Create Bootable CD from a Bootable Floppy Disk

Next time your computer crashes, you'll have a CD handy to save your life...or at least your work. (Note: you do not need your own bootable floppy disk, thus even if your floppy drive is broken you can follow this procedure.)

Steps

  1. Download and install Nero, which is a commercial (not free but has trialware), easy to use, disk burning program that has a feature allowing you to make a bootable disk. It can be obtained by doing a simple web search using the terms "Nero free download."
  2. Go to the data menu in Nero (look at the several icons at the top of the Nero splash screen), and click on "Make Bootable Disk." Nero prompts you to first add files to the disk.
  3. Bypass the step of adding files by clicking "next," and go directly to making the bootable disk.
  4. On the next screen, click on "use a standard boot image." Nero will automatically bypass your "A" drive, and make the disk with no fuss.
  5. Keep clicking on next and follow the wizard until you arrive at the "Burn" button at the bottom lower right of your screen on menu.

Tips

  • Keep this disk handy, as it can get you out of all sorts of difficulty. For instance if you get a virus, usually the drivers for the CD-ROM are okay, whereas you may have trouble booting from a floppy. Make sure you go into your bios (usually done by holding down on the DEL key, or control key, and change the boot order, so the computer will search the CD ROM drive first in the boot up.)
  • You may want to copy an uninstalled version of your operating system onto your hard drive (not in the same partition as your installed operating system). This is helpful, because when you need to reinstall your operating system, you can just use the Nero Disk to get to the "A" prompt, then switch directories to the partition of the uninstalled OS ,and install from there (Use d:\win98se\win98...then type "setup" for instance if you are using windows 98SE, and you put the uninstalled version on the D drive.) This will give a smoother installation.

Warnings

  • The only s/w on Nero's site expires after a trial period. You have to pay for this stuff if you want to use it and it isn't cheap (around $80).
  • Be sure you are not downloading a version that has not been released free or as a demo. Version 7 can be downloaded from the main site as a trial version only.

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