Bart's way to create bootable CD-Roms
Welcome to world's #1 page about creating bootable CD-Roms for PC!
Page contents
Introduction
...Bart's way of creating bootable CDs is not just another way,
it is "THE SOLUTION" for your company...
You (the technical guy)
can create and prepare the structure for bootable installation, diagnostics or
other CDs. And anybody in your company (without any knowledge about CD burning)
can create and maintain these CDs by adding or changing files when needed. He
just has to start a batchfile and select "Build & burn" to create a CD.
For whom is this page?
This page is for you if you want to:
- create bootable CD-Roms on a regular basis
- build and burn fully automatic (optional blank CDRW before burn)
- use only freeware software to create your CDs
- create a bootable CD-Rom with multiple boot images
- create a Dos bootable CD-Rom using a hardware independent CD-Rom driver
(for SCSI and ATAPI)
This page is
not for you if:
- you want to create just 1 simple bootable CD-Rom. You should use Cdrwin,
Nero or any other well known application to create CDs
- you do not understand basic things like;
- difference between a bootdisk and a boot image
- CDR, CDRW medium
- unpacking, copying, editing or renaming files
What is a bootable CD-Rom?
A bootable CD-Rom is a CD from which
you boot the PC. This means putting the CD in your CD-Rom drive and power-on or
reboot your system. The PC will load a boot image from the CD-Rom and control is
given to this boot image.
A bootable CD-Rom is not a CD that you
insert into your CD-Rom drive and windows will start something from this
CD-Rom.
This is called an "autoplay" CD-Rom.
I've just put this
information here so that people who do not known the difference between a
bootable and a "autoplay" CD-Rom can leave this page and look here: NU2-links: autorun.
How does a PC boot from CD-Rom? (technical)
A PC can boot from a
CD-Rom if the PCs BIOS supports the El
Torito Bootable CD-ROM Format Specification v1.0.
This specification
provides a way of getting to the location on the CD that will provide the boot
information, while maintaining ISO-9660 compatibility.
The El Torito specification was created in january 1995, by Curtus E. Stevens
(Phoenix) and Stan Merkin (back then IBM). And it was called after a restaurant,
the "El Torito grill", where they went to eat and talk about bootable CD-Roms.
Click here for the full story...
The ISO-9660 defines
that a "Primary Volume Descriptor" must reside at sector 10h (16 decimal),
relative to the start of the session. The El Torito specification uses a Boot Record Volume Descriptor.
This Boot Record must be located at sector 11h (17 decimal) in the last
session of the CD.
The boot record contains an absolute pointer to
the boot catalog. This catalog allows the system to pick a proper boot image to
boot from.
Boot Record Volume Descriptor
Offset |
Type |
Description |
0 |
Byte |
Boot record Indicator, must be 0 |
1-5 |
Byte |
ISO-9660 Identifier, must be "CD001" |
6 |
Byte |
Version of this descriptor, must be 1 |
7-26 |
Byte |
Boot system identifier, must be "EL TORITO SPECIFICATION"
padded with 0's. |
27-46 |
Byte |
Unused, must be 0 |
47-4A |
Dword |
Absolute pointer to first sector of Boot catalog. |
4A-7FF |
Byte |
Unused, must be 0 |
...BIOS vendors do not implement the full El Torito
specification...
This all sounds very great, a nice and clear
specification about bootable CD-Roms and if all BIOS vendors would implement the
complete specification, there would be nothing to worry about. But the
BIOS vendors do no follow the full El Torito specification!
Below is a
list of
my findings, and if it is supported on all systems or
not...
(I'm not sure if 100% correct)
Description |
What systems support it? |
Single boot image configuration |
All |
Multiple boot image configuration |
Some |
Boot record volume descriptor |
All |
Validation entry |
All |
Boot Indicator 88 "Bootable" |
All |
Boot Indicator 00 "Not bootable" |
None |
Boot media type 0 "No emulation" |
All *1 |
Boot media type 1,2,3 "Floppy emulation" |
All |
Boot media type 4 "Harddisk emulation" |
All |
Sector count |
Many *2 |
Load RBA |
All |
Header indicator |
All |
Platform ID |
Many *3 |
ID string |
Some *4 |
Section entry extensions |
I've never used it |
Int 13 function 4A - Initiate disk emulation |
None *5 |
Int 13 function 4B - Terminate disk emulation |
All |
Int 13 function 4C - Initiate disk emulation and boot |
None *5 |
Int 13 function 4D - Return boot catalog |
Some |
*1 |
Adaptec aha2940 supports no emulation mode from firmware
revision 1.25 |
*2 |
Some systems do not support reading more then 1
sector |
*3 |
Some systems do not check the platform ID |
*4 |
I've only seen adaptec SCSI adapters support this |
*5 |
This one hurts, I wanted to use this function
badly |
New mainboards come out all the time. I
see that more and more new mainboards do
not support multiboot images
configurations.
