So I am currently using a few Boot CDs.
1. WinPE 2.0 for imaging purposes.
2. SpinRite for Disk Recovery (FreeDOS based)
3. Bart PE to utilize a feature that isnt PE 2.0 ready
4. a Encryption Emergency Tool Boot CD.

So...rather than have 4 different cds, I want to build a Super Boot CD. I prefer to do it by hand, rather than purchase software, so I can better tweak it, and understand how it works.
I know there are things like GRUB4DOS, but I don't really follow how to do it.

Has anyone here built a boot CD, and maybe could help? Post a guide, or some starting points? I've checked common areas like 911cd.net and others, with no luck.

Sounds like a great project dk and something I'm also definitely interested in doing. However, I unfortunately don't have any information to help you get going as I've not really looked into this much before.

Also, for what it's worth, I do know SpinRite is NOT a free application as GRC is a sponsor for the TWiT podcasts and Leo Laporte talks about 'em all the time. From what he's said though, it sounds a great tool to include.

I listen to almost all the Twit netcasts..its how I found out about spinrite.

Definately a great tool, I just wish I could build it into a boot disk.

You can use BartPE, well you could last time I messed with it.

I know of bart..but thats another thing I want to boot to..plus alot of these things can't just be added to bart

Have you looked at Ultimate Boot CD for Windows? It has (or should have) everything you need already in one ISO.

For personal use, i agree. But being a company, the licenses for much of this is different, plus, I need to be able to build and customize a disk myself.

Well, I've been on Bootable CD Utilities, a russian made site.
I just burned a demo cd, and we'll see how it goes in a few minutes. But I think with all my eagerness, I probably missed a few steps.
I think I have to use that guide in conjunction with their software...but becuase this is all new to me, its pretty confusing.

EDIT: Not only didn't it work..but I have a headache.

I did mess around with making my own AIO Windows Install disc. It was using some obscure linux distro and using cdshell to create the cmd line interface.

Personally i think you can add with some work all of what you need to a bart CD, you just have to know which reg key your apps gonna need and you can then build a plugin for your tools, i did it sometime ago, i didn't work with it for awhile, but if you like i can work with you on it.

I agree, many things can be added to bart..but the stuff I am using boots into linux, and doesn't have a win32 bit executable.
Older versions of spinrite, for example, were able.
Same thing with my encryption boot cd.

Our main imaging boot disk is based on WinPE 2.0. its easy, clean, and avoids hassles of network drivers and hardware drivers.
So my main goal is to create my own boot disk, which presents a menu, and then boots whichever items is needs.

If you haven't done so already then dk, I recommend you download the Windows Automated Installation Kit and use it to start creating/customizing the WinPE 2.0 CD.

Agreed, but download the updated version.

Ah, I didn't know it had already been re-released for SP1, so good catch Singh400.

Already done that



Sadly, some applications aren't 32 bit and won't work on vista hardware...so I'm still searching. But I will get the updated WAIK and see whats new.

Excuse me, but what do you want a Windows environment or Linux environment ?

I want to choose...each boot disk loads its own OS..so I want to be able to choose which one loads