How to Create a Bootable CD-ROM
Bootable CD-ROMs allow you to boot and run a run-time image from a CD-ROM. Using the El Torito Bootable CD-ROM specification, a single CD-ROM image can be duplicated and used across many target systems. Running the operating system (OS) from read-only media also protects the integrity of the file system from potential corruption.
Bootable CD-ROMs use the Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) Windows XP Embedded component. This allows write-access to read-only or write-protected media. For more information, see Enhanced Write Filter.
A bootable CD-ROM is created at the end of the development cycle, when a run-time image is ready to be deployed.
To track your progress in the following table, select the check box next to each step.
| Step | Topic | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Review the Bootable CD system requirements. Verify that the appropriate components and configurations have been included. | Bootable CD-ROM Design Considerations | |
| 2. Build the bootable CD run-time image. Include all components required for the bootable CD-ROM and any hardware devices on the target system. | Building a Bootable CD-ROM Run-Time Image | |
| 3. Create an ISO file of the run-time image using hd2iso. Use the ISO image to create a CD-ROM that is used to identify the CD-ROM device during the FBA phase. | Writing a Bootable CD-ROM | |
| 4. Boot the run-time image on the hard drive partition and run First Boot Agent (FBA). When Windows XP Embedded starts, verify that EWF is enabled. | Running FBA on the Bootable CD-ROM Run-Time Image | |
| 5. Run ETPrep and reboot the system. ETPrep deletes the temporary EWF partition and configures the run-time image to boot from the CD-ROM device. | Running ETPrep.exe | |
| 6. Convert the post-FBA run-time image to an ISO file. This follows the same procedure as in step 3. This CD-ROM contains the final run-time image that can be deployed. | Writing a Bootable CD-ROM | |
| 7. Burn the ISO file to CD-ROM and deploy. | Deploying the Bootable CD-ROM |
See Also
Bootable CD-ROM | Enhanced Write Filter | Troubleshooting Bootable CD-ROM | Troubleshooting Enhanced Write Filter | How-to Topics
Last updated on Wednesday, October 18, 2006
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