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Latest InitDisk does not create bootable USB

#1

T

tbode2021

I was able to create and run Readspeed on a Cruzer Glide 16GB USB without issue. When I run InitDisk (downloaded 1/5/21) and follow the same instructions, the USB does not act as a bootable device. Thoughts?


#2

P

PHolder

ReadSpeed.EXE creates a specific disk for running RS.EXE under DOS. InitDisk is a general utility for creating blank USB devices (or devices with a "basic/bland" version of FreeDOS if you specify a command line option.) You do not need to use the stand-alone InitDisk to run ReadSpeed.


#3

D

DanR

PHolder said:
You do not need to use the stand-alone InitDisk to run ReadSpeed.
Click to expand...
Agreed!

To add to PHolder's comments:

ReadSpeed.EXE =INCLUDES= InitDisk. ReadSpeed creates a bootable USB stick with a FreeDOS environmernt specifically tailored for running RS.exe (and, soon, SpinRite 6.1).


#4

D

DarkwinX

As mentioned above by others InitDisk was intended for formatting a USB to a blank slate. If you really just want to make a FreeDOS bootable USB (without anything useful in it) I don't think Steve has removed the FreeDOS command line for InitDisk so you can try running it as

Code: 
InitDisk.exe freedos

However if you are doing RS/SR testing you're better off just using the ReadSpeed.exe to create your bootable USB as that will contain the required files.


#5

A

AlanD

tbode2021 said:
I was able to create and run Readspeed on a Cruzer Glide 16GB USB without issue. When I run InitDisk (downloaded 1/5/21) and follow the same instructions, the USB does not act as a bootable device. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
When you run "initdisk" without any parameters, it only wipes and formats the USB drive. To make it bootable, you need to run "initdisk /freedos" which will then also install FreeDOS.


#6

P

PHolder

All of you discussing making FreeDOS with InitDisk may be missing the point (or else I am.) So far as I know, the only way to get RS.EXE installed into a FreeDOS image is to use ReadSpeed.EXE and let it prep the disk. This is its entire reason for existing. InitDisk is not about prepping for RS.EXE even though it can make a bootable FreeDOS image.


#7

D

DarkwinX

@PHolder agreed - I have edited to be clearer in my post. If @tbode2021 wants to use RS rhey should use the ReadSpeed.exe to do it.

Steve did make the RS.exe available separately for those who already have DOS or use other methods of creating bootable DOS USBs (such as on Linux), so this could be used... But there's not much point in using InitDisk.exe with the freedos command when ReadSpeed.exe will do it for you with less hassle.


#8

A

AlanD

DarkwinX said:
Steve did make the RS.exe available separately for those who already have DOS, so this could be used... But what's the point when ReadSpeed.exe will do it for you.
Click to expand...
Because some of us don't run Windows, and need the rs.exe to put on a boot disk created in Linux.


#9

D

DarkwinX

AlanD said:
Because some of us don't run Windows, and need the rs.exe to put on a boot disk created in Linux.
Click to expand...
Meant this from the perspective of why would you use InitDisk.exe with the freedos command and copy the RS.exe file not what's the point of the rs.exe file in general.

Unless you use InitDisk on Linux?


#10

L

LikesCookies

DarkwinX said:
However if you are doing RS/SR testing you're better off just using the ReadSpeed.exe to create your bootable USB as that will contain the required files.
Click to expand...
I used ReadSpeed to create a bootable USB drive and then copied SpinRite to it as well. I ran ReadSpeed, then when it was done, I tried to find out if SpinRite had any command parameters or switches by typing

C:\> spinrite /?

I saw a help screen, but couldn't go anywhere after that. Esc didn't work either, and neither did Alt+Ctrl+Del. I had to physically power off the PC in order to reboot. Is there a way to make a bootable USB where I can run either program one after the other and still get back to the C:\> prompt?


#11

P

PHolder

LikesCookies said:
Esc didn't work either, and neither did Alt+Ctrl+Del.
Click to expand...
Is this a Mac? SpinRite has keyboard issues with Macs because it tries to read the keyboard hardware directly, and Mac's don't have the necessary hardware.


#12

R

Richard

LikesCookies said:
I used ReadSpeed to create a bootable USB drive and then copied SpinRite to it as well. I ran ReadSpeed, then when it was done, I tried to find out if SpinRite had any command parameters or switches by typing

C:\> spinrite /?

I saw a help screen, but couldn't go anywhere after that. Esc didn't work either, and neither did Alt+Ctrl+Del. I had to physically power off the PC in order to reboot. Is there a way to make a bootable USB where I can run either program one after the other and still get back to the C:\> prompt?
Click to expand...
Go to https://www.grc.com/sr/faq.htm and follow the "How do I make a bootable USB thumb drive??" instructions to make an MS-DOS, not freedos, bootable USB drive. Then put whatever executables you want on it.


#13

L

LikesCookies

Richard said:
Go to https://www.grc.com/sr/faq.htm and follow the "How do I make a bootable USB thumb drive??" instructions to make an MS-DOS, not freedos, bootable USB drive. Then put whatever executables you want on it.
Click to expand...
Yea, I already said I have a bootable drive, but thanks anyway.


#14

R

Richard

LikesCookies said:
Yea, I already said I have a bootable drive, but thanks anyway.
Click to expand...
Yes, and MS-DOS just might work for you.

freedos and MS-DOS are similar but different. On one of my computers ReadSpeed crashes on the second run under freedos but runs fine under MS-DOS.


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