DOS Boot Blues

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Sorry, more info, the actual problem is when I type c: it says bad command or
file name or something like that

"Damo" wrote:

> When I boot to DOS from floppy it will not detect my C:\ partition (NTFS).
> It is a boot disk created in Windows XP, does it support NTFS? I have looked
> for solutions on the net, but the ones I tried had either the same or an
> extended problem. Thankyou in advance, I need to update my BIOS!
> Damo :-)

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

DOS, by itself, can not see NTFS partitions. And, the boot floppy created
by XP is really based on ME, not XP. (Why, I do not know; ask Bill Gates.)

The good news is that there are many work-arounds or alternatives:

1. Get free read/copy NTFS drivers for DOS:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/ [...] in98.shtml

2. Download the multiple-floppy setup disks from Microsoft, intended to
help install XP on computers without a bootable CDROM drive, but which
should work on any PC:
http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] us;Q310994

3. Boot directly from the XP CDROM and run the recovery console:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_rec.htm


http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm


http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy33.htm (near bottom)


4. get a free LINUX distribution, whihc can see NTFS disks. I like
KNOPPIX, version 3.8.1. However, that is a 700 Meg download as an ISO file.
You will need a third-party CD-writing software to convert it to a CD. Nero
and Easy CD Creator work well:
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html


"Damo" <Damo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F2CA3346-9417-41D5-BCC9-AB05FF4207F5@microsoft.com...
> When I boot to DOS from floppy it will not detect my C:\ partition (NTFS).
> It is a boot disk created in Windows XP, does it support NTFS? I have
> looked
> for solutions on the net, but the ones I tried had either the same or an
> extended problem. Thankyou in advance, I need to update my BIOS!
> Damo :-)

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Damo

To create a diskette that can update BIOS, you have to make a system
diskette with the bare minimum to get the computer started.. you then copy
the BIOS flash utility and new BIOS bin file to the diskette..

When booting from the diskette, at no point do you have to access a hard
drive, so there is no question of the diskette needing to read an NTFS
partition..

Take a look at this website.. http://freepctech.com/pc/001/006.shtml

Upgrading BIOS is simple enough but can go badly wrong.. ensure that you
have a VERY good reason for doing it before you start the process..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm





"Damo" <Damo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F2CA3346-9417-41D5-BCC9-AB05FF4207F5@microsoft.com...
> When I boot to DOS from floppy it will not detect my C:\ partition (NTFS).
> It is a boot disk created in Windows XP, does it support NTFS? I have
> looked
> for solutions on the net, but the ones I tried had either the same or an
> extended problem. Thankyou in advance, I need to update my BIOS!
> Damo :-)