Requirements for building the examples
This is what you need:
- PC running Windows 98/ME, Windows NT 4.0 SP4+, Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
- SCSI or ATAPI based CD-recorder or rewriter.
- ASPI manager (see also: Bart's page
about ASPI).
- 1 recordable (CDR) or rewritable (CDRW) CD, on first try, use a
rewritable if you can.
- To test if the completed CD works, you'll need a PC capable of booting
CD-Roms.
- Some basic skills for copying, unpacking and editing some files.
Single boot image (floppy emulation)
This will create a
bootable CD-Rom using one boot image. The boot image is a sector by sector image
taken from a bootable floppy. When a PC boots from floppy this is normally done
from the first floppy drive, known as drive number 0 or as drive A:. So, to let
the CD-Rom boot there must be some mechanism that emulates a floppy drive (drive
number 0).
This floppy emulation can be done in two ways:
Using BIOS/El-Torito
Using this method your PC BIOS provides the
emulation for you.
This example will use the
CDBOOT bootdisk.
The steps
to create are:
- If you have not already setup cdrpack version 1.3 then download cdrpack v1.3
(~640KB).
This file contains a workspace where you can build your bootable
CD's from.
Unpack the cdrpack13.zip file to a directory on your local
harddisk.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Download single
eltorito add-on. Unpack the single_eltorito_addon.zip file into the
same directory as cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the
subdirectories! So when using pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Follow the steps in the CDBOOT page to create the CDBOOT
bootdisk.
Create a boot image file from the "CDBOOT" bootdisk using dd.exe, you should call this boot
image "cdboot.img" and put it into the "cds\single_eltorito\disk1"
directory.
Note! You have to rename the boot image to
lowercase!
- Change cds\single_eltorito\disk1\autorun.bat you can add any commands you
want. For example start an application from CD-Rom.
- All other files and folders you want in the CD-Rom filesystem must also be
copied into cds\single_eltorito\disk1 directory.
- Edit the file cds\single_eltorito\disk1\build.mak and put your name into
the "preparer" variable.
- Start the batch file "run.bat".
From the "Main menu" select "Build
& Burn" and "single_eltorito".
Done!
Using Diskemu
Using this method a special program called
"diskem1x" is loaded first and that program will provide the emulation for the
boot images. Use this if you want to boot "dos" based operating systems like Dos
5.x/6.x, Windows 9x, Windows ME...
The advantage of using diskem1x is that it
works together with a special Dos CD-Rom driver, called "eltorito.sys", which is
based on INT13 extensions and is hardware independent (more info on this look
here).
The steps to create are:
- If you have not already setup cdrpack version 1.3 then download cdrpack v1.3
(~640KB).
This file contains a workspace where you can build your bootable
CD's from.
Unpack the cdrpack13.zip file to a directory on your local
harddisk.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- If you have not already setup diskemu add-on, version 1.1 (11/07/01) then
download diskemu
add-on (~9KB).
Unpack the diskemu_addon.zip file into the same
directory as cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So
when using pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Download single diskemu
add-on. Unpack the single_diskemu_addon.zip file into the same
directory as cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So
when using pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Follow the steps in the ELBOOT page to create the ELBOOT
bootdisk.
Create a boot image file from the "ELBOOT" bootdisk using dd.exe, you should call this boot
image "elboot.img" and put it into the "cds\single_diskemu\disk1"
directory.
Note! You have to rename the boot image to
lowercase!
- All other files and folders you want in the CD-Rom filesystem must also be
copied into cds\single_diskemu\disk1 directory.
- Customize the file cds\single_diskemu\disk1\diskemu.cmd for your personal
needs.
- Change cds\single_diskemu\disk1\autorun.bat you can add any commands you
want. For example start an application from CD-Rom.
- Edit the file cds\single_diskemu\disk1\build.mak and put your name into
the "preparer" variable.
- Start the batch file "run.bat".
From the "Main menu" select "Build
& Burn" and "single_diskemu".
Good luck!
