Copyright: Copyright © Symantec Corporation 1996-1998
Citation: Copyright © Symantec Corporation 1996-1998


About Rescue Disk

Rescue Disk copies your computer's critical setup data and startup files, including Windows Registry files, to one or more floppy disks called rescue disks. If your computer fails to start, these rescue disks, unique to your computer, can be used to start your computer in MS-DOS mode. Once in MS-DOS mode, you can use the Norton and Microsoft DOS-based programs stored on the rescue disks to:

Format a drive using Microsoft Format

Repair damaged files

Partition your hard drives using Microsoft FDisk

Repair damaged files manually

Create system disks using the Microsoft SYS program

Troubleshoot hardware conflicts

Recover formatted or heavily damaged disks

Restore your computer's startup data using the Rescue Restore program

Norton CrashGuard Deluxe generally requires three high-density, 3½-inch floppy disks to create your rescue disk set. The first disk in the set contains the data and files necessary to start your computer; the remaining disks include supplementary programs.

Tip

If you did not create a rescue disk during the installation of Norton CrashGuard Deluxe, be sure to create one now.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


Why you should use a rescue disk
Why you should use Rescue Disk

Every time you add software or hardware to your computer, your system changes, and you take a small chance. At other times, improper changes to your computer's setup data and startup files, or other problems may occur that prevent your computer from starting normally, or even from starting at all.

When your computer doesn't start, a set of rescue disks can usually get you back up and running quickly.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


When you should update your rescue disk
When you should update your rescue disks

Use Rescue Disk to update your rescue disk set weekly, at least. Having a current set of rescue disks provides the best protection.

We also recommend that you update your current rescue disks whenever you:

Upgrade or change your Windows settings

Add, modify, or remove:

Hard disk partitions

Any hardware

Any software

Startup data or files

Click here  [image]  for more information.


Types of rescue items

Rescue Disk includes five types of rescue items:

Startup data

Startup files

Norton DOS-based programs

Microsoft DOS-based programs

Note

If your system uses a configuration file, such as AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS, to load additional drivers, such as CD-ROM or sound card drivers, Rescue Disk automatically adds them to the list of rescue items that are to be stored. If you have Windows on a CD-ROM, then your rescue disks should always include the CD-ROM drivers to ensure your access to Windows files.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


When to use a rescue disk

Warning: Your rescue disk set is customized for your computer's configuration. Never use rescue disks that were created on or for another computer.

The rescue disk set created for your computer can be used to repair most types of system startup problems. Below is a list of common startup messages that could appear should your computer fail to start. The exact text of your computer's messages may differ somewhat; refer to your computer manufacturers user's guide for more information.

Battery discharged
This message indicates that the internal battery has run out of power. The result of a battery discharge is the loss of your system's CMOS information. This message generally appears when the internal battery is not a rechargeable battery. Systems with rechargeable batteries installed recharge while the system is on. To repair this problem, install a fresh battery or as outlined by the hardware manufacturer. Then use your system's rescue disk to restore the CMOS information.

Hardware information lost [image] run setup
This message indicates that, for some unknown reason, your system's CMOS information has been lost. This message appears when there has been a break in power between the internal battery and the CMOS chip. This message generally appears when the internal battery is a rechargeable battery. To repair this problem, check the battery's connection to the motherboard or as outlined by the hardware manufacturer. Then use your system's rescue disk to restore the CMOS information.

Please insert boot-disk and press any key
This message indicates that the system files are not present. This message appears when the boot records on your system's startup disk are missing. However, before you reach for the rescue disk, make sure you are booting from the correct drive. If you are trying to boot from the C: drive, but you have a disk in the A: drive, you probably have a non-bootable disk in the A: drive causing this message. Remove the disk from the A: drive and then boot the system again. Otherwise, use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot records and partition tables.

Please insert valid boot-disk and press any key
This message indicates that the system files are corrupt or damaged. However, before you reach for the rescue disk, make sure you are booting from the correct drive. If you are trying to boot from the C: drive, but you have a disk in the A: drive, you probably have a non-bootable disk in the A: drive causing this message. Remove the disk from the A: drive and then boot the system again. Otherwise, use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot records.

Non-System Disk, please insert boot-disk and press any key
This message indicates that the system's startup files are not present. However, before you reach for the rescue disk, make sure you are booting from the correct drive. If you are trying to boot from the C: drive, but you have a disk in the A: drive, you probably have a non-bootable disk in the A: drive causing this message. Remove the disk from the A: drive and then boot the system again. Otherwise, use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot records.

