Home > Ask the Windows Server Experts > Questions & Answers > How can I boot to a floppy and receive a command prompt without being directed to the system drive?
Ask The Windows Server Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

How can I boot to a floppy and receive a command prompt without being directed to the system drive?

Tim Fenner EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Tim Fenner

Pose a Question
Other Windows Server Categories
Meet all Windows Server Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 05 September 2007
Using Diskpart, I've created a boot floppy by copying the boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com files. The system will successfully boot to the floppy, but then proceeds to the OS choice menu from the system drive. How can I boot to the floppy only, and get a command prompt without being directed to the system drive?

>
I assume you are referencing a Windows XP or 2003 system that resides on an NTFS partition, and that you need to perform a repair or gain access to the file structure on the system's drives.

If this is the case, have you considered the Recovery Console feature from the Windows CD? You can boot into a command prompt to perform actions such as disabling drivers, stopping services, accessing the file directory, etc. You can also install this feature as a startup option so you do not need the CD. Or you could hit F8 at system startup and use the Boot to Safe Mode - Command Prompt option.


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   



RELATED CONTENT
Microsoft Systems and Network Troubleshooting
DNS troubleshooting best practices
Troubleshooting tops Windows admins' most tedious tasks
Troubleshooting Windows application crashes or hangs
Troubleshooting poor Windows logon performance in Active Directory environments
Immediate steps for Windows disaster recovery
Quick hits: Troubleshooting service account failure, batch job execution
Case Study: Troubleshooting Windows service dependency failures
Troubleshooting common Windows service failures
RRAS utility in Windows Server 2003 traces network problems
How to ease troubleshooting: View running services in command line

Windows Systems and Network Management Tools and Techniques
Perfmon made easy with PAL utility
Troubleshooting Windows application crashes or hangs
Free Windows security tools every admin must have
Top five Server Core management tips for Windows 2008
Top free tools for Windows server administration
A first look at Internet Information Services 7.0
Windows registry hack improves offline file access for mobile users
Reducing the size of network backups in Windows
Monitor network bandwidth with CyberGauge
How to format NTFS: More tricks to improve file system performance

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Windows Server Solutions - Intel Hardware Solutions
HomeTopicsBlogsITKnowledge ExchangeTipsAsk the ExpertsMultimediaWhite PapersIT Downloads
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2004 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts