ms-dos file extractor

[Dexter]

Hi all,

Theres a small program floating around that extracts the necessary ms-dos files from a windows 98 install to allow a hard drive to boot to dos.

Can anybody point me in the right direction??

Thanks

Dexter

[RacerX]

This isn't what you're talking about, but do you think it would work for you?

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

[Dexter]

IIRC it was downloadable from a site that had cabinet plans on it, including a bartop arcade jobbie.

Dexter

[mp2526]

I know exactly what you are talking about, I had to do it the other day to fix a problem a friend was having with her laptop, however I can't remember the link.  I did find a few links that describe just changing a few lines in a file that may help.

http://www.ecotton.com/kbase/Win9598_boot_MS-DOS.htm

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article01-412

I actually had to replace some files when I did it, but this might work.  If I remember the site, I'll post it.

[Dexter]

This program allows a boot drive to have no windows install and boot to ms-dos (7 I think)

I think it just copies over files from a windows boot drive?

[krick]

Do you want the drive bootable or do you want all of DOS on the drive?
Most of the stuff that is installed as "DOS" is useless nowadays and a waste of drive space.
I don't see the point.


Making the drive bootable is easy....

Start with a windows 98SE boot disk.
boot with that disk
run Fdisk to create/delete partitions on your hard drive as necessary
reboot computer (leaving boot diskette in)
run format on your hard drive like this...

FORMAT C: /S /U

the "S" switch transfers the "system" to the hard drive making it bootable
the "u" switch performs an "unconditional" format which fills the drive with zeroes
(the "u" is not mandatory but I like to do it anyway)

then remove your boot disk and reboot the computer



Here's a link that shows how FDISK works....
http://www.perfectdrivers.com/howto/fdisk-format.html

[_Iz-]

Hi all,

Theres a small program floating around that extracts the necessary ms-dos files from a windows 98 install to allow a hard drive to boot to dos.

Can anybody point me in the right direction??

Thanks

Dexter

I have it at home (I'm at work right now). This is the closest I can find on the internet...

http://www.mvps.org/dts/WinME_DOS/Win-ME.htm

    Good Luck!

[Dexter]

I actually have arcadeos, mame and roms on the drive (currently a secondary drive). I need to make it bootable to arcadeos after I swap the jumper to make it the primary drive.

[_Iz-]

I actually have arcadeos, mame and roms on the drive (currently a secondary drive). I need to make it bootable to arcadeos after I swap the jumper to make it the primary drive.

The drive will have to have been partitioned as a primary partition and made active before you can boot from it. (This may or may not be the case already depending on how it was setup originally)

[Dexter]

Will fdisk across and check it out......

Cheers for the info!