Hard disk boot sector invalid
This message indicates that the drive's boot sector is corrupt or damaged. This message appears when invalid information exists in the drive's boot sector. Use your system's rescue disk to restore the boot record and partition table.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


Notes about features
About Rescue Disk features

Rescue Disk supports the following disk compression and security programs:

Norton DiskLock and Norton Your Eyes Only

Microsoft DriveSpace

Stac Electronic's Stacker

If your computer is running any of these disk compression and security programs, Rescue Disk automatically saves the necessary drivers to the rescue disk set.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


About startup data

Rescue Disk saves the data that enables your computer to start. This data includes:

CMOS data

Computer setup data is gathered from the CMOS chip installed on the motherboard of the computer. The data includes:

Amount of memory

Type of diskette drives installed

Type of hard drives installed

Type of display (VGA or monochrome)

Other information specific to your computer's basic operation

Disk data

Disk data is gathered from the boot sector of each hard disk. This data includes:

Boot records

Partition tables

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About startup files

Rescue Disk saves the files that enable your computer to start, including the files necessary for special features or devices loaded before Windows starts. These files are copied from the disk your computer uses to start (usually the drive or partition designated as drive C:).

Startup files include:

IO.SYS

MSDOS.SYS

CONFIG.SYS

COMMAND.COM

AUTOEXEC.BAT

SYSTEM.REG, containing registry information from the file SYSTEM.DAT

USER.REG, containing registry information from the file USER.DAT

AUTOEXEC.DOS

CONFIG.DOS

Click here  [image]  for more information.


About DOS-based Norton CrashGuard Deluxe programs
About DOS-based programs

By default, Rescue Disk stores the following Norton CrashGuard Deluxe programs:

Norton Diagnostics [image] tests the computer's hardware for easy diagnoses of hardware problems.

Norton Disk Doctor [image] repairs most disk problems.

Disk Editor [image] lets you manually edit and repair the data on a disk.

Rescue Disk [image] restores a computer's startup data.

UnErase [image] recovers erased files automatically or manually.

UnFormat [image] recovers files after accidentally formatting a disk.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


About Microsoft DOS-based utilities

By default, Rescue Disk stores the following DOS utilities programs:

FDisk [image] creates, modifies, or removes physical and logical hard disk partitions.

SYS [image] lets you make a disk bootable.

Format [image] lets you format a disk.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


Opening Rescue Disk
To open Rescue Disk

1	Use the Start button to navigate to the Norton CrashGuard Deluxe folder in the Programs menu.

2	Select Rescue Disk.

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Creating a rescue disk
To create a rescue disk

1	Use the Start menu to navigate to the Norton CrashGuard Deluxe folder in the Programs menu. Then select Rescue Disk.

Storing all your rescue information may take several floppy disks.

Most PC computers are set up so they can boot from one of their floppy drives if the hard drive becomes inoperable. If you have more than one type of floppy drive attached to your computer, the floppy disks you use as rescue disks must fit the floppy drive that your computer can use for booting.

2	Insert a floppy disk into the selected floppy drive.

3	Click Start and follow the instructions on the screen.

4	Label the disks with the date the rescue disk set was created. Store the rescue disk in a safe place.

Note

Rescue Disk saves the startup data for the computer on which it was saved. Therefore, startup data cannot be transferred to other computers.

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Using a rescue disk
To use a rescue disk

If you need to use your rescue disk, it is likely that you will not be able to access this help file for the following instructions. You should click here  [image]  to print this topic now.

1	Retrieve the computer's rescue disk.

2	Insert the first rescue disk into the computer's boot drive.

The boot drive is typically the A: drive.

3	Reboot the computer.

The DOS prompt appears when the computer has booted using the rescue disk.

4	Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


Specifies the total number of disks needed to save the selected rescue items.


Starts the rescue disk creation process.


Closes Rescue Disk.


Rescue Disk: Rescue disk created successfully!
Rescue items saved successfully!

The rescue items for this computer have been saved successfully to disk.

Do the following now:

1	Remove the disk from the drive.

2	Label the rescue disks of your rescue disk set.

3	Write protect the disks.

4	Store the disks in a safe place.

Click here  [image]  for more information.


Rescue Disk: Rescue disk created successfully!
Rescue items saved successfully!

The rescue items for this computer have been saved successfully to disk.

Do the following now:

1	Remove the disk from the drive.

2	Label the disks of your rescue disk set.

3	Write protect the disks.

4	Store the disks in a safe place.

The rescue items have been stored to a floppy drive other than your startup floppy drive. The rescue disk (or the first disk in the rescue disk set) can be used to start your computer.

Click here  [image]  for more information.