Making Startup Floppies

Windows XP Setup can be launched from floppy disks but not by default. Unlike Windows 2000, the Setup CD-ROM does not contain the utility program needed to create setup floppy disks. You can download the utility, makeboot.exe, from the Microsoft Web site at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q310994. Or perhaps more simply, searching the www.support.microsoft.com knowledge base for 310994 yields the same result in case that URL isn't available.

After you've downloaded the appropriate file for your version and language of Windows XP, simply double-click it to begin the diskette creation process. You will need to have six 3 1/2 inch empty, formatted floppy disks ready. You might want to label the first disk Windows XP Setup Boot Disk and the remaining disks Windows XP Setup Disk #2 through #6.

Once you have created your Windows XP Setup disks, you can use them to perform a clean installation of Windows XP only; you cannot use them for performing upgrade installations. The setup disks will load the drivers required to allow you to gain access to your non-bootable CD-ROM so that you can commence the installation of Windows XP.