Forum: UltraISO
Topic: DOS bootable CD - How?
started by: jgt1942
Posted by jgt1942 on Dec. 06 2009,15:03
Using UltraISO or EasyBoot how do I create a DOS bootable CD? I've looked for hours in different forums and cannot find a solution that I understand or will work for me.

Here is my problem. I have a valid license copy of SpinRite v6, it comes with FreeDOS and normally it works without issue. However I have one drive that SpinRite fails 100% of the time. After contacting SpinRite they suggested I create a bootable CD with MS DOS. However they did not tell or suggest how to do this and have not answered my request for more information.

This sounds simple enough but I have hit the wall and have NOT been successful.

I have just about every version of Windows but all of the solutions I have found include the use of a floppy drive which I do NOT have.

SpinRite MUST run under DOS, running a CMD window will NOT work.

I used the BART PE instructions in this forum and was able to create a CD but SpinRite will NOT run. I get the SpinRite pop-up window which will allow me to create an ISO image or burn an image to CD all of which include the FreeDOS. Thus I'm in a loop here.

Another option that I'm open to is creating a DOS bootable USB thumb drive but again I don't know how.
Posted by jgt1942 on Dec. 06 2009,19:55
OK I finally figured it out.

1) download a DOS image from < http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm >
2) Use WinRAR to extract the "ima" file (this is your DOS image, for me it extracted boot622.IMA
3) Open the IMA file with UltraISO
4) Delete anything you really don't want (I just wanted to ensure I had enough space. My concern that since I started with a 1.44MB image I would be restricted to this size)
5) Copy spinrite.exe to the UltaISO window
6) Save the image (I used the name SpinRite6.ima)
7) Click the NEW icon in UltraISO
8) Click Bootable > Load Boot File and select the image you just saved
9) Burn the CD image.
10) I was able to boot with the new CD and run SpinRite from the DOS prompt. I suspect that I did not have to delete any of the files from the original image and if I modified the autoexec.bat I could have automatically run SpinRite after bootin.