bootable disk for 98

[24giovanni]

Hi, I am wondering if the files that need to be copied are all in the same place for win98 and win98SE?

I am pretty sure that on win 98 c:windows\command the files are

io.sys
command.com
sys.com
fdisk.exe
format.com
scandisk.exe
attrib.exe
config.sys
autoexec.bat

and in c:windows defrag.exe is located (at least that is what I was told). If I am wrong please let me know.

When I look on win98 SE machine c:windows\command the files I found

sys.com
fdisk.exe
format.com
scandisk.exe
attrib.exe

Where are
io.sys
command.com
defrag.exe
autoexec.bat
config.sys

I can't find them on 98SE. Can someone please help me out?

I appreciate any help.

TIA

[glc]

io.sys and command.com are in the root directory, there may not be any autoexec.bat or config.sys, and defrag.exe should be in the windows directory.

Why do you ask? Just use add/remove programs to make a startup disk. Have your Windows CD ready if the cabs are not on the hard drive.

[24giovanni]

io.sys is there but i don't see command.com is not...any idea why?

[EzyStvy]

Really not sure what your goal is, but as GLC suggested, you can make a 98 boot disk from Add/Remove programs. Or go to www.bootdisk.com

[24giovanni]

I am trying to put all files necessary on a bootable disk manually...that is all, for a bootable disk. I am trying to learn dos commands without the gui, hence the questions please.

[24giovanni]

is there a search/ find command in DOS to find a certain file? If so, what is the correct syntax to do it please? TIA

[24giovanni]

I am trying to copy io.sys to a floppy but when I type copy io.sys a: it says file not found...any ideas why I can't copy it? TIA

I am trying to find the following: also


config.sys

[glc]

As I said, there may not BE an autoexec.bat or config.sys.

From a C prompt:

dir filename.ext /a /s

You can't copy it because it's a hidden system read only file.

When you SYS a floppy, it copies command.com, io.sys, and msdos.sys to the floppy. Don't worry about those 3 files. You have to SYS it to make it bootable, you can't just copy the system files to it. From a C prompt - type SYS A:

[24giovanni]

glc...I am sorry if I don't know this stuff. I am in school and trying to learn this stuff. Please forgive my ignorance/stupidity. Last night we had to copy these things in school but the OS I was using was corrupt. Please excuse my questions and try not to get frustrated with me.

[EzyStvy]

This is a really good site to help you out:

A complete overview of MS-DOS and its commands.

Example:

ABOUT SYS

Sys is used to copy the system files from one drive to another drive, allowing that drive to be bootable.

When running sys, the below files will be copied.

command.com
io.sys
msdos.sys
drvspace.bin


SYNTAX

Copies MS-DOS system files and command interpreter to a disk you specify.

SYS [drive1:][path] drive2:

[drive1:][path] Specifies the location of the system files.
drive2: Specifies the drive the files are to be copied to.

EXAMPLES

sys a: - If you type this from c drive and if you had a formatted disk in the drive, this would copy the system files to that disk making that disk bootable.

ADDITIONAL INFO

The sys.com file must be ran on the drive that contains the system files and the sys.com file. If you're running from the hard disk drive this command is commonly located in the C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ directory on Windows 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 or in C:\DOS\ directory on Windows 3.x / DOS. This command can also be ran from a bootable diskette assuming all the necessary files are on that diskette.

If, when booting your computer, you get "Missing command interpreter", this could be an indication of missing command.com. To resolve this issue, boot from a disk that has sys.com and command.com on the disk, type sys c: from the A:\>, remove the disk and reboot the computer.

[24giovanni]

i tried the following:

a:/> attrib -R -A -S -H IO.SYS

then copy the file:

c:/> copy IO.SYS a:/IO.SYS

then change back the attributes:

a:/> attrib +R +A +S +H c:/IO.SYS

but it still wouldn't copy. it says overwrite y/n/all and i try all3 but it says access denied. What am I doing wrong please?

TIA

[EzyStvy]

All your slashes are wrong. (a:/>)

A:\ would be the correct slash.

[24giovanni]

still doesn't work with slashes the other way...now what please?

[glc]

Boot with a floppy or CD to do it - if you boot to the hard drive there will be access denied as the file is in use.

[24giovanni]

GLC....I am trying to copy io.sys on my floppy. i tried doing the following but i get the following error

i tried the following:

a:/> attrib -R -A -S -H IO.SYS

then copy the file:

c:/> copy IO.SYS a:/IO.SYS

then change back the attributes:

a:/> attrib +R +A +S +H c:/IO.SYS

but it still wouldn't copy. it says overwrite y/n/all and i try all3 but it says access denied. What am I doing wrong please?

[glc]

Okay........ONE more time......

If the floppy is already bootable, you do NOT want to copy io.sys to it. You make the floppy bootable by using the SYS command as already described. Then you can copy whatever you want to it *EXCEPT* command.com, io.sys, msdos.sys, and drvspace.bin. If it's asking you if you want to overwrite the file, that means it's already there!

[24giovanni]

ok...if i get this right, if i went into dos and deleted the io.sys file, and booted up using a boot disk which has sys.com on it. IT will be automatically replaced on my C: by the floppy?

[glc]

Yes, as long as the floppy has been prepared with the same version of DOS. You have to use SYS to make a disk bootable, you cannot just copy the core system files to it.

[24giovanni]

thank you glc...thats all i wanted to know.