From: Alistair Banks <alistair@microsoft.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32
Subject: Boot Bug Workaround: Microsoft Windows NT, Beta October 1992
Date: 13 Nov 92 02:18:19 GMT
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I'm posting this boot bug work-around which should help various PS/2 & 
MCA owners. I have no more details than this posting, since I'm not a 
hardware-kinda-guy

-- Hope its useful, Alistair

===============================================================================
Microsoft Windows NT, Beta October 1992
Error:  "Boot I/O reading disk.  Please insert another disk."
Boot Workaround



The Microsoft Windows NT product group has recently identified a setup
problem with the October Beta release of Windows NT.  On certain
IBM PS/2 and MCA based systems, an error may occur during installation.
When the error message "Boot I/O reading disk.  Please insert another disk"
appears, the installation of Windows NT is prevented.

The problem occurs due to a conflict between the setup program, the native
BIOS, and the SCSI level on the system.  Our development and test groups are
working on a permanent solution.

In the interim, we have made the following workaround available for our
customers encountering the problem.  If you attempt to install on an IBM
PS/2 or other MCA machine, you may experience this problem.  Therefore, we
recommend you take a few moments to create the Boot Workaround disk as a
precaution.
_______________________________________________________________________
To create the Boot Workaround disk, please follow the steps below:


1.  Connect to the WINNT CompuServe forum, Library 2 where you will find
    WNT001.ZIP.  This file was created using the PKZIP file compression
    utility.  You will need the PKUNZIP utility to extract the files to
    a directory on your hard drive.  PKUNZIP can be found as PKZ110.EXE
    in Library 2 of the IBMCOM forum.  Download PKZ110.EXE and execute
    the file to extract the PKUNZIP.EXE utility.  Create a directory on
    your hard disk where the extracted files can be placed.  For example,
    C:\WNT001.  To extract the WNT001.ZIP file, type:
        PKUNZIP WNT001.ZIP C:\WNT001
    to decompress the files into the directory.  The following files can
    now be seen:

        SETUPLDR
        NTDETECT.COM
        BOOT.INI
        PATCH.BAT
        README.TXT

2.  Ensure that the path and drive destinations are correct for your
    installation in BOOT.INI.  The default setting in BOOT.INI is C:\WINNT.
    If you are installing Windows NT to a different disk partition or
    directory, simply change the directory and pathname parameter in this
    file.

3.  Format a blank floppy diskette on your system using the existing
    operating system.  This diskette will become the Boot Workaround disk.

4.  Using the MS-DOS or OS/2 diskcopy utility, make a copy of Installation
    Disk 1 (if installing from floppy diskette) or CD-ROM Setup Disk 1 (if
    installing from CD-ROM) using the newly formatted diskette as the target
    media (Boot Workaround disk).  For example:  DISKCOPY A: A:

5.  Once the diskcopy is complete, delete the files on the Boot Workaround
    diskette.  For example:  DEL A:*.*

    This process eliminates any unnecessary files, but preserves the Windows
    NT boot sector which must be resident on the Boot Workaround diskette.

6.  Copy all of the files that were downloaded in Step 1 to the Boot
    Workaround disk.  The Boot Workaround disk is now ready to be used if you
    encounter the error.




If you receive the "Boot I/O reading disk.  Please insert another disk."
error message, please take the following steps to complete the installation
procedure:


1.  Remove any floppy disk that may be in the boot drive and insert
    the Boot Workaround disk in the drive.  Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot.

2.  The Windows NT Portable Bootloader will appear and you will be able
    to continue with the installation procedure.  Select:

        "Windows NT 3.1 October 1992 Beta (boot workaround)." from the menu.

3.  Proceed with the graphical setup until prompted to reboot.

4.  When prompted to reboot, remove any disks that may be in the floppy disk
    drive and insert the Boot Workaround disk.  (Note: if you are installing
    from CD-ROM, the Boot Workaround disk should already be in the drive.)
    Choose Reboot to boot the system from the diskette again.

5.  The Portable Bootloader will appear.  Select:

        "Windows NT 3.1 October 1992 Beta (boot workaround)." from the menu.

6.  Log on to Windows NT with the appropriate username and password.

7.  In Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu and type:
    A:PATCH.BAT to execute the batch file from the Boot Workaround disk.

8.  Remove the Boot Workaround disk from the drive.

9.  Press CTRL-ALT-DEL and then choose Shutdown. Choose OK.

The Windows NT Beta, October 1992 release should now be successfully
installed and you may either boot Windows NT or the previous operating
system.