Copyright: Copyright © 1994-1996 Symantec Corp.
Citation: Copyright © 1994-1996 Symantec Corp.


About Rescue Disk

Rescue Disk copies your computer's critical setup data and startup files, including Windows 95 Registry files, to one or more floppy disks called rescue disks. If your computer fails to start, these rescue disks, unique to your computer, can be used to start your computer in MS-DOS mode. Once in MS-DOS mode, you can use the Norton and Microsoft DOS-based programs stored on the rescue disks to:

Recover erased files using UnErase

Format a drive using Microsoft Format

Repair damaged files using Norton Disk Doctor

Partition your hard drives using Microsoft FDisk

Repair damaged files manually using Disk Editor

Create system disks using the Microsoft SYS program

Troubleshoot hardware conflicts using Norton Diagnostics

Recover formatted or heavily damaged disks using UnFormat

Restore your computer's startup data using the Rescue Restore program

If you did not create a rescue disk during the installation of Norton Utilities, be sure to create one now.

To open Rescue Disk:

Click here [image] to open Rescue Disk.

Click here [image] for related information.


Why you should use Rescue Disk

Every time you add software or hardware to your computer, your system changes, and you take a small chance. At other times, improper changes to your computer's setup data and startup files, or other problems may occur that prevent your computer from starting normally, or even from starting at all.

When your computer doesn't start, a set of rescue disks can usually get you back up and running quickly.

Use the Rescue Readiness sensor of Norton System Doctor to keep your set of rescue disks up-to-date.

Click here [image] for related information.


When you should use Rescue Disk

Use Rescue Disk to update your rescue disk set weekly, at least. Having a current set of rescue disks provides the best protection

Norton System Doctor can help keep your set of rescue disks up-to-date. For more information, see About Rescue Disk Sensor.

We also recommend that you update your current rescue disks whenever you:

Upgrade your operating environment

Add, modify, or remove:

Hard disk partitions

Any hardware

Any software

Startup data or files

If you are on a network, you can easily keep your rescue items updated by storing them on a network drive. The Rescue Readiness sensor of Norton System Doctor can run Rescue Disk for you, automatically copying your rescue items to the network drive periodically to keep your rescue items up to date.

If you choose to do so, we recommend you first run Rescue Disk once using a set of floppy disks as your destination, and include any network drivers you need with your other rescue items. That way, you can always use your floppy-based rescue disks to get your computer started and get connected to the network to retrieve your most current rescue information.

Click here [image] for related information.


Types of rescue items

Rescue Disk includes five types of rescue items:

Startup data

Startup files

Norton DOS-based programs

Microsoft DOS-based programs

Additional files

If your system uses a configuration file, such as AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS, to load additional drivers, such as CD-ROM or sound card drivers, Rescue Disk automatically adds them to the list of rescue items that are to be stored. If you have Windows on a CD-ROM, then your rescue disks should always include the CD-ROM drivers to ensure your access to Windows files.

Click here [image] for related information.


About rescue disk sets

The likely number of high-density, 3½-inch floppy disks required to create your rescue disk set is displayed directly below the list of destination drives in the main Rescue Disk window. The first disk in the set contains the data and files necessary to start your computer; the remaining disks include supplementary programs and any additional files you have added.

If you prefer to create a single rescue disk, rather than a set, uncheck items from the Rescue Items list to bring the disk count down to one.

Click here [image] for related information.


About rescue folders

A rescue folder is nothing more than a folder on a hard disk containing rescue items. Although Rescue Disk lets you save rescue items to a hard disk, you should do so only if you can't find a floppy disk. Once you have found a floppy disk, make it bootable and copy the items from the rescue folder to the floppy disk.

Network administrators can benefit by creating rescue folders on the network. For more information, see Notes for network administrators.

When creating a rescue folder, Rescue Disk does not save rescue items that would normally be present on a bootable floppy disk. These items include IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, DRVSPACE.BIN, and so on.

Click here [image] for related information.


When to use a rescue disk or rescue folder

Warning: Your rescue disk set is customized for your computer's configuration. Never use rescue disks that were created on or for another computer.

The rescue disk set created for your computer can be used to repair most types of system startup problems. Below is a list of common startup messages that could appear should your computer fail to start. The exact text of your computer's messages may differ somewhat; refer to your computer manufacturers user's guide for more information.

Battery discharged
This message indicates that the internal battery has run out of power. The result of a battery discharge is the loss of your system's CMOS information. This message generally appears when the internal battery is not a rechargeable battery. Systems with rechargeable batteries installed recharge while the system is on. To repair this problem, install a fresh battery or as outlined by the hardware manufacturer. Then use your system's rescue disk to restore the CMOS information.

Hardware information lost [image] run setup
This message indicates that, for some unknown reason, your system's CMOS information has been lost. This message appears when there has been a break in power between the internal battery and the CMOS chip. This message generally appears when the internal battery is a rechargeable battery. To repair this problem, check the battery's connection to the motherboard or as outlined by the hardware manufacturer. Then use your system's rescue disk to restore the CMOS information.

Please insert boot-disk and press any key
This message indicates that the system files are not present. This message appears when the boot records on your system's startup disk are missing. However, before you reach for the rescue disk, make sure you are booting from the correct drive. If you are trying to boot from the C: drive, but you have a disk in the A: drive, you probably have a non-bootable disk in the A: drive causing this message. Remove the disk from the A: drive and then boot the system again. Otherwise, use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot records and partition tables.

Please insert valid boot-disk and press any key
This message indicates that the system files are corrupt or damaged. However, before you reach for the rescue disk, make sure you are booting from the correct drive. If you are trying to boot from the C: drive, but you have a disk in the A: drive, you probably have a non-bootable disk in the A: drive causing this message. Remove the disk from the A: drive and then boot the system again. Otherwise, use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot records.

Non-System Disk, please insert boot-disk and press any key
This message indicates that the system's startup files are not present. However, before you reach for the rescue disk, make sure you are booting from the correct drive. If you are trying to boot from the C: drive, but you have a disk in the A: drive, you probably have a non-bootable disk in the A: drive causing this message. Remove the disk from the A: drive and then boot the system again. Otherwise, use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot records.

Hard disk boot sector invalid
This message indicates that the drive's boot sector is corrupt or damaged. This message appears when invalid information exists in the drive's boot sector. Use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot record and partition table.

Click here [image] for related information.


Notes for network administrators

Having a set of rescue disks for each workstation can be costly if you intend to use standard 5¼-inch or 3½-inch floppy disks. Because of this fact, Rescue Disk lets you store rescue items to a folder on any drive.

Workstation rescue folder recommendations:

Organize rescue folders for each workstation under a single folder on a network drive
Create a folder named "rescue" on a network drive. This is where individual subfolders for each workstation are contained.

Define an identifiable naming convention for each workstation
In the rescue folder, create a subfolder that can be identified with each workstation on the network. For example, workstation 1 is defined as WS00001, workstation 2 is defined as WS000002, and so on. Grant each network users read, write, create, and modify rights to their associated subfolder. Granting these rights let the users to store rescue folders and items without being able to delete existing files. Not all networks support this combination of rights, see your network's administrator's guide for more information.

Follow the procedures for creating a rescue folder
Go to any workstation, open Rescue Disk and follow the procedures for creating a rescue folder. When asked to supply the destination, open the subfolder that corresponds the workstation. Continue to follow the procedures for creating a rescue folder. For more information on this procedure, see To create a rescue folder.

Click here [image] for related information.


Notes about customizing
Notes on customizing Rescue Disk

Rescue Disk includes options for customizing the way Rescue Disk performs as well as how it works. These options can be accessed by clicking the Options button. The Formatting tab lets you choose how Rescue Disk is to save the rescue items to disk. The Rescue Items tab lets you select, deselect, and add rescue items.

Click here [image] for related information.


Notes about features
About Rescue Disk features

Rescue Disk supports the following disk compression and security programs:

Norton DiskLock

Microsoft DriveSpace

Stac Electronic's Stacker

If your computer is running any of these disk compression and security programs, Rescue Disk automatically saves the necessary drivers to the rescue disk set.

Click here [image] for related information.


About startup data

Rescue Disk saves the data that enables your computer to start. This data includes:

CMOS data
Computer setup data is gathered from the CMOS chip installed on the motherboard of the computer. The data includes:

Amount of memory

Type of diskette drives installed

Type of hard drives installed

Type of display (VGA or monochrome)

Other information specific to your computer's basic operation

Disk data
Disk data is gathered from the boot sector of each hard disk. This data includes:

Boot records

Partition tables

Click here [image] for related information.


About startup files

Rescue Disk saves the files that enable your computer to start, including the files necessary for special features or devices loaded before Windows starts. These files are copied from the disk your computer uses to start (usually the drive or partition designated as drive C:).

Startup files include:

IO.SYS

MSDOS.SYS

CONFIG.SYS

COMMAND.COM

AUTOEXEC.BAT

SYSTEM.REG, containing registry information from the file SYSTEM.DAT

USER.REG, containing registry information from the file USER.DAT

AUTOEXEC.DOS

CONFIG.DOS

You can add your own rescue items. For more information, see About additional files.

