The mystery of the impossible start-up
The nightmare
I can't start my system! For all I know, my Windows XP machine may be toast, but
since I can't boot the computer, I'm in the dark. As a longtime Windows vet, I'm
used to grabbing the boot disk I made, sticking it in the drive of a balky box,
and rebooting the PC that way. But as far as I can tell, Windows XP won't boot
from a floppy. Am I dreaming or what?
Analysis
It's true that Windows XP can't boot from a DOS disk (a start-up floppy for
Windows 95, 98, and Me) because, unlike those older operating systems, it
doesn't run on top of the ancient DOS foundation. Instead, like Windows 2000, XP
runs on the Windows NT kernel and is completely independent of DOS.
Fortunately, XP offers alternatives to the traditional DOS start-up disk. We'll outline two; one involves a CD, and the other a good ol' 3.5-inch floppy.
Advice
If you can't boot your PC, your first move should be to reach for your Windows
XP Setup CD. That's the one that came with your computer or OS upgrade. Put that
CD in the drive and turn on the computer.
Most newer PCs boot from the CD-ROM drive, but you should check now to make sure yours does in case of a future crash. So, as a test, insert your Windows XP Setup CD and reboot the computer. If Setup starts, you're good to go. If not, you need to modify the computer's BIOS to make the PC boot from the CD-ROM drive. Fortunately, you can do this even if you can't launch Windows XP. Here's how.
Turn on the computer and hold down the F2 key, which typically runs the BIOS setup. Look for the Boot menu option. If it doesn't show up, check the other screens; the boot order is often tucked away on an advanced settings page. Once you're at the Boot menu, follow the instructions, which vary, depending on the BIOS, to set the CD-ROM drive as the first device your PC uses to boot. Press F10 to save the changes and exit BIOS Setup.
With the BIOS setup behind you, insert the Windows XP Setup CD, turn on the PC, and when you see the Welcome To Setup message, press R to launch the Recovery Console. The Recovery Console (RC) looks and acts like DOS, but it's all XP. (Read this Microsoft Support article for more info on RC, including a full list of its commands.) You can also launch RC without wading into Setup; just insert the CD and type D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons, where D: is the drive letter of the CD drive.
Only advanced and power users should try RC's features; get a Windows-savvy friend to help if you're clueless. If you're comfortable monkeying around, the Recovery Console lets you copy or replace crucial operating system files, disable or enable devices, and repair the file system boot sector or the Master Boot Record, either of which, if corrupted, will prevent XP from starting.
Sure, RC can repair and resuscitate Windows XP, but what if you don't have the know-how to handle the Recovery Console and just want a down-and-dirty way to boot from a floppy? Microsoft does help you construct a 3.5-inch disk that will boot Windows XP, but you have to know where to look, and you'll need to have the floppy available in your time of need. (There is a way to create such a floppy on another machine, but it's involved. More on that later.)
To get started, format a blank 3.5-inch disk using Windows XP, then copy the following files to it: ntldr and ntdetect.com. You'll find them in the I386 folder on your hard drive:
Also find and copy the boot.ini file from the root drive, usually C: drive. The boot.ini file may be tough to find, since it's a system file and is hidden from normal view. Even a search of the hard drive using Start/Find may not locate it. Here's how to make it visible so that you can copy it to the floppy. Use Control Panel > Folder Options > View, then clear the "Show hidden files and folders" box. Next, clear the check mark in the "Hide protected operating system files" box. Click OK.
Using Windows Explorer or My Computer, navigate to the root drive, usually C: drive, typically labeled Local Disk in Explorer. Right-click the file named boot, which is the boot.ini file, and choose Send To and 3½ Floppy to copy the file to the floppy disk you've been building.
Label this disk--XP Start-up works nicely--and set it aside. When you need it, start your computer using the floppy, then log on to Windows XP as you normally would.
- Taken from CNET 04/2002
PC Clinic's note: for a GREAT website for boot disk try www.bootdisk.com