bootable partition

[larynx1982]

How do I create a bootable partition?
I have Windows XP installed and I want to create a new partition and make it bootable (place an entry for it in boot.ini) so I can load a command prompt on it and run Windows XP setup from it.
How do I that?


Thanks in advance...

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

Maybe this will point you in the direction you are looking -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323427

Joey
A+, MCP

 

[larynx1982]

I have XP running now, what I want to do is have one fresh installation of XP on the machine but I don't have a cd-rom or floppy drive on it. I'm looking for a way to put the XP setup on the machine (in a new partition) and from the setup format the main partition then install windows on it.
I guess I need to put system files on the other partition to make it bootable.

 

[edfair]

I can't say that it will work with XP, since I've not tried it, but it does work with SE.
Create a bootable partition with something that has an underlying DOS of enough size to hold the install stuff.
Install the XP from there to be installed on a logical drive in an extended partition. In my case, I have a fat partition of 1 to 2Gb, an extended partition holding the rest and logical drives filling up the extended. Ths OS goes on the first logical.


Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[linney]

What method of inputting data to your machine is available to you? Can you copy data across any Network?

307848 - HOW TO: Start Setup from MS-DOS in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307848&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Are you intending to scrap your current install of XP at the completion of installing this second XP on another partition.

This might give you a few ideas concerning \I386\winnt.exe (DOS) or I386\winnt32.exe (GUI).

Copying XP Installation to Hard drive

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...pied+to+hard+drive+xp&rnum=1#ef26d689826cd333

 

[larynx1982]

The thing is I don't have a cd-rom or floppy drive on the machine. I'm just trying to create a bootable partition through which I can get a command prompt and from there start the Windows XP setup.

 

[edfair]

You will need CD access to put the install stuff on the hard drive, no matter where you put it. One possibility is to install the drive as slave on another machine and do the partitioning and copying there.



Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[larynx1982]

The machine is a laptop. I can transfer the XP setup files through the LAN but I'm looking for a way to boot up (from a new partition) to a command prompt and start the XP setup from there perhaps using Windows 98 system files but I'm not sure how to do that.

 

[firewolfrl]

First things first...Is this an older laptop?

can it boot a USB drive?

To do what you want to do is going to create issues...first the active partition (DOS) will read as C:\ and the windows partition in setup will read as D:\

so your main windows partition will always be D:\

if your C:\ drive is FAT32 you can copy the I386 folder and run C:\I386\Winnt.exe from the command propt and load windows that way...

a better way is to make a bootable DOS partition that you can boot a network drive to... but that is a pain too


your best bet is to purchase a USB CDrom drive and run the install from there


the way I would do it is to pull the drive fron the laptop and using and laptop to IDE adapter for a desktop
wipe the drive
format as FAT32
load the I368 folder
follow the directions on linney's links
create a bootable floppy

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Downright_pages/Boot_Disks_and_Boot_CDs.htm

copy the system files on the bootable floppy to the laptop drive to make it bootable

put the drive back into the laptop
it should boot to
C:\ in DOS
CD I386 it should read C:\I386\
winnt.exe

That is the simple version and not the best way to install windows

 

[edfair]

If networkable you probably could do it with a partition and boot manager like partition magic. But you are also at risk of making a royal mess if you don't get the required boot files in place correctly prior to rebooting.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.