Multiple boot images (floppy emulation)
This example goes about
creating a bootable CD-Rom using multiple boot images in floppy
emulation.
You can build your own boot images, or add more images if you
like.
This can be done in two ways:
Using BIOS/El-Torito
Warning!
It is possible that your BIOS does not support El Torito
multiple boot image configuration!
There is no easy way to check.
When
your PC boots only the first image, your BIOS does not support
multiboot!The boot images used in this example are:
- If you have not already setup cdrpack version 1.3 then download cdrpack v1.3
(~640KB).
This file contains a workspace where you can build your bootable
CD's from.
Unpack the cdrpack13.zip file to a directory on your local
harddisk.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Download multi eltorito
add-on. Unpack the multi_eltorito_addon.zip file into the same
directory as cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So
when using pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Follow the steps in the CDBOOT page to create the CDBOOT
bootdisk.
Create a boot image file from the "CDBOOT" bootdisk using dd.exe, you should call this boot
image "cdboot.img" and put it into the "cds\multi_eltorito\disk1"
directory.
Note! You have to rename the boot image to
lowercase!
- Follow the steps in the MSClient page to create the
MSClient bootdisk.
Create a boot image file from the "MSClient" bootdisk
using dd.exe, you should call
this boot image "msclient.img" and put it into the "cds\multi_eltorito\disk1"
directory.
Note! You have to rename the boot image to
lowercase!
- Follow the steps in the SCSITOOL page to create the
SCSITOOL bootdisk.
Create a boot image file from the "SCSITOOL" bootdisk
using dd.exe, you should call
this boot image "scsitool.img" and put it into the "cds\multi_eltorito\disk1"
directory.
Note! You have to rename the boot image to
lowercase!
- Follow the steps in the CPUID page to create the CPUID bootdisk.
Create a boot
image file from the "CPUID" bootdisk using dd.exe, you should call this boot
image "cpuid.img" and put it into the "cds\multi_eltorito\disk1"
directory.
Note! You have to rename the boot image to
lowercase!
- All other files and folders you want in the CD-Rom filesystem must also be
copied into cds\multi_eltorito\disk1 directory.
- Change cds\multi_eltorito\disk1\autorun.bat you can add any commands you
want. For example start an application from CD-Rom.
- Edit the file cds\multi_eltorito\disk1\build.mak and put your name into
the "preparer" variable.
- Start the batch file "run.bat".
From the "Main menu" select "Build
& Burn" and "multi_eltorito".
Done!
Using Diskemu
Bootable Windows NT 4.0 CD-Rom
This will show you how to create
a bootable Windows NT 4.0 Workstation or Server CD-Rom. It uses the bootstrap
loader from Windows 2000 to have a "press any key to boot from CD" option. It
has an updated atapi driver to support harddisks larger than 10GB. Optionally
you can add service packs, security hotfixes and other stuff to your CD. The
boot catalog and NT bootstrap loader are hidden, just like the original bootable
Windows NT 4.0 CD-Rom.
Joliet extensions are enabled by default, so you
can have long filenames on the CD, the original Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
bootable CD-Rom uses only ISO9660.
The steps to create are:
- If you have not already setup cdrpack version 1.3 then download cdrpack v1.3
(~640KB).
This file contains a workspace where you can build your bootable
CD's from.
Unpack the cdrpack13.zip file to a directory on your local
harddisk.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Download Windows
NT 4.0 add-on. Unpack the nt4_addon.zip file into the same
directory as cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So
when using pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
The add-on contains, the
Windows 2000 bootstrap loader, the Windows 2000 bootfix.bin and the
"build.mak" file.
We will be using the bootstrap loader from Windows 2000,
this will give us the "Press any key to boot from CD" option.
- From Windows NT 4.0 CD copy the "i386" folder to
cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\.
You will find the cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\ folder in the
same directory as where you have unpacked the cdrpack and Windows NT 4.0
add-on.
- From Windows NT 4.0 CD copy into cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\ the following
files:
If you are building a Windows NT 4.0 workstation CD copy:
cdrom_w.40
If you are building a Windows NT 4.0 server CD copy:
cdrom_s.40
- Optionally copy (from Windows NT 4.0 CD) into cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\ the
following files:
autorun.inf
- If you have copied Windows NT 4.0 from MSDN CD...
Edit the file
i386/txtsetup.sif
section [SetupData], and change SetupSourcePath =
"\"
- Copy Service Pack 6a, the Post-SP6a Security Rollup Package (SRP) and
maybe some other security fixes to cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\.
- Update Atapi driver.
Unpack Service Pack 6a to a temporarily folder
using /x parameter.
From this temporarily folder copy into
cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\i386 the following files:
- ntldr
- ntdetect.com
- atapi.sys
- All other files and folders you want in the CD-Rom filesystem must also be
added to cds\nt4ws_us\disk1.
Things you could add are: latest internet
explorer, directx, ...
- Edit the file cds\nt4ws_us\build.mak change the "volumeid" if you like and
put your name into the "preparer" variable.
- Let's check some files to see if they are in the right place.
Make sure
that the following files exist:
- cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\w2ksect.dat
- cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\i386\bootfix.bin
- cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\i386\setupldr.bin
- If you are building a Windows NT 4.0 workstation CD:
cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\cdrom_w.40
If you are building a Windows NT 4.0 server
CD: cds\nt4ws_us\disk1\cdrom_s.40
If one or more files are
missing do not continue! Go back to correct it!
- Start the batch file "run.bat".
From the "Main menu" select "Build
& Burn" and "nt4ws_us".
To have more Windows NT 4.0
versions available from cdrpack to build, you can just rename the "nt4ws_us"
folder to any other name you want, and go again from step
2.
Done!
Bootable Windows 2000 CD-Rom
This will show you how to create a
bootable Windows 2000 Professional, Server or Advanced Server CD-Rom. Optionally
you can integrate service pack, add service packs, security hotfixes and other
stuff to your CD. The boot catalog and NT bootstrap loader are hidden, just like
the original bootable Windows 2000 CD-Rom.
(for multiboot check out
Twinkie's How-to
Website)
Joliet extensions are enabled by default, so you can have
long filenames on the CD, the original Microsoft Windows 2000 bootable CD-Rom
uses only ISO9660.
The steps to create are:
- If you have not already setup cdrpack version 1.3 then download cdrpack v1.3
(~640KB).
This file contains a workspace where you can build your bootable
CD's from.
Unpack the cdrpack13.zip file to a directory on your local
harddisk.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Download Windows
2000 add-on. Unpack the w2k_addon.zip file into the same directory
as cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
The add-on contains, the Windows
2000 bootstrap loader and the "build.mak" file.
- From Windows 2000 CD copy the "i386" folder to
cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\.
You will find the cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\ folder in the
same directory as where you have unpacked the cdrpack and Windows 2000
add-on.
- From Windows 2000 CD copy into cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\ the following
files:
Always copy: cdrom_nt.5
If you are building a Windows 2000
professional CD copy: cdrom_ip.5
If you are building a Windows 2000 server
CD copy: cdrom_is.5
If you are building a Windows 2000 advanced server CD
copy: cdrom_ia.5
Note! Be sure only one "CDROM_Ix.5" file is in the
root!
- Optionally copy (from Windows 2000 CD) into cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\ the
following
files:
autorun.inf
read1st.txt
readme.doc
setup.exe
- If you have copied windows 2000 from MSDN CD...
Edit the file
i386/txtsetup.sif
section [SetupData], and change the setup source path, it
should read: SetupSourcePath = "\"
- If you have copied windows 2000 from MSDN CD you can disable the product
key prompt:
Edit i386/setupp.ini file, remove the read-only attribute and
open the file in notepad.
Change the last 3 digits of the Pid number to
270
Example:
[Pid]
ExtraData=123456789012345678901234567890
Pid=12345270
- You can apply the latest Windows 2000 Service Pack to this installation
(integrated installation). So that you have an installation CD-ROM with the
service pack build in.
Extract the files from your service pack files using
the "/x" parameter.
For example: w2kspx.exe /x
(where x is
your service pack level)
Apply the service pack to the files in the
"cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\i386" directory using "update.exe" with the "-s" option
(you must supply full path).
For example: update.exe
-s:c:\bootcd\cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\
The update.exe can only be
started on a Windows 2000 PC!
Be sure to check that the following
file exists: cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdrom_sp.tst or
cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdromspx.tst
(where x is your service pack
level)
- Copy the latest Service Pack and security patches to
cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\.
You should do this even if you have done "integraded
installation" so that you can use this CD to update existing win2k machines to
the latest Service Pack.
- All other files and folders you want in the CD-Rom filesystem must also be
added to cds\w2kpro_us\disk1.
Things you could add are: latest internet
explorer, directx, ...
- Edit the file cds\w2kpro_us\build.mak change the "volumeid" if you like
and put your name into the "preparer" variable.