Click here [image] for related information.


About DOS-based Norton Utilities programs

By default, Rescue Disk stores the following Norton Utilities programs:

Norton Diagnostics [image] tests the computer's hardware for easy diagnoses of hardware problems.

Norton Disk Doctor [image] repairs most disk problems.

Disk Editor [image] lets you manually edit and repair the data on a disk.

Rescue Disk [image] restores a computer's startup data.

UnErase [image] recovers erased files automatically or manually.

UnFormat [image] recovers files after accidentally formatting a disk.

You can add your own rescue items. For more information, see About additional files.

Click here [image] for related information.


About Microsoft DOS-based utilities

By default, Rescue Disk stores the following DOS utilities programs:

FDisk [image] creates, modifies, or removes physical and logical hard disk partitions.

SYS [image] lets you make a disk bootable.

Format [image] lets you format a disk.

You can add your own rescue items. For more information, see About additional files.

Click here [image] for related information.


About additional files

You can add any files you want to the Rescue Item list. You can add files either by clicking the Add New Item button, or by dragging-and-dropping files from My Computer or Windows Explorer. The files are added as rescue items under the Miscellaneous category. Files that are added to the list will remain there until you explicitly remove them.

At any time, you can choose not to include any or all of these files in a rescue disk set by simply clicking the check box beside the filename to uncheck it. This will not remove those files from the Rescue Items list, but unchecked files are not saved in the current rescue disk set. To prevent all of your additional files from being included in a rescue disk set, uncheck the Miscellaneous category.

Click here [image] for related information.


Command-line options

The following options can be included on the command line if you run Rescue Disk by choosing Run from the Start menu. They may be entered in any order.

RESCUE32 [/AUTO | /FULLFORMAT | /QUICKFORMAT]

/AUTO	Starts Rescue Disk, and bypasses the Rescue Disk main window, if you have previously run Rescue Disk and specified a hard or network disk as the destination drive. Rescue Disk automatically uses the same file selection options you used previously. The completion dialog at the end of the copy process is also bypassed. (If the destination is a floppy disk, however, Rescue Disk will open to the main window.)

If you have not previously used Rescue Disk, you are prompted to select a folder in which to copy the rescue items.

/FULLFORMAT	Changes the default formatting option (on the Formatting tab) to Full Format. This command-line option is only valid when copying rescue items to a floppy disk.

/QUICKFORMAT	Changes the default formatting option (on the Formatting tab) to Quick Format. A quick format deletes files and folders from an already-formatted disk, rather than performing a full format. This is a faster process than a full disk format. This command-line option is only valid when copying rescue items to a floppy disk.

For example, to run Rescue Disk from the command-line such that it copies rescue items to a rescue folder on the C: drive automatically, you would enter:

RESCUE32 /AUTO

Click here [image] for related information.


To open Rescue Disk
To open Rescue Disk:

Click here [image] to open Rescue Disk.

Click here [image] for related information.


To create a rescue disk
To create a rescue disk:

1	Click here [image] to open Rescue Disk.

Storing all your rescue information may take several floppy disks. Click Options and look at the bottom of the Rescue Items tab to see how much disk space the current rescue items will occupy.

Most PC computers are set up so they can boot from one of their floppy drives if the hard drive becomes inoperable. If you have more than one type of floppy drive attached to your computer, the floppy disks you use as rescue disks must fit the floppy drive that your computer can use for booting.

2	Click the floppy drive that will be used to store your rescue information.

3	Insert a floppy disk into the selected floppy drive.

4	Click Start and follow the on-screen instructions.

5	Label the disks with the date the rescue disk set was created. Store the rescue disk in a safe place, preferably with the Emergency Disk that came with Norton Utilities.

Rescue Disk saves the startup data for the computer on which it was saved. Therefore, startup data cannot be transferred to other computers. However, the startup files can be used to start other computers in DOS mode.

Click here [image] for related information.


To create a rescue folder
To create a rescue folder:

1	Click here [image] to open Rescue Disk.

2	Click a hard drive on which to store the rescue items.

3	Click Start.

4	Click or create the folder in which to store the rescue items.

5	Click OK and follow the on-screen instructions.

When creating a rescue folder, Rescue Disk does not save rescue items that would normally be present on a bootable floppy disk. These items include files such as IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and DRVSPACE.BIN.

Click here [image] for related information.


To choose a format option
To choose a format option:

1	Click Options.

2	Click the Formatting tab.

3	Click the desired format option.

Click here [image] for related information.


