MS-DOS Bootable Flash Drive - Create

How to Make a MS-DOS Bootable Flash Drive​

   Information

This will show you how to create a flash drive that is able to boot your computer into a MS-DOS environment. This will be accomplished by using the HP Flash Utility and the Windows 98 MS-DOS System Files

   Warning

The flash drive being used in this process will be formatted. Please backup all of your data on the drive beforehand!

   Tip

List of MS-DOS commands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's How:
1. Download the HP Flash Utility View attachment hpflash1.zip and also download the Windows 98 MS-DOS System Files View attachment win98boot.zip. Extract hpflash1 to a location readily accessible


2. Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions

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3. Extract the contents of "win98boot" to a location readily accessible

4. Run the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool that was just installed. Choose your flash drive from the drop down list at the top. Also make sure that the file system is set to FAT32.

5. Under Format Options tick the "Create a DOS startup disk" option. Click the "..." button near the empty text box to browse to the location of where you extracted the Windows 98 MS-DOS System Files (see step 3).

   Tip

Tick "Quick Format" under Format Options to speed the process up (if you don't want a comprehensive format). You may also want to give the drive a label by typing one in the Volume Label text field

6. Click the "Start" button.

   Warning

After you click the "Start" button , you will be given one final prompt that warns you that the flash drive selected will be formatted. This is your last chance to backup data on the drive; after you click yes it will be too late

   Tip

You may remove the files extracted from the archive "win98boot", they are not needed anymore

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why would a MS-DOS USB Drive be useful today? Wasn't that included in older Operating Systems?
A: MS-DOS was the underlying layer of the Windows 9x series of Operating Systems (Windows 1-ME) that was the "functionality" of the system. A MS-DOS bootable disc can be used to run many recovery tools (still used today) and also update the BIOS of the computer. If you are running an x64 system with no floppy drive and a manufactuer who only provides a 16-bit BIOS updater, this method is the only way to update your BIOS.

Q: I checked my flash drive after applying the steps above and it is empty? What gives?!
A: Unless the option to show protected operating system files is checked in folder options, Windows will hide these files due to their attributes matching that of system files. Don't worry, the relevant files are still there

Q: Alright I successfully completed the steps above, now what do I do?
A: Now you can download the tool you wanted to run (such as CHKDSK) or your BIOS update application (from the manufactuer) and place the files on to the root of the flash drive. You can find most tools by doing a simple google search

   Tip

The Windows 98 MS-DOS System Files archive (win98boot) above has some system tools already included (ex. FORMAT, FDISK, SYS). Just drag and drop these files onto your flash drive

Q: My flash drive has been converted to the MS-DOS System Disc and I have some tools/BIOS revisions on the drive as well, how do I boot up MS-DOS?
A: This will largely depend on your model of computer but you will need to restart you computer with the flash drive plugged in and boot to the drive by means of a boot menu or by modifying your BIOS to boot to the flash drive first. Consult the manual of your computer or the respective manufactuer's website for further details.

Q: I have no further need for the MS-DOS System Disc, how can I remove it from my flash drive?
A: You may format the flash drive with the built in Windows format utility or you may format it by using the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool that was used above.

Hope it helps,
Chris

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Open a Command Prompt at Boot in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
• How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key
• How to Install Windows 7 from USB Pen Drive Using Grub4Dos
• How to Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive for UEFI in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Get and Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

 

[DocBrown]

I have a Dos Boot CD, but this sounds great. I will have to try this Science Experiment on some of my "Dinosaur" computers


" Doc "

 

[Dave76]

Nice tut, thanks for the info, this will be handy

 

[eegleye]

Windows 7 shows Error, Device media is write-protected. But it isn't. Using a 4 gig Patriot flash drive. Help!

 

[Zidane24]

Windows 7 shows Error, Device media is write-protected. But it isn't. Using a 4 gig Patriot flash drive. Help!

Huh...write-protected...

Was the drive involved in any activity besides being used for the tutorial when the error occurred?

Try restarting the computer and thn try again...

 

[eegleye]

USB Flash drive bootable

Never got the Patriot 4 gig to work...always "write protected". I can write to this chip otherwise.

Tried an HP 8 gig and a 16 meg SD chip and they both worked OK. Something to do with this particular Flash drive.

 

[gregrocker]

Thank you for finally showing me how to use that HP tool. I knew it would be useful for something.

Little did I know I could have copied many apps like memtest and gwscan right in on top of Win98 DOS hidden files.

I wonder if they can then be deleted and replaced with another DOS app without wrecking the formatting?

This is a great find. Kudos

 

[lkiamd]

This is simple, and I got it ,thanks.

 

[roboticus]

Thanks

Thank you very much. This guide was a big help setting up win7 with no floppy drive.

 

[Everlong]

This tutorial looks familiar DOS USB boot drive - Vista Forums

Just kidding, good job. Was wondering if there was something like this on here.

 

[GerryR]

Question - I have unused flash drives from 2 GB to 32 GB - 2,4,8,16,32. There's no point in wasting a large capacity flash drive if a smaller one will do. How large a flash drive will I need?

 

[Brink]

Hell Gerry,

I do not know the exact size, but these files will not take up much space at all. You should be more than fine using the smallest 2GB USB stick.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[GerryR]

Thanks Brink,

I have discovered, assuming that my source is correct, that one can actually use a 256 MB flash drive. To my knowledge, flash drives of that size haven't been manufactured recently.

Gerry

 

[DocBrown]

Thanks Brink,

I have discovered, assuming that my source is correct, that one can actually use a 256 MB flash drive. To my knowledge, flash drives of that size haven't been manufactured recently.

Gerry

You might search eBay for them. I bought 20 of them when the Fry's electronic's store was closing them out for $ 1.99 each Gave a bunch away to friends with some of my favorite Free Utilities on them.

 

[Brink]

Thanks Brink,

I have discovered, assuming that my source is correct, that one can actually use a 256 MB flash drive. To my knowledge, flash drives of that size haven't been manufactured recently.

Gerry

You're welcome Gerry. Yeah, it will be harder to find those sizes anymore.

 

[GerryR]

Doc Brown,

Thanks fpr the info, but it's easier to pop over to my local MicroCenter and spend $5.99 on 2GB's, of which I now have quite a few. That kind of sounds like a one-timer.

Gerry

 

[BajolCool]

Nice tut, very usefull for me

 

[DystopiaPimp]

The "Cteate an MS-DOS startup disk" option is disabled for me. I have been searching like crazy, but it seems no-one else has encountered this issue.

EDIT:

Just tried on my Win7 32 Laptop - same thing, the option is greyed out.

 

[chickenmatt5]

I doubt this will get any replies, and I bet this is a very stupid question, but will any of this threaten the version of Windows 7 installed on my computer?

 

[Brink]

Hello Matt,

No, since you will only be creating a bootable USB flash drive that is used to boot into MS-DOS with.

Now, what you do after you boot into MS-DOS with the bootable USB flash drive could very well affect your installed Windows 7. Say if you format your Windows 7 drive while in MS-DOS.

Hope this helps,
Shawn