In Windows, how do I create setup boot disks?

To create setup boot disks for Windows, follow the appropriate directions for your operating system:

Windows Vista

To format or repair your hard drive, you will need to boot using the Windows Vista DVD. You cannot boot from a floppy disk.

Windows XP Home and Professional

To create a setup boot disk for Windows XP, download the setup boot disk utility available in article 310994 at the Microsoft Help and Support web site. This article also includes instructions on how to use the utility.

Search Microsoft Help and Support.

Windows 2000

To create setup boot disks for Windows 2000, you will need four 3.5" floppy disks and the Windows 2000 CD. You should note two things:

• You do not need to use a computer running Windows 2000 to create the Windows 2000 boot disks.
  
  
• You must follow different instructions depending on the version of Windows installed on the computer that you will use to make the boot disks.

To create Windows 2000 setup disks on a computer running Windows NT 4.0, 2000, or XP:

1. Insert the Windows 2000 CD into the CD-ROM drive.
   
   
2. From the command prompt, move to the CD-ROM drive by entering the drive letter followed by a colon (usually d: or e:).
   
   
3. Change to the bootdisk directory by entering: cd \bootdisk
4. Enter the following command: makebt32.exe

The program should run and prompt you to insert your floppy disks to create the set.

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