To add a rescue item
To add a new rescue item:

1	Click Options.

2	Click Add Item on the Rescue Items tab.

3	Double-click the file you want to add to the Rescue Items list.

You can also add files to the rescue items by dragging-and-dropping the files from My Computer or Windows Explorer.

Click here [image] for related information.


To use a rescue disk
To use a rescue disk:

If you need to use your rescue disk, it is likely that you will not be able to access this help file for the following instructions. You should click here [image] to print this topic now.

1	Retrieve the computer's rescue disk.

2	Insert the first rescue disk into the computer's boot drive.
The boot drive is typically the A: drive.

3	Reboot the computer.
The DOS prompt appears when the computer has booted using the rescue disk.

4	At the DOS prompt, enter A:\RESCUE and press Enter.
The Restore Rescue Information dialog box appears.

5	Choose the rescue items to restore from the Items To Restore group.

6	Press Alt+R to begin restoring and follow the instructions.

7	Remove the rescue disk from the boot drive and place it in a safe place.

8	Press R to reboot the system.

Click here [image] for related information.


To use a rescue folder
To use a rescue folder:

If you need to use your rescue folder, it is likely that you will not be able to access this help file for the following instructions. You should click here [image] to print this topic now.

1	Copy all the files in the rescue folder to a bootable floppy disk.
You should use the disk media supported by the computer's boot drive.

2	Insert the rescue disk into the computer's boot drive.

3	Reboot the computer.
The DOS prompt appears when the computer has booted using the rescue disk.

4	At the DOS prompt, type A:\RESCUE and press Enter.
The Restore Rescue Information dialog box appears.

5	Select the rescue items to restore from the Items to Restore group box.

6	Press Alt+R to begin restoring and follow the instructions.

7	Remove the rescue disk from the boot drive and return it to the safe place from which you found it.

8	Press R to reboot the system.

Click here [image] for related information.


To include a rescue item
To include a rescue item:

1	Click Options.

2	On the Rescue Items tab, check the items that you want to include on your rescue disks.
Clicking the check box preceding an item toggles the check mark on and off.

Click here [image] for related information.


To exclude a rescue item
To exclude a rescue item:

1	Click Options.

2	On the Rescue Items tab, uncheck the items that you want to exclude from your rescue disks.
Clicking the check box preceding an item toggles the check mark on and off.

Items under the Rescue category preceded by a blue cross are necessary for recovery, and cannot be excluded from the rescue items.

Click here [image] for related information.


Lists the drives available from which to choose a destination disk for storing the selected rescue items.


Specifies the total disk space, in kilobytes, needed to save the selected rescue items.


Specifies the total number of disks needed to save the selected rescue items.


Saves the selected rescue items to the selected disk drive.


Lets you select Rescue Disk options.


Closes Rescue Disk.


Copies the DOS-based Norton Utilities programs to the rescue disks.

You can reduce the disk space required for your rescue disk set by clearing this check box. Most DOS-based Norton Utilities programs are already included on the Norton Utilities Emergency Disks, and can be run from there.


Lists the files that can be included on your rescue disk set. The files are arranged into categories; to view all the files in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.

Items preceded by check marks will be included on rescue disks. Clicking the check box next to an item toggles the check mark on and off. Items preceded by blue crosses are always included in the rescue disk set. Items preceded by red, barred circles cannot be included in the rescue disk set.

To add your own files to the list, click Add New Item or drag-and-drop the files from any Explorer window. The files are added under the Miscellaneous category. You can remove any of these files from the list by clicking the filename, then clicking Remove Item.


Lets you add new files to the rescue items list. The new files are added under the Miscellaneous category.


Lets you remove files that you have added to the rescue items list. This button is disabled until you have selected a file under the Miscellaneous category.


Formats the destination disks prior to saving the selected rescue items. The first disk in the rescue disk set contains the data and files necessary to start your computer. Any subsequent disks contain programs and any additional rescue items you have selected.

This is not available when storing rescue items to a hard disk.


Deletes any files or directories on an already formatted floppy disk instead of reformatting it. The first disk contains the data and files necessary to start your computer. Any subsequent disks contain programs and any additional rescue items you have selected.

This is not available when storing rescue items to a hard disk.


This is unavailable because the selected destination disk is not a floppy drive.


Saves the rescue items to any formatted disk without reformatting the disk or deleting any existing files.

This is not available when storing rescue items to floppy disks.


Displays the number of rescue items currently selected. Selected rescue items are saved to disk.

Click the checkbox preceding an item to select or deselect it.


This DOS-based program is used to restore your computer’s startup data.


Rescue Disk utility startup information file.


This DOS-based program is used to diagnose and repair disk-related problems.


This DOS-based program is used to recover erased files.


This is a copy of your computer’s original AUTOEXEC.BAT file. It is saved as AUTOEXEC.SAV.


This is a copy of your computer’s original CONFIG.SYS file. It is saved as CONFIG.SAV.


This is a copy of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file used when booting to a previous version of DOS from a dual boot Windows installation. It is saved as AUTOEXEC.DOS.


This is a copy of the CONFIG.SYS file used when booting to a previous version of DOS from a dual boot Windows installation. It is saved as CONFIG.DOS.


This DOS-based program is used to create a new partition or to delete or modify an existing partition on your computer’s hard disk.


This is a copy of your computer’s hardware setup data.


This is a copy of your computer’s hard disk drives data.


This is a copy of your computer’s startup data.


This is the AUTOEXEC.BAT file used when starting your computer from the first rescue disk.


This is the CONFIG.SYS file used when starting your computer from the first rescue disk.


This DOS-based program is used to manually recover and repair data on any disk.


This DOS-based program is used to diagnose hardware-related problems.


This DOS-based program is used to improve disk access performance by organizing the data on DOS formatted disks.


This DOS-based program is used to recover data from an accidentally formatted disk.


This DOS-based program is used to format both hard drives and floppy disks.


This is a copy of the Windows device driver that provides access to compressed disk volumes.

This rescue item is necessary only if you are saving rescue items to floppy disks. It is not available when storing rescue items to a hard disk.


This is a configuration file used by the device driver that provides access to compressed disk volumes.


This is a copy of the MS- DOS command interpreter, the program that provides the MS-DOS Prompt.

This rescue item is necessary only if you are saving rescue items to floppy disks. It is not available when storing rescue items to a hard disk.


This is a copy of the MS-DOS system file that contains settings for the Windows 95 operating system. For a bootable floppy disk, this file (which is a text file) is zero K in size.

This rescue item is necessary only if you are saving rescue items to floppy disks. It is not available when storing rescue items to a hard disk.


This is a copy of your computer’s original MSDOS.SYS file. It is saved as MSDOS.SAV.


This is a copy of the MS-DOS system file that contains the basic input and output device drivers and the low-level kernel of the Windows 95 operating system.

This rescue item is necessary only if you are saving rescue items to floppy disks. It is not available when storing rescue items to a hard disk.


This stores copies of the files comprising the Windows registry.


This is a rescue item.

If the item is preceded by a check mark, it will be saved to your rescue disk set. Click the box preceding the item to toggle the check mark off and on. To add new rescue items to the list, click Add New Item. Items you add will go under the Miscellaneous category.


This is a rescue item that you have added.


This is unavailable because the selected destination disk is not a floppy drive. This item is only needed when creating a bootable rescue disk.


Closes this dialog box and accepts any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog box without accepting the changes you have made.


Indicates the progress of the current process.


Specifies the rescue item that is currently being saved.


Specifies the location to which the rescue items are being saved.


This program copies the MS-DOS system files and command interpreter to a disk you specify. Disks that have this information can be used to start your computer.


This is a category of rescue item.

If there is a black check mark to the left, all files in this category will be saved to your rescue disk set. If there is a green check mark to the left, some of the files in this category will be saved to your rescue disk set. To see the rescue items in this category, click the plus (+) sign to the left. (If there is no plus sign to the left, there are no files listed under this category.)


Rescue Disk: Rescue disk created successfully!
Rescue items saved successfully!

The rescue items for this computer have been saved successfully to disk.

Do the following now:

1	Remove the disk from the drive.

2	Label the rescue disks of your rescue disk set.

3	Write protect the disks.

4	Store the disks in a safe place.

Click here [image] for instructions on how to use a rescue disk.


Rescue Disk: Rescue disk created successfully!
Rescue items saved successfully!

The rescue items for this computer have been saved successfully to disk.

Do the following now:

1	Remove the disk from the drive.

2	Label the disks of your rescue disk set.

3	Write protect the disks.

4	Store the disks in a safe place.

The rescue items have been stored to a floppy drive other than your startup floppy drive. The rescue disk (or the first disk in the rescue disk set) can be used to start your computer.

Click here [image] for instructions on how to use a rescue disk.


Rescue Disk: Rescue disk created successfully!
Rescue items saved successfully!

The rescue items for this computer have been saved successfully to the specified folder. To use the rescue items saved in this folder, copy them to a bootable floppy disk.

Click here [image] for instructions on how to use a rescue folder.