Start-up disk on a cd

[totoymola]

Hello everyone.

I need to make a start-up disk on a cd but I don't know how. I need this because my notebook has no floppy disk drive, and I need a start-up disk to boot from DOS, and format my hard disk. Because in my UA disc, it has no option to format the hard disk before installing. It only allows me to delete the existing Windows installation. I would appreciate any help that you can give me. Thanks.

[MCT]

doesnt have an option in your ua disk? did u create the winnt.sif file ok & not tell it 2 auto repartition?

[totoymola]

Yes. It has no option to format the hard disk. My UA disc is not actually "unattended", because I still want to manually enter the registered name, regional settings, ect. It is working ok for me, but the option to format the hard disk is missing. That's why I want to know how to make a start-up disk on a cd.

[MCT]

post your winnt.sif file plz.. removing any personal info/product keys

[totoymola]

Here it is.

; Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition Setup Answer File

;

[userData]ProductKey="xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"

ComputerName=MEDIA-CENTER

[Data]

MSDosInitiated=0

UnattendedInstall=Yes

[unattended]

OemPreinstall=Yes

TargetPath=\WINDOWS

OemSkipEula=Yes

[identification]

JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP

Im using the Windows Media Center Edition cd that came with my notebook. I just integrated the SP2 to it, and edited the winnt.sif, because it already has the winnt.sif.

[MHz]

You must still have full options, with how you setup your winnt.sif.

If you get this menu:

1. To setup windows XP now, press enter.

2. To repair a Windows XP installation using recovery console, press R.

3. Quit.

If you select 1, then you can repair or install fresh without repair.

Or you can select 2, then enter diskpart at the cmdline, just like the old fdisk. And delete/create partitions, format etc.

Are these the options that you are receiving?

[totoymola]

Yes. I have that. When I choose the option to install without reparing, it will ask whch partition do I want to install. But after I selected my prefered partition, it will only give me the option to

1. Choose another partition

2. Continue using this partition and delete existing installation. (Press L)

Its ok. I just need to make a start-up disk on a cd. I my notebook only has a floppy drive...

[MHz]

If you have that option. Just use recovery console and use diskpart to delete the partition. Then your options for a clean install will return.

Your cd is a start-up disk?

Edit: Or are you doing a network install?

[totoymola]

Ok. Im goin to try that now. Thanks. I'll post my results later. But anyway, do you know how to make a start-up disk on a cd? I tried making an Ultimate Boot CD but I haven't tried it yet. And I think it doesn't has the format utility.

[MHz]

Lots of different boot cds around. My main is a bartpe disk that has 20-30 images for me to boot into.

Edit: Get it from BartPE.

[totoymola]

Thanks! I built my boot cd a while ago using bart's pe builder, and it is really cool!

By the way, what can you say about my winnt.sif? What seems to be the problem there?

If you select 1, then you can repair or install fresh without repair.

Or you can select 2, then enter diskpart at the cmdline, just like the old fdisk. And delete/create partitions, format etc.

Unfortunately, I don't have the option to repair either. It only asks me which partition do I want to use. And after that, an option to delete the previous Windows installation, and to choose a diferent partition.

[MHz]

You should be able to use that sif file. If you want more info on adding more etc. just see the unattended cd guide for insight.

If you have the option for recovery console, that could make life easy for you.

[totoymola]

If you have the option for recovery console, that could make life easy for you.

But I don't have that option in my UA disc.. The options on my UA disc are completely different from the options in my normal XP disc.