multi boot cd

[kamaflage]

is it possible to make a multi boot cd with win 98/2k/xp?
I have been asking everyone for the last week and they all say it\'s impossible but no one has told me why..

[Tracky110XP]

the cd is possible in theory, but the files take up tooo much space on the cd.

this is why people are telling you now it is not possible, becaseu it would take about 800 or so megs to put onto one 700 meg disk.

if there is a way to put the information onto a DVD and make it bootable, then by all means you could put all of that and more onto one dvd.

[kamaflage]

Well i do have a dvd burner but i was also told that would not work because u can\'t boot a dvd from a formatted hd

[Danny]

Since you have a DVD burner your in luck:

First visit www.bootscriptor.org and download the latest version.

Then write a script (very similar to batch files). You can create a nice menu and capture keyboard key clicks from within your script. Help is available from the site.

Use the chain command to boot 2k and xp boot images or any other boot images that have .bin extensions. Use memdisk to boot 98 boot images or any other boot images that have .ima & .img extensions. (You can use WinImage to create .ima images - www.winimage.com)

Since your using a DVD you have plenty of room for many different os\'s and other software including ERD, Ghost, Drive Image, NTFS DOS, DOS, etc.

Also check out www.nu2.nu and www.tech-hints.com for more info regarding multi boot.

There are no limits to what we can accomplish!

Good Luck

Danny

[SpudGunMan]

use danny\'s post with the csimagegui from tech-files to create a cdr with wxp and w2k ~560MB

that will give you 140mb for windows 98

i cant even find my 98cd right now but i would think that you could get the install under 140mb cant you? if you delete all the folders in the w98x directory. wasnt the full instal only like 200mb uncompressed on your hard drive.. i amgoing to find a w98 cd and see if i can shrink it for you.

[Space Between]

I know a friend that has done that. He had to overburn ~15mbs.

You could get 90 or 99min cd\'s...there really not the expensive but if you got a dvd writer that might not interest you as much

You can boot DVD\'s...so it is possible. I would imagine...but probably wrong...you could even boot the same sector you use for a cd...being that sector exist in dvd\'s aswell. You would need a driver for sure though. Either way i know it\'s been done. The same friend im told you about has done it...actually i did it for him but he had it all setup so all i had to do was enter a few lines and it worked...i will ask him when i see him next what he used.

[SpudGunMan]

ok i got all 3 OS and tested using CDImage with the -o commands

here is the stats
Before optmization 729808896
10107 files in 57 directories
After optimization 702160896
1101 files
Using CD image saves 4% of the space


SO your ISO is 685704 that allows for 10mb of boot stuff


here is the directory structure


/CDROOT/IN98  -WIn98 setup and installer

CDROOT/WPRO  -Win2k boot disks and i386
/CDROOT/WPRO/SYSTEM32
/CDROOT/WPRO/i386
/CDROOT/WPRO/system32
CDROOT/WPRO/uniproc

/CDROOT/XPCORP -Winxp I386
/CDROOT/XPCORP/i386
/CDROOT/XPCORP/i386ASMS +deep
/CDROOT/XPCORP/i386DRW +deep
/CDROOT/XPCORP/i386SYSTEM32

/CDROOT/XPPR - WinXP Boot Disks
/CDROOT/XPPR/SYSTEM32

[SpudGunMan]

fix my math

Before optmization 729808896
10107 files in 57 directories
After optimization 702160896
1101 files shared
Using CD image saves 4% of the space (~27mb)
9006 Files

[Twinkie]

If you drop the extra folders from the install directories you can fit all three on a 700MB CD.  I have done it.  Remove lang, compdata and others.  I do list some of the folders that are safe to delete at my site but only for 2000 and XP.  It would be miss and hit to find all the folders you will need to remove.  Also depends on whether you are using OEM or Retail CD\'s in the first place.
Note: you will not be able to use the OEM folders to add any extra\'s to the install unless they are real small and you are real lucky.