How to Create a Bootable DOS CD or DVD Disc

This article will explain how to create a bootable DOS optical disc. The basic steps to creating the disc are as follows:

1. Create a bootable DOS floppy diskette.
2. Create an image of the floppy diskette, using IMGFLPYD.
3. Create an ISO image from the floppy diskette image, using MKBISO.
4. Create the bootable DOS optical disc, using BURNCDCC.

How you will need to proceed depends on what type of DOS environment you wish to use.

• To use MS-DOS, you will need to begin with a bootable DOS floppy diskette. Please use these links for more information:
  
  How to Create a Windows 95/98/Me Startup Disk
  How to Create an MS-DOS Startup Disk From Windows XP
  
  
• To use FreeDOS, you may either begin with a bootable FreeDOS floppy diskette, or simply download a pre-made bootable FreeDOS ISO image from the FreeDOS Home Page. Using the pre-made ISO image will allow you to skip Steps 1, 2, and 3 shown above.

At this point, you should have either a bootable DOS floppy diskette or a FreeDOS ISO image file. If you have the ISO file, skip to Step 3 below.

1. Download the free utility IMGFLPYD, and use it to create an image of your bootable DOS floppy diskette. Here is a sample command line:
   
   imgflpyd a: c:\dosimage.img
   
   Where a: refers to your floppy drive and c:\dosimage.img represents the path and file name where the floppy disk image will be saved. (Whatever path and file name you happen to use, remember what it is--you will need it for later steps.)
   
   
2. Download the free utility MKBISO, and use it to create an ISO image file from the floppy image file you created in Step 1 above. Here is a sample command line:
   
   mkbiso c:\dosimage.iso c:\dosimage.img
   
   Where c:\dosimage.iso represents the path and file name where the ISO image will be saved and c:\dosimage.img represents the floppy disk image you created in Step 1 above.
   
   
3. Download the free utility BURNCDCC, and use it to burn the ISO image to your optical disc (whether that ISO image is one you created in Step 2 above, or a pre-made FreeDOS ISO image). Here are the basic steps to create the bootable disc using BURNCDCC:
   
   
   • Run BURNCDCC, and in the File Image text box, provide the path to the ISO file you created in Step 2 above (which in our example would be c:\dosimage.iso).
     
     
   • Select the appropriate optical drive from the Device drop-down list, after inserting a disc into that drive.
     
     
   • Select the Read verify option for added assurance that the disc is written correctly.
     
     
   • Press the Start button and wait for the disc to be created.
     
     
   Note: If you like, you can use your burning application of choice, rather than BURNCDCC.