can you give me
some hints please.

Thanks,
Elias
"Bela Lubkin" <belal@sco.com> wrote in message
news:20030810171724.GA24551@sco.com...

> lallous wrote:
>

> > I tried 'uncompress' command on the 'rootFS' or 'unix' file after adding

a

> > .Z to them, but the uncompressed file is bigger than the original file

and

> > still *one* file, I want all the files that were inside the compressed
> > files.

>
> Use `file` and `dtype` on them again. "rootFS" is some sort of
> filesystem. There are various ways you can mount it, e.g. by writing it
> to a RAM disk or a floppy (writing to the whole disk), or by using
> marry(ADM). "unix" is an executable binary because it is a linked Unix
> kernel. There are many tools you could use to examine it. strings(C),
> hd(C), nm(CP), dis(CP) are just a few. The last two are only present if
> your system has the Development System installed.
>
> As someone said, you should really look at the script /usr/lib/mkdev/fd,
> which actually constructs the boot and root floppies.
>

> >Bela<

[Bela Lubkin]

lallous wrote:

> when I typed 'dtype' on the uncompressed rootFS file I got Unix 1k file
> system.
> Then doing 'dd of=/dev/fd0 if=uncompress_rootFS' and then mounting the
> floppy did the trick!
>
> You mentioned that it is possible to extract to RAM drive, can you give me
> some hints please.

See ramdisk(HW). But marry(HW) / marry(ADM) is much easier to use.

>Bela<