MS-DOS Startup Disk Format Question

[EVGABuzzer]

Hi

It seems that on any computer I have running W7 [3 at the moment], if I select a disc, right click and select Format, the Creat an MS-DOS Startup Disk option is always grayed out. I see many threads about making boot disks, bootable USB discs etc and many of them involve clicking this box.

Why is it always grayed out [at least for me].

Thanks !

EVGABuzzer

 

[zigzag3143]

Hi

It seems that on any computer I have running W7 [3 at the moment], if I select a disc, right click and select Format, the Creat an MS-DOS Startup Disk option is always grayed out. I see many threads about making boot disks, bootable USB discs etc and many of them involve clicking this box.

Why is it always grayed out [at least for me].

Thanks !

EVGABuzzer

You sholdnt format with MS-Dos. You should format in NTFS only. Why did you want to format using msdos?

Ken

 

[SIW2]

Not sure what you are trying to say.

Type the word create in start search box.

Create a system repair disc pops up.

unless you mean like this:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/create_ms-dos_startup_disk.htm

Do you have FDD enabled in bios?

 

[WindowsStar]

You cannot create a MS-DOS disk in Windows 7.

 

[Bill2]

1) Are you trying to make a usb flash drive bootable? There's a Format Option to "Create an MS-DOS startup disk" on the format dialog box, but there's no way to select it with a USB thumb drive as the target. The reason is that now one can boot into PE using a flash drive, no need for DOS. If you are interested, see this link, though you may find the instructions somewhat technical.

Walkthrough: Create a Bootable Windows PE RAM Disk on a USB Flash Disk

2) You can also use Diskpart to make a bootable flash drive. Just follow the simple instructions on this site.

at Kevin’s Blog

3) Another very simple way is to use the HP Format utility. Follow the instructions and download links on this site.

HOWTO: I have no floppy drive, how do I boot DOS from a USB Memory device!! - PC Perspective Forums

 

[swarfega]

Perhaps hes thinking back to the old days of when DOS was the only OS and you had to create either a start up floppy or make the hard drive bootable. You dont need to worry about that any more and you have not needed to do this since Windows NT.

 

[SIW2]

He might need it to flash bios.

There's a tutorial MS-DOS Bootable Flash Drive - Create if that's any use.

Curious the option appears on the menu at all .

 

[EVGABuzzer]

Well - looks like I have caused some curiosity. I am playing with making a W7 USB Boot Disk, and a bunch of other things and I keep seeing utilities and primers that say something like "Insert your thumb drive, format it and select Create and MS-DOS Start Up Disc" and I can't becasue its always grayed out. Whjy is the tick box even there ?

This is all part of a larger issue I am having. I am about ready to wipe and start over a full W7 Ultimate install with all apps and all tweaks completed because I did not allow enough space on the partition. I could really use some help with this one. Its probably easy as pie but its got me stuck. The problem is that drive also has an HFSJ MAC partition on it that I want to preserve.

Please see my other thread here -

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/87113-weird-problem-image-restore.htmlhttp://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/87113-weird-problem-image-restore.html

Thanks !

EVGABuzzer

 

[mjf]

Plug in a 3 1/2 inch usb floppy drive, put a disk in and all the options will be selectable. Under Windows 7 it will definitely allow you to format and create a DOS bootable (FAT formatted) disk.
Why do it? Some legacy compatability I would quess.

 

[dbar]

answer the question, not correct the question...

You sholdnt format with MS-Dos. You should format in NTFS only. Why did you want to format using msdos?

Ken[/QUOTE]



Ken,

Hopefully, the question was submitted with careful thought. Even so, it isn't your responsibility to correct the question. I always am amazed when people answer like this.

There are many reasons to format with ms-dos. Maybe since you are not that into computers, you should let some experts reply.

Or, if you don't know why a person would want to use ms-dos... then ask... don't tell.