How to Create a Bootable CD-ROM
5/10/2007
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 |
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1. Review the Bootable CD system requirements. Verify that the appropriate components and configurations have been included. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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7. Burn the ISO file to CD-ROM and deploy. |
See Also
Concepts
How-to Topics (Update Rollup 1.0 for Windows XP Embedded)
Other Resources
Bootable CD-ROM
Enhanced Write Filter
Troubleshooting Bootable CD-ROM
Troubleshooting Enhanced Write Filter