How to Create a Bootable Floppy Disk for the Macintosh

MORE INFORMATION

In the process of troubleshooting problems on the Macintosh, you may need to make changes to the System Folder. As a precautionary measure, you should have a bootable floppy disk ready beforehand.

NOTE: If you have any INITs or CDEVs necessary to run your Macintosh, be sure to copy them to the System Folder on the newly created bootable floppy disk. You should not make any changes to the Disk Tools floppy disk.

Steps to Copy the Disk Tools' System Folder to Another Floppy Disk

1. Insert a blank floppy disk in the disk drive. A floppy disk icon will appear on the desktop, labeled Untitled (unless the floppy disk has been given a different name).
2. From the Special menu, choose Eject Disk. Note that the Untitled floppy disk remains on the desktop and becomes gray.
3. Slide the write-protect tab open on the Disk Tools disk, then insert it into the floppy disk drive. When the Disk Tools icon appears on the desktop, double-click it to open its window.
4. Drag the System Folder from the Disk Tools window to the Untitled disk icon.
5. You may be prompted multiple times to insert the Untitled or Disk Tools disks as the files are copied. Insert the appropriate disk as instructed until the System Folder has been copied.
6. Drag the Disk Tools icon to the Trash icon to remove it from the desktop.
7. Drag the Untitled icon to the Trash icon to eject it from the disk drive.

The Untitled floppy disk is now bootable. To boot from it, turn off the Macintosh, insert the disk in the drive, then turn the Macintosh on.

(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin Zollman, Microsoft Corporation.