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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: DSHY-3TEPF6

CrossBrand - Building Diskettes from the Web

Applicable to: World-Wide

Many of the files located on IBM's BBS FTP server ending with the EXE extension are in a self-extracting, diskette building format. This means that after downloading and executing the file, it will format and extract itself out onto a floppy disk. Even though it requests a blank formatted diskette, the creation process will erase and format the disk for you. The most important thing is to ensure the diskettes are good and have no bad sectors.
Below are instructions on how to create the diskette:

1. Download the file to a temporary directory on your hard drive.
2. Insert a diskette into the floppy drive.

NOTE: It does not have to be a blank, formatted diskette; however, if the diskette is old or has any bad sectors, the disk creation process will fail.

3. Building the diskette:

If you are using Windows 95:
a.) Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the directory where you saved the file.
b.) Double click on the file to read the licensing information. If you agree to the terms, press Y, then press the enter key to accept. It will proceed to format and expand the image onto the floppy disk.

If you are using Windows NT:
a.) Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the directory where you saved the file.
b.) Double click on the file to read the licensing information. If you agree to the terms, press Y, then press the enter key to accept. It will proceed to format and expand the image on the floppy disk.
NOTE I: If you receive an OS/2 error message do the following:
a) Click on Start, then Run...
b.) Type the word " Command " in the open box and press OK
c.) Change to the directory that the file is located in and execute the file by typing out its name and pressing enter.
d.) Read the licensing information. If you agree to the terms, press Y, then press the enter key to accept. It will proceed to format and expand the image on the floppy disk.
Limitations:
Under Windows NT you cannot extract any files downloaded from the IBM site (e.g. TPP95RLD.EXE) from a subdirectory which has spaces, e.g. file name TPP95RLD.EXE located in "C:\TEMPorary DIRectory\". When executing the file, the following error message appears: "Usage : OS2 /P <full path> /C <original CommandLine>"
This error occurs regardless of whether the volume is NTFS or Fat-16.
Extraction DOES work in any subdirectory, regardless of length, as long as it does not have a space in it.

If you are using OS/2:
a.) Open OS/2 System folder.
b.) Open the Drives folder and select the drive that you saved the file on.
c.) Navigate to the folder or directory that the file is in.
d.) Double click on the file to read the licensing information. If you agree to the terms, press Y, then press the enter key to accept. It will proceed to format and expand the image on the floppy disk.

If you are using DOS and Windows 3.1x:
a.) Open a DOS Prompt.
b.) Switch to the drive or directory where the file is located and execute the file by typing out its name and pressing enter.
c.) Read the licensing information. If you agree to the terms, press Y, then press the enter key to accept. It will proceed to format and expand the image on the floppy disk.

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General Information

Date Created

10-04-98

Last Updated

13-07-98

Revision Date

10-07-99

Brand

Cross Brand

Product Family

Various

Machine Type

Various

Model

Various

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