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/Steve. -
BootAble – FreeDOS boot testing freeware
To obtain direct, low-level access to a system's mass storage drives, SpinRite runs under a GRC-customized version of FreeDOS which has been modified to add compatibility with all file systems. In order to run SpinRite it must first be possible to boot FreeDOS.
GRC's “BootAble” freeware allows anyone to easily create BIOS-bootable media in order to workout and confirm the details of getting a machine to boot FreeDOS through a BIOS. Once the means of doing that has been determined, the media created by SpinRite can be booted and run in the same way.
The participants here, who have taken the time to share their knowledge and experience, their successes and some frustrations with booting their computers into FreeDOS, have created a valuable knowledgebase which will benefit everyone who follows.
You may click on the image to the right to obtain your own copy of BootAble. Then use the knowledge and experience documented here to boot your computer(s) into FreeDOS. And please do not hesitate to ask questions – nowhere else can better answers be found.
(You may permanently close this reminder with the 'X' in the upper right.)
how to disable beeping while attempting to recover a sector
Steve
If you always wish to run without sound, you can start SpinRite with the token "quiet" on the command line. This will start it in quiet mode, and you can then toggle sounds on and off with the SHIFT keys.
T
taomoon
Thank you!Hi TaoMoon (@taomoon): Yes. Depressing BOTH SHIFT keys at the same time will toggle SpinRite's sounds. While it's muted you'll see the tag “(quiet)” posted in the upper-right corner of the screen.
If you always wish to run without sound, you can start SpinRite with the token "quiet" on the command line. This will start it in quiet mode, and you can then toggle sounds on and off with the SHIFT keys.
Ronny
Steve
Assuming that's not working for you (as it seems it isn't), you can boot SpinRite's USB drive then just exit at the start by pressing ESC. That will drop you to a DOS prompt. Then restart SpinRite with the command: spinrite quiet
And if you want this always whenever you boot SpinRite, you can use the text editor that's included to edit the autoexec.bat file to do that, too. From the DOS prompt, enter: edit autoexec.bat
Then use the editor to add the "quiet" after SPINRITE that you will see on the last line. Exit and save the change and now it will be automatic.
Ronny
Correct, Steve. No sound disablement and no "quiet" tag on the screen.Hi @Ronny. So... Simultaneously depressing both shift keys is NOT toggling the sounds off and on and showing "(quiet)" in the upper right corner of the screen?
Assuming that's not working for you (as it seems it isn't), you can boot SpinRite's USB drive then just exit at the start by pressing ESC. That will drop you to a DOS prompt. Then restart SpinRite with the command: spinrite quiet
And if you want this always whenever you boot SpinRite, you can use the text editor that's included to edit the autoexec.bat file to do that, too. From the DOS prompt, enter: edit autoexec.bat
Then use the editor to add the "quiet" after SPINRITE that you will see on the last line. Exit and save the change and now it will be automatic.
I'm using SpinRite v6.1 Release 2. Before this, I downloaded the version in the link that arrived following my purchase.
I am using a bootable USB stick that was prepared with SpinRite's tool and it boots fine.
Earlier today I had the originally downloaded version, and today I downloaded v6.1 R2, renamed the file to SPINRITE.EXE, and copied it to my already-bootable USB (and it works. It boots fine.)
I have both EXEs on the USB drive now, and ran "fc.exe /b <old file> <new file>" to compare both in binary mode and they are different, although both show "SPINRITE 6.0" on the screen when booting up. I think I saw something or heard you on SecurityNow! that 6.1 still shows "6.0" on the screen, so I'm not worried.
I can't drop to FREEDOS. In every screen that I can press ESC the only option is to reboot the system.
Thank you
-Ronny
Ronny
Quick update on this:
When I'm still in the menus, before starting any operation, I still get the beeps no matter what.
I then let it start (level 2), and do enough through the menu to get to the screen with the squiggly worms in it (graphic status display)
When there, with the worms displaying I hold both shifts, and I could hear a faint "tick tick tick tick tick" coming from the speaker.
I press the two shift keys, and it goes away.
I press them again, and the ticking sound is back.
I then press the two shift keys again, and it goes away.
After a couple of those sound/no sound/sound/no sound it stays silent and doesn't come back.
Let me know if it's acceptable and/or helpful, and I could make a video and post it for you only on YouTube.
Thanks
-Ronny
ColbyBouma
Ronny
Steve
Ronny
I was trying to figure out all day how the heck I downloaded the wrong version
Live Long and Prosper, my (new) friend!
ColbyBouma