15 Steps to a real Windows Boot-CD

It can happen to the best of us, that pesky virus that just attacked your anti-virus software, or a system crash that renders Windows-based backup software useless. Suppose your system is down. Good luck checking your mail or browsing the web. There are many uses for a self-contained cd-based Windows installation, but since Windows was never meant to be booted from a CD, it's something that's rarely done. Fortunately, with enough arm-twisting, a self-contained Windows Boot-CD is possible.

This example assumes that you have the following:


Step 1: Power down your system, disconnect your hard drive, then install an old 1 gigabyte hard drive in its place.


Step 2: Boot the system using your boot floppy.


Step 3: Run fdisk and use it to partition your drive. When it asks about large drive support, choose N. Delete any existing partitions. Then enter the following:

1 - Create Primary Partition or Logical Drive
1 - Create Primary DOS Partition
Do you want to use the maximum available size...and make the partition active? Choose No.
Enter the size, in megabytes for the boot partition: 200 megs should be plenty
2 - Set Active Partition
1 to make the primary partition active
 
1 - Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive
2 - Create Extended DOS Partition

When you press Esc it'll say that no logical drives are defined and prompts you to enter the amount of space to use to use for a logical drive. Enter 2 to create a 2 megabyte logical drive. When it prompts you again, type 2. Repeat the process until logical drives D: through Q: are defined. For R: enter a size anywhere between 128 and 300 megabytes, then devote all of the remaining hard drive space to S:  Hit Esc three times then reboot, using the boot disk.


Step 4: Format drives C: through S:  (e.g. format c:  format d:  ...  format s:)


Step 5: Make a directory on C: drive, call it CABS  (e.g. md c:\cabs)


Step 6: Insert your Windows 95b CD, then copy everything in the \win95 directory on the CD to the CABS directory on the hard drive (e.g. c: cd cabs copy t:\win95\*.* c:)


Step 7: Remove the CD and boot floppy, then run setup. Hit enter to have Scandisk check over the hard drive. When it's done, select exit. Next you'll see a welcome screen. Click continue. Click "Yes" to agree to the license agreement. Next you'll see the Windows Setup Wizard. Click "Next>". You'll be asked to choose a directory where Windows will be installed. Click on "Other Directory", then click "Next>". Type in R:\WINDOWS, then click "Next>". Under "Setup Options", select "Custom", then click "Next>". Enter the serial number, then click "Next>". Enter a name/company, then click "Next>". Use your better judgment for the "Analyzing Your Computer" screen.

When you click "Next>", Windows will try to detect your computer's hardware. Under "Windows Components" click on "Show me a list of components so I can choose". Under "Select Components", only select the components that you plan on using.

Click "Next>" when you're done. Enter whatever you'd like under "Identification", then click "Next>". Click "No" for "Startup Disk", then click "Next>". Click "Next>" to start copying files. Click "Finish" to restart your computer.

Enter a user name, but you can leave the password blank. If you want, you can enter a time zone and setup a printer. Next, Windows Setup will want to restart your computer.

Important: Windows 95b and earlier have a serious bug that shows up on systems with fast processors. This affects AMD K6's that are >300MHz, AMD Athlons >1GHz, and Intel Pentium 4 systems. If your system isn't affected, click "OK" then skip to step 9. If in doubt, follow the instructions in Step 8.


Step 8: This bug, which affects Windows 95b and earlier, is often referred to as the "K6 Bug" because it first started to appear on AMD K6 CPUs. This is due to a problem in a timing loop in that gets executed when Windows is starting up. Microsoft issued a patch which is discussed here. This patch requires Windows, but Windows won't boot without the patch already installed. To get around the problem, one needs to go into DOS and update the files manually. A straight-forward way to resolve this issue is discussed below:

Download this self-extracting zip file from here. Save it to your boot floppy. When Windows setup wants to restart your computer let it reboot your machine, but boot using a boot floppy. Copy fastcpu.exe to the root directory on R: drive (e.g. copy a:\fastcpu.exe r:\) Goto R: drive (e.g. R:), then type fastcpu -d. Enter Y to overwrite. Remove the boot floppy and reboot your machine.

Note: These 3 files are only a subset of the "K6 Patch". It's enough to get your machine to boot, but you'll still need to download/install the official patch from Microsoft once Windows is setup.


Step 9: Windows will detect a couple of devices then finish starting up, leaving you at a welcome screen. Install any 3rd party drivers that you need and Windows updates that you deem necessary.

Important: If you plan on installing the USB supplement, and also need the "AMD K6 Patch", be sure to do the following: Install the USB supplement first. When it prompts you to restart your machine, ignore it for now. Next, install the "AMD K6 Patch". When it's done, it too will want to restart your machine. Choose "No". The USB supplement will still want to restart your machine. Choose "Yes".

Here is a list of commonly used updates for Windows 95b.


Step 10: Click on the Start Menu, then choose Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Drivespace 3. Click on "Advanced", then select "Settings". Select "HiPack Compression", then click "OK". Select drive R: then click on "Drive" and select "Compress". Click on "Options" and select "Drive V" as the drive letter for the host drive. (The drive letter for the host drive isn't critical, so if "Drive V" isn't available, you can select a different drive. The Steps below will assume that you chose "Drive V".) Click "OK", then click "Start". Windows will ask you if you want to create a Startup Disk. Click "No". Click "Compress Now". DriveSpace will check the drive for errors, then restart into a weird looking mode while it compresses R: drive. Click "Close" when it finally gets done.

Once you're back in Windows, go back into DriveSpace 3, goto Drive R:, then click on the "Drive" menu and select "Adjust Free Space". Move the slider until the amount of used space on host drive V: is under 128 megabytes. Click "Yes" to restart your computer.


