Lets's GO

- Booters
==================

1)
Windows 98 very own "start disk"
When one needs a "start disk", this first method to create one is most widely known.
However, I'd like to mention that when you want to create it, you got to have a working computer, and even more IMPORTANT, it has to be free of VIRUS.
Therefore, and first of all, again scan the PC for viruses using a RECENTLY updated antivirus tool.
Then create a bootable floppy on your known good PC.
CONTROL PANEL > SOFTWARE > START DISK > CREATE
(whatever was on the floppy you pop in will be overwritten)

You see where the name start disk came from?
In most cases, this floppy will support your cdrom reader.
I call it a setup floppy (w/i the booter that creates a ramdrive....)
it's much more advanced than the setup floppy that came with win95.

If you are sure this computer is free of virus, I recommend you copy
C:\windows\smartdrv.exe and C:\windows\command\diskcopy.com
to that floppy.

2)
Creating a "start disk" from "control panel" may not work!
Yes, I saw some systems fail making one.... When it happens, chances are this was caused by an option chosen during windows setup, and thus your \command\ebd\ folder is missing in windows.
You can still make it when that happens. You can point it to the win98 folder on your win98 disc, or, in some cases, the
windows\options\cabs folder

note; one can search computer for base4.cab and if present, you would find the folder the win98 cabinets are in.

3)
Anyway, you can perhaps make an "Emergency Boot Disk") straight from CDROM.
How ?
Pop your original windows 98 CD in, hold shift so it won't load, open explorer & navigate to tools\mtsutil\fat32ebd\fat32ebd.exe
Pop in a new floppy, and run fat32ebd.exe. It will warn you that whatever was on the floppy will be overwritten.

This Windows' "Emergency Boot Disk" has a different content than the one made from control panel.
This EBD has a lot going for it.
Primo; It got made from virus free media.
Secundo; it does not create a RAMdrive at boot, which helps avoid driveletter confusion.
Tertio; it supports all them CDROMs the normal start disk does.
This EBD is the booter I prefer and use most.
If you are sure this computer is free of virus, and sure it runs the SAME version of windows the CD you just created this EBD from contains, I would strongly suggest you copy
C:\windows\smartdrv.exe
C:\windows\scanreg.ini
C:\windows\command\scanreg.exe
C:\windows\command\chkdsk.exe
C:\windows\command\diskcopy.com
to that floppy.

Once that is done, test it, and run diskcopy.
Yes, you can make a diskcopy of it that way.

By the way, soon as you can access your windows CDROM, you can run this from DOS too.
And, you can do this on another MsDOS-Windows based machine, even if it runs another version..
(because fat32ebd.exe does its thing with real mode access to the floppy, you won’t be able to do it from within windows XP explorer.)

The floppy fat32ebd.exe makes will be the Emergency Boot Disk for the windows version on the CDROM.
for instance;
from DOS, run
:\tools\mtsutil\fat32ebd\fat32ebd.exe

When you read FAT32EBD.TXT you learn it will make a virus-free floppy.
You gotta work on an infected machine? NEVER trust any recently used floppy... you better start cleanup with a clean booter..

IMHO, a windows 98 start disk is a lot more useful than windows millenium's start disk

Sidenote; For the XP setup disketttes, IF you need those, you find a creation tool that makes sets of four floppies.
you can download these from Microsoft, or use the XP CDROM.
IMHO, for XP, you should at least make the standard start disk, the setup disks, and you should install recovery console and make your XP' system REPAIR disk(s). I started using XP's own backup tool, and am learning...
(don't forget that you have to update these repair disks)...

back to windows 98...

4 a)

then there are People with a recovery CDROM.
Packard bell, NEC, Compaq or HP, DELL, and so on...
They can usually make a start disk thru option panel.
When the system says the files it needs are missing/or when it begs for the windows CD, point it to \windows\options\cabs where the creation will then extract the files from the cabinets it finds there (provided this folder is not damaged/wiped)
OR, look in programs, system utilities and see what smartrestore can do for you...

4 b)

Now, If the machine still runs, but is infected, they need a way to create a virus free booter.
Their disc is not an original windows CD.
However, when they browse the recovery CD, they should find at least one file called makeboot.bat or makedisk.bat or even makedisk.exe, and that one makes them a boot floppy from files on the CDROM.
With some brands of recovery-disc, this creates a floppy not unlike a "start disk".
However, it is entirely possible that this makes you a SYSTEM RESTORE diskette.
With a little luck, you find more than one file (they are often in a folder called tools or system), and that will make you the restore floppy, utilities floppies, and start disk.
It may very well become your last resource, and you should create these floppies. (floppies do get damaged/go bad...)
Makeboot.bat or makedisk.bat (or create.exe ??) can be launched on another working and virus free machine. (once again, windowx XP may not allow that you run it from within explorer)

When you search this restore CD, you may even find fat32ebd.exe (I found it on a DELL Reinstallation CD, so some brands do have it)

So far, all brands of recovery discs I looked at offer a method to create a good booter straight from the CD.

These restore discs have readme files and help documents
I suggest you read them.

4 c)
These days, some of these brands ship machines without the recovery CD's.
On some, they are hidden quite well. (that's reasonably safe. You do NOT notice them when browsing the disks, so you don't delete them. But, you are then often not aware that you are missing something.)
You don't burn them? And then you get in a reall mess?
Maybe you lose access to the drive? Well, I guess you are then really sunk and off to the nearest service center.. Where they lose you all your data.

=> ( 4 x ) I'd sure like to get still more info on this!

--
a quick tip
RUN A SEARCH ACTION FOR *.DOC AND *.TXT on your windows CD or restore disc. You will be amazed when you read about the goodies and tips&tricks you missed. Same thing goes for the windows folder.
--

5)
still on booters...
you can download some good ones.
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/downloads/index.php

http://bootdisk.com has a nice selection of bootdisks... Not only that, I see they have a good source of information.

http://www.drd.dyndns.org/index2.html

... more links later on.

Of course, once you made a booter, you have to test the thing.
Boot from this floppy and see if you can access your cdrom from it.
HOW? It is at A:\>_
(And if it worked, the screen tells you which letter was assigned to cdromdrive.)
For instance; letter given = G: then type DIR G:
In most cases, it shows files and directories on the CD.
A later section will talk about these situations in which it doesn't.