DOCUMENT:Q66596 17-DEC-2000 [msdos] TITLE :Installing MS-DOS with Incorrect Disks for Drive A PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= If you have the Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade in the proper disk format for drive A or B, you can install it with no special steps. For more information, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: " which and drives and getting and started " (without the quotation marks) If the MS-DOS 5 Upgrade is in the proper format for a floppy drive on your system, but not drive A or B, you may be able to make usable copies of the disks. For more information, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: " copy and different and size and msdos and upgrade " (without the quotation marks) If you have Microsoft MS-DOS (not the Upgrade), it is recommended that you obtain the correct size disks for drive A. For more information, query on the following words: " get and correct and disk and size and msdos " (without the quotation marks) It is possible, though, in most versions of MS-DOS, to install a new version of MS-DOS to the hard disk without booting the new version first. That is, if the disk format is correct for drive B but not drive A, installation may still be possible. See below for information about your particular situation. MORE INFORMATION ================ In the following examples, it is assumed that MS-DOS version 3.2 is already installed on the hard drive. However, upgrading from MS-DOS version 3.21, 3.3, or later can be done in much the same way. Upgrading to MS-DOS 3.21 or 3.3 ------------------------------- Boot MS-DOS 3.2 from the hard disk. Place the program disk in drive B and change the default drive to drive B. The SYS command currently on the hard disk may now be able to transfer the system files from the floppy disk in drive B to a blank, formatted floppy disk in drive A. However, the boot sector on the floppy will be the version 3.2 boot sector, and therefore, the floppy may not be bootable. Use the SYS command on the floppy disk, not on the hard disk. For example, if the version 3.2 SYS.COM is located in the C:\DOS directory, use the following commands: B:\>c:\dos\sys a: B:\>copy command.com a: Try to reboot the machine with the resulting boot disk. If the machine boots, you can install MS-DOS on the hard disk. If the CHKDSK command verifies that the new version of MS-DOS accesses the hard drive properly, you can place the Program disk in drive B and enter the following command: " B:\>sys c: " (without the quotation marks) to transfer the new MS-DOS system files to the hard drive. Because the new version of SYS.COM is being used, the boot sector on the hard disk will be updated from version 3.2 as well. If the new version of MS-DOS does not access the hard drive properly, reformatting and/or repartitioning will be required. Upgrading to MS-DOS 4.0 or 4.01 ------------------------------- You can use the SYS.COM on the Install disk to transfer the system files to a floppy that can then be used to boot 4.0x. This technique can also be used to transfer the system files to the hard disk without booting MS-DOS 4.0/4.01; however, disk corruption can result if an OEM modified the method by which the previous MS-DOS version accesses the hard disk. Because the MS-DOS version 4.0/4.01 SYS.COM is being used, it will update the boot sector on the floppy. To use the MS-DOS version 4.0/4.01 SYS command, type the following: " B:\>sys a: " (without the quotation marks) Copy COMMAND.COM to the SYS[tem] disk and reboot from the resulting boot disk. If CHKDSK (located on the 5.25-inch Operating 1 disk or the 3.5-inch Operating disk) verifies that you can correctly access each hard drive, then you can use the SYS command to transfer the 4.0 system files to drive C. To do this, the Install disk should be in drive B, and the current drive must be B. Type the following command: " B>sys c: " (without the quotation marks) Copy COMMAND.COM to drive C, delete the previous MS-DOS files, and copy the remaining MS-DOS 4.0 files to the DOS directory. If 4.0 does not properly access the hard drive, you will have to repartition it. For more information on how to manually install MS-DOS version 4.0, query on the following words: " prod(msdos) and select and manually and how " (without the quotation marks) Additional query words: 3.2 3.20 3.3 3.30 3.3a 3.30a 4.0 4.00 4.01 4.01a 5.00 5.00a ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 Version : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.