- Let's check some files to see if they are in the right place.
Make sure
that the following files exist:
- cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\w2ksect.dat
- cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\i386\bootfix.bin
- cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\i386\setupldr.bin
- cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdrom_nt.5
- If you are building a Windows 2000 professional CD:
cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdrom_ip.5
If you are building a Windows 2000 server
CD: cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdrom_is.5
If you are building a Windows 2000
advanced server CD: cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdrom_ia.5
- If Service Pack 1: cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdrom_sp.tst
If Service Pack 2
(or higher): cds\w2kpro_us\disk1\cdromspx.tst
(where x is your service
pack level)
If one or more files are missing do not
continue! Go back to correct it!
- Start the batch file "run.bat".
From the "Main menu" select "Build
& Burn" and "w2kpro_us".
To have more Windows 2000 versions
available from cdrpack to build (on another CD), you can just rename the
"w2kpro_us" folder to any other name you want, and go again from step
2.
Done!
Bootable Windows XP CD-Rom
This will show you how to create a
bootable Windows XP (final build 2600!) Home Edition or Professional CD-Rom.
Optionally you can add security hotfixes and other stuff to your CD. The boot
catalog and NT bootstrap loader are hidden, just like the original bootable
Windows XP CD-Rom.
Note: This will
not create a "dual"
bootable CD with Home and professional together on one CD. I think we need a
Linux box to create it.
The steps to create are:
- If you have not already setup cdrpack version 1.3 then download cdrpack v1.3
(~640KB).
This file contains a workspace where you can build your bootable
CD's from.
Unpack the cdrpack13.zip file to a directory on your local
harddisk.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Download Windows
XP add-on. Unpack the wxp_addon.zip file into the same directory as
cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
The add-on contains, the Windows XP
bootstrap loader (same as Windows 2000) and the "build.mak" file.
- Copy from your Windows XP CD the "i386" folder to
cds\wxppro_us\disk1\.
You will find the cds\wxppro_us\disk1\ folder in the
same directory as where you have unpacked the cdrpack and Windows XP
addon.
The location of the i386 folder may differ, for example when you
have a dual boot MSDN cd-rom it will be in \%lang%\winxp\%edition%, where
%lang% is your language, like "ENGLISH", "GERMAN" and %edition% is "Home" or
"Pro". Other CD's may have it just in the root or in some other
location.
- Copy from Windows XP CD into cds\wxppro_us\disk1\ the following
files:
Always copy: win51
If you are building a Windows XP Home edition
CD copy: win51ic
If you are building a Windows XP Professional CD copy:
win51ip
- Optionally copy (from Windows XP CD) into cds\wxppro_us\disk1\ the
following files:
AUTORUN.INF
README.HTM
SETUP.EXE
- Edit the file i386/txtsetup.sif
section [SetupData], and change (or
verify) SetupSourcePath = "\"
- Copy the latest security patches to cds\wxppro_us\disk1\.
- All other files and folders you want in the CD-Rom filesystem must also be
added to cds\wxppro_us\disk1.
Things you could add are: latest internet
explorer, directx, ...
- Edit the file cds\wxppro_us\build.mak change the "volumeid" if you like
and put your name into the "preparer" variable.
- Let's check some files to see if they are in the right place.
Make sure
that the following files exist:
- cds\wxppro_us\disk1\w2ksect.dat
- cds\wxppro_us\disk1\i386\bootfix.bin
- cds\wxppro_us\disk1\i386\setupldr.bin
- cds\wxppro_us\disk1\win51
- If you are building a Windows XP Home edition CD:
cds\wxppro_us\disk1\win51ic
If you are building a Windows XP Professional
CD: cds\wxppro_us\disk1\win51ip
If one or more files are
missing do not continue! Go back to correct it!
- Start the batch file "run.bat".
From the "Main menu" select "Build
& Burn" and "wxppro_us".
To have more Windows XP versions
available from cdrpack to build (on another CD), you can just rename the
"wxppro_us" folder to any other name you want, and go again from step
2.
Done!
Bootable Ghost restore CD-Rom "ELGHOST"
The ELGHOST bootable
CD-Rom uses diskem1x.bin (CD-Rom Disk Emulator) and the eltorito.sys (hardware
independent CD-Rom driver).
See also:
Diskemu and
About
ghost.
Requirements:
- Norton Ghost (from symantec)
Screen shot (this is what you will
see upon restoring):
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELGHOST created by Bart Lagerweij http://www.nu2.nu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are the description lines taken from the hdimage.txt file.
