MS-DOS boot CD

The goal here is to produce a general-purpose "boot sector" that will allow you to easily make any bootable CD that runs MS-DOS. Don't be put off because we mention "floppies" sometimes — using WinImage, you won't go anywhere close to an actual floppy drive, and by the end, we'll be able to use all 4.7gb of space. It's just that floppy emulation is the most common way to boot MS-DOS on CD's.

(If it helps to understand how Hiren's works before we rip its guts out, see here. If you have trouble finding a file, see here. Besides WinImage, 7-Zip is very helpful for looking inside of .ISOs, .IMAs, .CABs, and .UHAs)

(Note that while Hiren's contains a lot of pirated software, its boot floppy contains only publically-available drivers)

• acquire Hiren's via BitTorrent. Use WinImage to extract its 1.44mb boot "floppy". (Options > Mode selection > Professional.    Image > Boot sector properties > Export)
• edit config.sys:
  • remove all sections except for [EMM], [NOEMM], and [COMMON]
  • add this at the top:

    [menu]
    menuitem=EMM, Load EMM386.sys
    menuitem=NOEMM, Don't load EMM386.sys
    menudefault=EMM,
    menucolor=11,0
    

• change autoexec.bat to:

  @echo off
  set path=
  set ramd=R
  set keyboard=US
  startup all
  :all
  
  
  set path=%cdrom%
  %cdrom%
  stage2.bat
  
  
  :finish
  :end
  

• hex edit findcd.exe to make it search for "%C:\STAGE2.BAT".
  • Background: findcd.exe comes from the Windows98 installation CD. (In Win98SE, findcd.exe's search string is "%c:\win98\setup.exe". In Hiren's v9.5, it's "%c:\bootcd\mix.uha".)
  • Use cabarc.exe to recreate the drivers.cab file.
• recommended, but optional:
  • replace io.sys with the original one from MS-DOS v7.1 (to remove the "Hiren's All in 1 BootCD v9.5 Menu" above the config.sys menu)
  • delete jo.sys if you don't want the "do you really really want to boot this CD?"
• Use WinImage to put all the files back into the .IMA file.
• To use:
  • Use your favorite CD burner (Nero and Roxio definitely work), and give it this file as the "boot floppy".
  • create stage2.bat in the root of the CD. This will be called when control is passed to the CD... make it do whatever "autoexec.bat"-like things you need.

See also

• Bart's BFD (build floppy disk) — Hiren uses Bart's tools to build his boot floppy
• how to do the same thing, starting with a Windows 98 install CD