Disk Manager 3.x Requires MS-DOS 3.x Bootable Disk (73608)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3a
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.01
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
This article was previously published under Q73608

SUMMARY

Ontrack Disk Manager requires a bootable floppy disk to copy system files from. Disk Manager version 3.x will properly copy only MS-DOS version 3.x system files.

MORE INFORMATION

Disk Manager versions 3.x will attempt to copy system files to the boot partition of a hard drive after a low-level format of that partition. This process is unsuccessful if an MS-DOS version 4.0x or 5.0 bootable disk is provided to Disk Manager. Upon completion, Disk Manager will reboot the system and attempt to start from the hard drive, which yields the following error:
Non-System disk or disk error
Replace and press any key when ready
To avoid this problem, provide Disk Manager with an MS-DOS 3.x bootable floppy disk.

To work around this problem, you must have a bootable floppy disk with SYS.COM. To make the partition bootable, do the following:
  1. Obtain a bootable floppy disk.
  2. Copy SYS.COM to the bootable floppy disk.
  3. Boot from the bootable floppy disk.
  4. At the A> prompt, type SYS <drive letter>: where <drive letter> is the partition marked as bootable.
Updated versions of Disk Manager (4.x) are compatible with later versions of MS-DOS. They will properly transfer MS-DOS 4.0x and 5.0 system files if the Disk Manager is invoked with the /4 command line parameter.

The current version of Disk Manager, version 4.21, will work with MS-DOS 5.0.

The product included here is manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/26/2003
Keywords:KB73608
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.