How to Use a Windows Boot Disk to Prevent Boot Failure in Windows 2000 or Windows NT (101668)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q101668
For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 314079.

SUMMARY

When Windows is installed on a computer that has an Intel x86-based processor and the boot record for the active partition or files required to boot Windows becomes corrupted, it is not possible to boot Windows or any other operating system on that computer.

MORE INFORMATION

To prevent this situation, create a Windows boot disk when you install Windows on the computer. This disk is different from an MS-DOS boot disk because the entire Windows operating system cannot fit on one disk as MS-DOS can. A Windows boot disk contains the files necessary to start the operating system with the remainder of the Windows system files installed on the hard disk drive. Use the following procedure to create this disk:
  1. Place a blank floppy disk in drive A and format the disk using Windows NT or later.
  2. From the root folder of the system partition of your hard disk drive (for example, C:\-), copy the following files to the floppy disk:
    • Boot.ini
    • NTLDR
    • Ntdetect.com

    NOTE: You may have to remove the hidden, system, and read-only attributes from the files.

  3. Restore the hidden, system, and read-only attributes to the files on your hard disk.
  4. If either the Bootsect.dos or the Ntbootdd.sys file resides in the system partition, perform steps 2 through 4 above to copy these files to the boot disk as well.
If you format a floppy disk in Windows NT or later, the boot record points to the NTLDR file. When NTLDR runs, it loads the available operating system selections from the Boot.ini file. If the user selects Windows, NTLDR runs Ntdetect.com, and then passes control to Osloader.exe. If the user chooses MS-DOS or OS/2, NTLDR loads Bootsect.dos.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/6/2003
Keywords:kbinfo kbusage KB101668
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.