It can help you remember what was in this hdimage.gho file.
Will you remember it next month?
Copy disk image from CD-Rom to harddisk !!!
Continue? [Y,N] : y
This will erase all data currently on your harddisk !!!
Type "agree" to confirm this action.
Type here :
|
You will have to hit the "y" key to continue and
type "agree" to start restore. This way nobody can start the image restore
accidentally.
The steps to create "elghost" are:
- If you have not already setup cdrpack version 1.3 then download cdrpack v1.3
(~640KB).
This file contains a workspace where you can build your bootable
CD's from.
Unpack the cdrpack13.zip file to a directory on your local
harddisk.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using
pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- If you have not already setup diskemu add-on, version 1.1 (11/07/01) then
download diskemu
add-on (~9KB).
Unpack the diskemu_addon.zip file into the same
directory as cdrpack 1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So
when using pkunzip.exe use the -d option!
- Download elghost add-on.
Unpack the elghost_addon.zip file into the same directory as cdrpack
1.3.
Make sure you expand the subdirectories! So when using pkunzip.exe
use the -d option!
- Follow the steps in section ELBOOT to create the ELBOOT boot
diskette.
Create an image file from the "elboot" diskette using dd.exe, you should call this file
"elboot.img" and put it into the "cds\elghost\disk1" directory.
- Copy ghost.exe (not included, not freeware!) to cds\elghost\disk1
- Copy your ghost image file to cds\elghost\disk1\hdimage.gho it must be
called "hdimage.gho" !
- Create a text file called "cds\elghost\disk1\hdimage.txt" with a short
description (2-8 lines of plain text) about the ghost image. It must be called
"hdimage.txt" !
- Edit the file cds\elghost\disk1\build.mak and put your name into the
"preparer" variable.
- Start the batch file "run.bat".
From the "Main menu" select "Build
& Burn" and "elghost".
Happy ghosting!
ELBOOT bootdisk
- Format a bootable Dos 6.x or 7.x floppy diskette (you will need todo this
on a Dos 6.x or Windows 9x/ME workstation!).
format a: /u /s
- For Dos 7.x: delete the drvspace.bin file (we don't need it)
attrib
-s -h -r drvspace.bin
del drvspace.bin
- Copy the following files to your floppy disc:
- EMM386.EXE
- HIMEM.SYS
- MSCDEX.EXE
- DOSKEY.COM
The files below are not required but can be
handy:
- FDISK.EXE
- FORMAT.COM
- SYS.COM
- XCOPY.EXE, (for Dos 7.x also XCOPY32.EXE and for win98 also XCOPY32.MOD)
- Download elboot.zip (~16KB).
Unpack elboot.zip file to floppy.
About...
About dd.exe
Used to create an image file from a floppy
bootdisk. Do not confuse it with the unix "dd" command it is not quite the
same.
Example:
dd a: cdboot.imgThis will create an image
file called "cdboot.img" from your bootdisk in drive A:.
You could also
use
winimage (not freeware)
for this, but remember to save your floppy image as .IMA (not compressed)
file.
DD was written by Michael L. Hasenfratz in 1991.
Homepage: there
is none.
Download:
dd.zip
About mkisofs.exe
Used to build/create the ISO image
file.
Version 1.13 (and higher) of mkisofs also supports creating
multiboot images, (using the "-eltorito-alt-boot" option).
Used mkisofs
options: (to see all options run "mkisofs")
-v |
Verbose |
-N |
Omit version number from ISO9660 filename (needed for NT
CD-Roms) |
-o |
Set output filename |
-l |
Allow full 31 character filenames for ISO9660 names |
-no-iso-translate |
Do not translate illegal ISO characters '~' and '#' |
-relaxed-filenames |
Do not translate directory- and filenames containing a
dollar sign, like "$OEM$" |
When running mkisofs you will receive a message saying: "Warning: creating
filesystem that does not conform to ISO-9660." This should be no problem.
For more information on mkisofs v1.13 see the online man page.
Homepage: http://www.fokus.gmd.de/research/cc/glone/employees/joerg.schilling/private/cdrecord.html
Mkisofs
is written by Joerg Schilling.
About mkbootcd.exe
From revision 0.37 of this page, mkbootcd.exe
is no longer needed.
About cdrecord.exe
Used to burn the ISO image to the
CDR(W).
