Thoughts on FLoppy Drives/Making CDR's Bootable

[DiseasedDonkey]

Is it possible to make a computer without a floppy disk drive.

Maybe it is just me, but I REALLY hate still having those worthless disk boxes hanging about. On my new computer I want to deep-six the floppy completely. Is this a feasible plan or do I have to give in and put another stinkin' floppy drive on just to install the os.

Another question. Is it possible to make a CD-ROM a bootable drive (Win 98/2000)? If so how do you do it? Is it just simply a "format d: /s" ?????

 

[arthurb1]

Adaptec's Easy CD Creator 3.5 can do it, dunno about 4 though...or others (Nero etc.) File->CD Layout Properties-> Data Settings tab, File system selector list Choose ISO 9660, click make bootable and it will ask you for a floppy disk, that had all of the pertinent info on it. I would still keep a floppy drive around though...some NIC's and other cards still ship their drivers on a floppy, why produce a CD when everything fits on one floppy and will cost less on said floppy.

 

[AngelOfDeath]

<< Is it possible to make a computer without a floppy disk drive >>

Yes it is just disable the floppy inside the BIOS and boot from a win98 or win2k cd





<< Is it possible to make a CD-ROM a bootable drive (Win 98/2000)? >>

Yes, I that it's Nero that are able to make a bootable CD. If not that program then I know I'v seen it in another program.

 

[DiseasedDonkey]

My question still remains, Has anyone sucessfully made/has a computer without a floppy. Drivers are not an issue really because i always use the network to dl drivers.

 

[AngelOfDeath]

Yes I installed win2k on my little brothers computer since I didn't have a floppy drive. The answer is still yes

AoD

 

[AndrewR]

I would think it's definitely possible, but there are some things which require a floppy, which may or may not be an issue for you. Partition Magic, Lost &amp; Found (testing the demo right now -- looks to be an awesome program if you have a hard drive problem and lose files), and other programs that use real mode DOS won't work. I go for months sometimes without using my floppy, but I just leave it in there for those odd occasions I need it. I could probably pull it from one of my systems and map the other's drive, but it's easier just to keep them (since they only cost about $12 these days, who cares! )


<< why produce a CD when everything fits on one floppy and will cost less on said floppy >>


Actually, CDs are cheaper to produce than floppies -- why do you think all free software comes on CDs now (AOL, for example)? Think about it: a chunk of plastic with some dye on it, or a piece of hollow plastic with a moving metal part and a magnetic media core.

 

[SUOrangeman]

[shameless plug]SUO's Boot CD[/shameless plug]

-SUO

 

[noxipoo]

All my recent install are done directly from the cds. All windows, linux, freebsd release these days are bootable. you can even network boot if you have an PXE card. I still keep a floppy around since its cheap

 

[arthurb1]

But andrew, most drivers will come on floppies, granted in bulk it may be cheaper, but is is easier to copy a single floppy than it is to stamp a CD. Most companies, if the driver can fit on a single floppy, will ship a single floppy (NetGear, 3Com LAN Cards)

 

[ucdnam]

All my computer installs are made via floppyless installations.
I run win2k server and it detects ALL my hardware.
I run a

Asus CUSL2
p3500e--> 852
Adaptec 2940 UW2 scsi card
2 fujutsi 10k 18 gig scsi HDs
SB Live Value sound card w/ addon card for optical out
1 Kingston NIC, 1 Netgear NIC
USB logitech optical mouse
All-In-Wonder 128 PRO 32MB AGP
Plextor 8/4/32 IDE CDRW
Pioneer slot-loading IDE DVD drive

Win2k installs and everything works fine with win2k default drivers.
I place Nero, PowerDVD, SB Live software, and misc. programs on another CD. So basically, 2 CDs do the trick.

 

[Zucchini]

Yes, i have done it, and its #%@ fast compared to a floppy..near instant. Windows Me disk is bootable.

 

[Pretender]

SUO...I'd advice against turning it into an ISO, since with most burning programs, you can't burn from an ISO in mixed mode (so you won't be able to add Ghost images after you burn the ISO). Other then that, looks good, but I won't be trying it for 2 reasons: a) I don't have a CD-RW, b) I NEVER make bootdisks until it's too late (laziness + a friend next door who always has a bootdisk).