[1] Insert a NEW diskette (Used ones may be defective) in the Drive (A:).

[2] Double-clik the icon "My Computer" in the desktop to open its window.

[3] Right click on "Floppy 3 1/2 (A:) to open a menu.

[4] Click the "Format" option to open the diskette format window.

[5] In the open window select the following options:
Type of Format = Complete
Other Options = Display a summary in the end.
Other Options = Copy system files (These are the ones responsible for the computer boot from the drive A:)

[6] Click the Start button and wait until the summary window is diplayed where it should be checked:
If it states "0 (zero) bad clusters"
If it states any number "of bytes used by the system files"

If there is any amount of bad clusters, discard the diskette and repeat the operation with a brand new one again.
The number of bytes used by the system files is about 390.000 in Windows.

[7] Close all open small windows. The boot diskette is ready.

Important Warning:

The computer will only inicialize from the the boot diskette inserted in the drive (A:) if the CMOS boot preference sequence is A - C.

If the CMOS BOOT preference sequence is C - A then it has to be changed by someone skilled in adjusting settings in the computer CMOS. It is an easy task for experts but tampering with the CMOS area is quite a dangerous experience for novices.

The sequence A - C is also suitable for other software operations as virus cleaning, for instance. Therefore it is highly recommended to leave the CMOS boot setting at A - C sequence permanetly adjusted.

For you to know whether your computer is set for checking first the drive (A:) instead of (C:) during boot-up operations, follow the routine below until the step 4, .

If your computer simply ignores the boot files in the diskette and continues to open Windows as usual, then the CMOS boot sequence is C - A.

[1] Insert the boot diskette into drive (A:)

[2] Power off the computer

[3] Turn the computer on and wait for a slower than usual routine

[4] The monitor will display a black screen with the Microsoft logo and the DOS prompt, with a blinking cursor, waiting for a command to be typed, with the following aspect:
A:\>_

[5] Type any DOS command just in front of the DOS prompt and press the [Enter] key.

If you are not acquainted with the drives letters please be aware that the diskette drive is always the Drive (A:) and the hard disk is always the Drive (C:). If tou have two diskette drives, one is Drive (A:) and the other is Drive (B:).

Computers with a single diskette drive do not use the letter B that remains reserved for an optional second diskette drive. The first or only hard disk is always Drive (C:).

Go entirely to DOS by clicking:

Start / Shut off / Restart in DOS-Mode / Yes.

If you exit Windows by selecting
Start / Programs / DOS-Prompt
you don't entirely leave Windows because then when you type EXIT [Enter] you go back to Windows again.