Step 11: Install your favorite software to R: drive or S: drive. Applications installed to R: drive will be lightning fast because they'll be on the ramdisk, but space will be at a premium. Applications installed to S: drive will load slowly but there will be considerably more space to work with (about 520 megs). Try to get any AntiVirus software that your using installed onto R: drive if at all possible. Some applications put huge uninstaller programs on your computer, usually in the form of .msi files. Instead of deleting them to free-up space, it's better to move them to drive S:, that way you'd be able to copy them back if necessary.


Step 12: Once Windows is set up the way you want it, it'll come time to prepare Windows to be run from a ramdisk. Reboot your machine then right after the computer beeps, press F8, then select "Command Prompt Only". Enter the following commands:

v:
cd\
attrib drvspace.000 -h -s
smartdrv 16384
copy drvspace.000 s:\
attrib drvspace.000 +h +s

Reboot your computer. Once in Windows, burn the entire contents of Drive S: onto a CDRW disc. If you don't have any CD burning software installed, then you'll need to use your creativity to find a way to get Drive S: burned to a CD. This could mean copying the files over the network, hooking two hard drives together, etc.


Step 13: Put a blank disk in the floppy drive, open up a DOS window, then type format a: /s. Next, a number of files need to be copied to the boot disk:

From R:\Windows:

himem.sys
emm386.exe
dblbuff.sys
ifshlp.sys
setver.exe
regedit.exe

From R:\Windows\Command

drvspace.sys
drvspace.bin
attrib.exe
scandisk.exe
edit.com (optional)
more.com (optional)

Files from 3rd party utilities

xmsdsk.exe 
shsucdx.exe
vide-cdd.sys (if you're using an ATAPI cdrom drive and are looking for a nearly universal driver)

Next, 4 files will need to be created: autoexec.bat, config.sys, msdos.sys, drvspace.ini

config.sys

FILES=200
DOS=HIGH,UMB
BREAK=ON
STACKS=9,256
SHELL=A:\COMMAND.COM A:\ /E:512 /P
DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=A:\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DEVICE=A:\DBLBUFF.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=A:\DRVSPACE.SYS /MOVE
DEVICEHIGH=A:\IFSHLP.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=A:\SETVER.EXE
DEVICEHIGH=A:\VIDE-CDD.SYS /D:CDROM0
LASTDRIVE=Z

autoexec.bat

A:\XMSDSK 131072 r: /t /y
A:\SHSUCDX.EXE /D:CDROM0,S,,1 /M:10
COPY S:\DRVSPACE.000 R:\
A:\SHSUCDX.EXE /u
A:\ATTRIB R:\DRVSPACE.000 +h +s
A:\SCANDISK /MOUNT R:\DRVSPACE.000
COPY A:\DRVSPACE.BIN R:\
A:\ATTRIB R:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT -H -R -S
REN R:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT SYSTEM.TAT
A:\ATTRIB R:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.TAT +H +R +S
A:\REGEDIT /L:R:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.TAT /R:R:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT A:\CDROM.REG
SET COMSPEC=R:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
PATH R:\WINDOWS;R:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;
R:
CD WINDOWS
WIN.COM

Note: If using shsucdx, version 3, use:  A:\SHSUCDX.COM /D:CDROM0,S and  A:\SHSUCDX.COM /u  respectively

msdos.sys

[Paths]
WinDir=R:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=R:\WINDOWS
HostWinBootDrv=V
[Options]
BootMulti=0
BootGUI=0
Network=1
;
;The following lines are required for compatibility with other programs.
;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be >1024 bytes).
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs
DoubleBuffer=1
Logo=0
AutoScan=0
BootWarn=1

drvspace.ini

AutoMount=0
FirstDrive=T
LastDrive=V
MaxRemovableDrives=1
MaxFileFragments=106
ActivateDrive=V,R0

Next, io.sys on the floppy disk needs to be patched. Open up a DOS window, then enter the following:

attrib a:\io.sys -h -r -s
edit /70 a:\io.sys

From the "Search" menu, select "Find", then type system.dat. Next, change SYSTEM.DAT to SYSTEM.TAT. Goto the "File" menu, select "Save", then goto the "File" menu and select "Exit". Last, but not least enter the following:

attrib io.sys +h +r +s
attrib msdos.sys +h +r +s
attrib drvspace.bin -h -r -s


Step 14:

Shut down your computer, and disconnect the hard drive. Then boot up the machine using the newly created boot floppy and CDRW disc. If the boot floppy and Windows installation were done properly the machine should boot into Windows, running off of the ramdisk. The CDROM drive will probably have the wrong drive letter assigned to it. To fix that problem:

Go into the device manager. Double-click on CDROM, then double-click on your CDROM drive. Click on the "Settings" tab. Under "Reserved Drive Letters", choose "S:" for the "Start Drive Letter" and "S:" for the "End Drive Letter". Click "Ok", then click "Ok". Next it'll prompt you to restart your computer. Choose "No".

Click "Start". Click "Run". Type in regedit then click "Ok". Then go into

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
/Enum
/SCSI

Under "SCSI" you should see the name of your CDROM drive. Single-click on the CDROM drive name, then click on the "Registry" menu and select "Export Registry File". Save it on your newly created boot floppy, using the filename cdrom.reg

Exit out of Regedit, then reboot.


Step 15:

At this point everything should work. You can continue to use the boot disk and CDRW as they are. Otherwise, you should be able to use to create a bootable CD (using floppy emulation) without too much trouble.


Last Update: 12-30-2006