Please note: This article applies to version 1 product(s) only.

Please Note:  This article describes how to create bootable CD/DVD discs that, when booted from, will automatically perform a restore operation, and overwrite existing data, if any, without prompting.  Please keep this in mind, and handle your restore disc(s) carefully.

Overview

The basis of an automated restore disc is a customized bootable floppy diskette image.  The basic steps involved in creating an automated restore disc are as follows (please note that this is just an outline, with detailed instructions to follow):

1. Create a bootable floppy diskette image containing a specialized restore command line for IMAGE.EXE.  There are two primary ways to create this bootable floppy diskette image:
   
   
   • If you have an image-editing utility such as UltraISO, you can edit a preexisting copy of CDBOOT.F35*.
     
     
   • You can create a bootable floppy diskette, and create an image of that floppy diskette using the freeware utility IMGFLPYD (or another image editor).
     
     
   Both methods are explained below, in the section titled Creating a Bootable Floppy Diskette Image.
   
   
2. Burn the image set to CD/DVD disc(s), using the bootable floppy diskette image as a boot file.  This can be done using the freeware utility BINGBURN (or your favorite burning software, such as Nero).  Using BINGBURN is described below, in the section titled Burning the Automated Restore Disc(s).

Creating a Bootable Floppy Diskette Image

Using a Preexisting CDBOOT.F35 Image

1. Make a copy of CDBOOT.F35, to keep the original intact.
   
   
   • If you are creating images with Image for DOS, the desired copy of CDBOOT.F35 can be found in the Image for DOS archive.  If you are a registered user of Image for DOS, be sure to use a registered copy of CDBOOT.F35, rather than a trial copy.
     
     
   • If you are creating images with Image for Windows, you may obtain CDBOOT.F35 either from the Image for DOS archive as mentioned above, or from the Image for Windows installation directory.  If you are a registered user of Image for Windows, be sure that CDBOOT.F35 has been converted from a trial copy to a registered copy, as outlined in the Image for Windows User's Guide.  (Briefly, you simply need to use Image for Windows to initiate a backup to CD/DVD, and then cancel the operation when Image for Windows prompts you to insert the first disc.  At that point, CDBOOT.F35 will have been converted to a full-use copy.)
     
     
2. Extract the file TBOS.STR from CDBOOT.F35 using UltraISO, or your preferred image-editing utility.
   
   
3. Make the changes specified in the section titled Creating the Custom Command Line.
   
   
4. If you will be using the /CR parameter, you cannot use the /O parameter.  Therefore, to effect an automated restore while using /CR, you will have to use the IAR=Y setting in IFD.INI.  Simply create a file in the text editor,add a line containing IAR=Y, and save the file as IFD.INI.
   
   To clarify:  To perform an automated restore that includes the /CR parameter (instead of /O), you are required to have an IAR=Y line in IFD.INI.  However, if you use /O (instead of /CR), it makes no difference whether or not you have IAR=Y in IFD.INI.
   
   
5. Update CDBOOT.F35 with the new copy of TBOS.STR, and IFD.INI, if applicable.

To create the automated restore disc, proceed to the section titled Burning the Automated Restore Disc(s).

Using a Bootable Floppy Diskette to Create a New Image

1. Create an Image for DOS floppy diskette using MakeDisk.  When prompted by MakeDisk with Create new IFD.INI (optional), add a line with the following text:
   
   IAR=Y
   
   
2. After the Image for DOS floppy diskette has been created, open the file TBOS.STR, found on the floppy diskette, in a text editor such as Notepad.
   
   
3. Make the changes specified in the section titled Creating the Custom Command Line.
   
   
4. Create an image file from the floppy diskette.  This can be done using either your preferred image-editing utility, or the freeware utility IMGFLPYD, with a command line of the following format:
   
   imgflpyd.exe <floppy drive letter> <image file name>
   
   For example:
   
   imgflpyd.exe A: C:\Temp\autorest.f35

To create the automated restore disc, proceed to the section titled Burning the Automated Restore Disc(s).

Creating the Custom Command Line

You will be creating a copy of TBOS.STR that contains a single line.  This line will run IMAGE.EXE (i.e. Image for DOS), with appropriate command line parameters to carry out an automated restore.  The applicable Image for DOS command line parameters are as follows:

Example command lines:

IMAGE.EXE /R /CR /CD#

The command line above will clear the MBR and EMBR, restore the NT disk signature, and restore the image stored on the current CD/DVD disc to the same hard drive and partition from which it originated.

IMAGE.EXE /R0 /O /CD#

The command line above will restore the image stored on the current CD/DVD disc to hard drive 0.

IMAGE.EXE /R0N /O /CD#

Same as the prior example, except that the prompt to reboot will not appear after the restore operation completes.

Burning the Automated Restore Disc(s)

1. Insert a CD/DVD disc for burning.
   
   
2. Run BINGBURN.
   
   
3. Supply the path to the floppy diskette image in the Boot Image text box (i.e. click the Browse button next to the Boot Image text box, locate the floppy image, and click the Open button).
   
   
4. Set the other BINGBURN options as desired, and burn your image set.
   
   

* CDBOOT.F35 is a file consisting of a bootable floppy image.  The use of CDBOOT.F35 is explained in the Image for DOS User's Guide and the Image for Windows User's Guide.