Used cdrecord options: (to see all options run
"cdrecord")
dev=bus,id,lun |
SCSI target to use as CD/DVD-Recorder (use cdrecord
-scanbus to see device list) |
-v |
Increment general verbose level by one |
-data |
Subsequent tracks are CD-Rom data mode 1 |
-eject |
Eject the disk after the work is
done |
For more information on cdrecord v1.9 see
the online man page.
Cdrecord is written by Joerg
Schilling.
Homepage:
http://www.fokus.gmd.de/research/cc/glone/employees/joerg.schilling/private/cdrecord.html
About make.exe
GNU Make version 3.79.1, comes from
Cygwin.
It is
written by Richard Stallman and Roland McGrath.
About bootcat.bin
From revision 0.37 of this page, a dummy
bootcat.bin file is no longer needed.
About Ghost
Norton Ghost (now Symantec) is (great) non free
software to create (and restore) harddisk images.
You can limit Ghost's
capabilities so that your users do not have full access to Ghost's
features.
You can configure the Ghost edition that is stored on the CD ROM to
enable only image file restoration, thus removing the possibility of the end
users attempting to use the other functions of Ghost. Edit the license file
(ghost.env) like this:
Keynum : 99999
License : AA999999
MaxPCs : 99
Name : YourName
Address1: YourCompany
Address2:
switches: load=y,dump=n,disk=n,peer=n,write=y,fprnt=y
Run "ghost -#e" to apply the switches to the ghost.exe file.
For
more information on this look
here.
If your ghost image is larger than 620MB it will not fit on your CD. To split
it into smaller segments you can use ghost explorer to split it.
More Ghost command-line switches? Look here.
If you don't want Ghost to write any error information to ghost.err, add the
"-afile=NUL" switch.
Frequently asked questions
I have collected some of the
questions I've received here:
- [Q] Does Bart's way to create bootable
CD-Roms also work on ATAPI/IDE cdwriters?
[A] Yes (still need Aspi
manager).
- [Q] I get this message, what does it mean?
cdrecord: Cannot do inquiry for CD/DVD-Recorder.
cdrecord: Invalid argument. test unit ready: scsi sendcmd: fatal error
CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00
cmd finished after 0.000s timeout 40s
[A] It means that cdrecord is addressing the
wrong drive.
- [Q] Could you just save those boot CDs you made as
ISO's and have them available for download? That would be great.
[A] Maybe it would be great. But those ISO image would also
contain files that are protected by copyright, so it's illegal. It would also
flood the link to the internet, because of these large files.
In other
words: NO!. You have to create them yourself.
- [Q] I have create a multi-boot CD, but my computer
automatically boots into the first image. What did I do wrong?
[A] This is the most asked question (or problem)! Some people
seem to think that they did something wrong, but it is the BIOS in their PC
that is propably not supporting multiboot images.
But... there is a way
around this! As of Nov 8, 2000 Gary Tong started writing a Bootable CD-Rom
Disk Emulator and Dos CD-Rom driver that worked its way around this problem.
Currently this project is developed by Bart Lagerweij (that's me).
Go here:
Bootable CD-Rom Disk Emulator.
- [Q] I have a bootable Windows 2000 install/setup
CD-Rom, when it boots you must press a key to boot from CD-Rom. If no key was
pressed it boots from the hard drive. Is there a way to do the same thing on a
bootable CD using a floppy boot image?
[A] Yes,
two options:
- This can be done using Diskemu.
- Use the jo.sys loader I've created.
- [Q] Mkisofs says: "Warning: creating filesystem
that does not conform to ISO-9660"
[A] This is
normal, ignore it.
- [Q] Can I emulate writing CDs using
cdrecord?
[A] Yes, add the "-dummy" option to
cdrecord. This executes everything with the laser turned off.
- [Q] Can I blank a CDRW using cdrecord?
[A] Yes. use the "blank" option in cdrecord.exe
For a
"fast" erase: cdrecord dev=x,y,z blank=fast
For a "full" erase:
cdrecord dev=x,y,z blank=all
When using cdrpack there is a
checkbox called "Blank CDRW media before recording" just check it before
burning...
- [Q] How can I see what's inside a .ISO
file?
[A] Use ISOINFO
or IsoBuster.
To
see the information from the primary volume descriptor:
isoinfo -d -i
mycd.iso
To see all the files in the ISO image
isoinfo -l
-i mycd.iso
- [Q] I have created a multi boot CD, is it possible
to name the items as they come up? (I only see numbers)
[A] No, your BIOS is limited in this way. It just displays
the numbers and media types.
