How to Create a Bootable Disk for Ubuntu

A boot disk is any form of removable media that can be used as an alternate means of storing your computer's operating system and starting up, or "booting" your computer. This tutorial will walk you through the process of creating your own bootable disk for the Ubuntu OS.

One huge advantage of having a boot disk is the fact that the operating system can be booted up from an alternate location other than the hard drive. This is particularly handy in the event that your hard drive develops a problem and is not able to boot up the operating system. It highly recommended that every computer owner have a bootable disk for just such an emergency.

It is a tad bit more difficult to create a bootable disk on floppy media for Ubuntu, because you have to manually create it - you cannot download it directly from any website.

Creating a Bootable Disk for Ubuntu
Step #1
You will need two files to create a bootable disk for Ubuntu: the sbm.bin and the NTRawrite.exe files. Locate and copy both files into a separate folder.

*The sbm.bin file can be found in the "install" directory on the Ubuntu setup CD.
*For the NTRawrite.exe file, however, you will need to go online, and download it from the following address: http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/n...1.zip?download.

Step #2
Open the folder you copied the files to. In this file you will run a command line in order to copy them to a floppy disk.

Here's how to run a command line:
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. On the dialog box type "cmd" (for Windows 2000 and XP users) or "command" (for Windows 95, 98, or Me)
4. On the command prompt, type "ntrawrite -f sbm.bin -d a:"
5. Insert a floppy disk drive into your floppy disk drive (Drive A).
6. Hit enter on the command prompt.

The data will be written on the floppy disk and you have successfully created a bootable disk for Ubuntu in floppy disk format!

Now that you have created boot disks, you will need to learn how to use them. First, insert the first boot disk into the floppy disk drive and restart your computer. In order to boot Ubuntu from a floppy disk, you will need to configure the BIOS settings so that the computer boots from the floppy disk drive. When the computer boots from the floppy disk drive with the Ubuntu boot files, the Ubuntu setup process should begin.

Re-start your Computer With the Boot Disks
To use your new bootable disk to boot Ubuntu, you will need to configure the BIOS settings so that the computer boots from your computer's floppy disk drive.

Insert the boot disk into the floppy disk drive and re-start your computer. When the computer boots from the floppy disk drive with the Ubuntu boot files, Ubuntu Setup will begin. You can then log on to Ubuntu.

And you are done!