There is only one way around this: use
diskem1x.
- [Q] Is it possible to make a bootable CD that will
completely boot up Microsoft Windows 9x or NT, as if it was booting from the
hard drive?
[A] Yes, it is possible (not
easy!)
- [Q] I don't have a 2.88MB floppy drive. How do I
make a bootable 2.88MB Dos-based floppy image?
[A] You can make a 2.88MB (or any other standard size) floppy
image using MKBT, checkout here.
- [Q] The information on this page is a real
lifesaver...
How can I thank Bart for his help?
How can I do something
back?
[A] Look here: http://www.nu2.nu/thanks/bart/.
- [Q] When building the ISO file I get this message:
"mkisofs.exe: Uh oh, I cant find the boot image '%file%.img' !"
(where
%file% is the name of your boot image)
[A]
Mkisofs.exe cannot find the bootimage file, remember that mkisofs.exe is a
Posix/Unix application and it is case sensitive. Try renaming your file
into lowercase...
- [Q] I've burned a bootable NT4/W2K/XP CD-Rom using
Nero. When booting I can get the message "BOOT: Couldn't find
NTLDR"
[A] You need to disable ISO9660 file
versions, in Nero you need to do a registry
setting:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ahead\Nero - Burning
Rom\General\AddISOFileVersion
Set the value to 0 (zero).
Links
For a list of bootable CD-Rom related links, goto the
"Bootable CD-Rom" section of the
links page.
Revision history
The modifications made with each new revision:
- 0.10 Example1 step 5: typing error fixed (forgot "disk1") in
mkisofs line (oops)
- 0.11 The URL for Rawrite2.exe was not correct, fixed
- 0.12 Tested Windows98/ATAPI by Hassan. Some very small changes.
- 0.13 Added a note on mkisofs multiboot. Some very small changes.
- 0.14 Changed getting NT aspi32.
- 0.15 Added example3.
- 0.16 Added example4.
- 0.17 Changed example4 for W2K SP1 integrated installation and minor
changes.
- 0.18 Changed makedisk.bat, added the "-no-iso-translate" and "-l"
option to mkisofs.exe.
Without the "-no-iso-translate" option mkisofs.exe
removes "~" from the original filenames and the "-l" option is for use of long
filenames.
- 0.19 Added the text "To prevent typing errors, copy and past it!".
- 0.20 Added "faq" and more user responses.
- 0.21 Added 2 faq's
- 0.22 Added example5: Bootable Ghost restore CD-Rom
"ELGHOST". Almost the whole page is changed, dropped the makedisk.bat
file, now using a makefile. Added about section (still need to add some more
abouts).
- 0.23 Fixed "ifdef publisher" in makefile. Dropped pathlist.txt
file.
- 0.24 There was a problem using windows 9x and mkbootcd.exe. When
running make.exe it stopped when running mkbootcd.exe (stdin redirect failed).
I recompiled mkbootcd v1.02 (which comes as a 16-bit Dos executable) into a
win32 executable, problem solved.
- 0.25 Changed all links that went through download.asp to
direct-links.
- 0.26 Updated example5 (elghost) to work with the new version of
diskemu.bin (v0.5 beta).
- 0.27 Added "about
ghost" and "about
bootcat".
- 0.28 Added more faq's.
- 0.29 Added faq's and a link.
- 0.30 Updated faq. Numbered faq items for easier reference. Fixed
some links.
- 0.31 Updated faq.
- 0.32 Updated faq and did some minor changes.
- 0.33 Updated links and some text for cdrtools v1.10 and make
v3.29.1 update.
Also updated the makefile to v1.4, this should solve
"/bin/sh.exe: Command not found" issues.
- 0.34 Updated the makefile to v1.5, added
"auto-blank option".
- 0.35 Updated Example5 to meet diskemu.bin v0.9BETA requirements.
- 0.36 Rewrote Example5 to use diskem1x.bin v1.1BETA and cdrpack v1.2
workspace. Much more easier to use!
- 0.37 Rewrote most of the page. Now using cdrpack!
- 0.38 Updated Windows XP
section!
- 0.39 Minor overall changes.
- 0.40 Minor changes and cleanup.
Thank you
A big "thank you" goes to:
- Martin Moens, for hosting this page from december 1999 until november 2001
(for free)!
- Denis (saburovo.com) for currently hosting the nu2 site (also for free)!
- Gary Tong, for writing the first version(s) of diskemu.bin/eltorito.sys
- Everybody who gave me feedback