 Welcome to BootMagic

PowerQuest’s BootMagic is a powerful new disk-management tool that helps you run multiple operating systems on a single PC. Each time you start or restart your computer, BootMagic presents a list of operating systems (OSs), allowing you to select the OS you wish to boot. BootMagic also contains a configuration option, which lets you quickly select those OSs you want to appear as boot-up choices. With BootMagic, you can easily switch between OSs, using whichever OS best suits your immediate needs. You can even try out a new OS risk-free, knowing that your old OS is there, readily accessible when you need it.

How Does BootMagic Work?

BootMagic is composed of two primary parts: the BootMagic Menu and the BootMagic Configuration program.

BootMagic Menu

Each time you start your computer, the BootMagic Menu appears, allowing you to quickly select among multiple operating systems installed on your system.

Once you choose the desired OS, BootMagic loads the OS’s boot record into memory, hides and unhides any necessary partitions, and marks the OS’s associated partition as active. BootMagic then launches the OS and disappears, all without affecting the OS in any way.

BootMagic operates by replacing your system’s master boot record (MBR) with its own custom master boot record. Although the original MBR is completely removed, the BootMagic MBR retains all of the current partition table information on your existing OSs. BootMagic also makes a backup copy of the original MBR in case you need to disable or uninstall BootMagic.

After installation, BootMagic sorts through all your system’s hard disks, looking at the partition tables and gathering information about each currently-installed OS. BootMagic then automatically runs the configuration program, adding every detected OS to the BootMagic Menu.

When you start your computer after installing BootMagic, the system BIOS loads and executes the BootMagic MBR, which, in turn, loads and executes the BootMagic Menu. BootMagic then scans your system for new OSs which are available to be added to the BootMagic Menu through the configuration program.

BootMagic Configuration Program

BootMagic’s configuration program may be launched independently from either the Program Group or from PartitionMagic. The configuration program allows you to specify which OSs appear in the BootMagic Menu and lets you set various boot-time options such as a default OS and a startup delay.

For more information on the BootMagic configuration program, select Contents from the help menu bar and open the Configuring BootMagic book in the Help Topics outline.


 Supported Operating Systems

BootMagic supports the following operating systems:

•	Windows 98

•	Windows 95

•	Windows NT 4.0

•	Windows NT 3.51

•	Windows 3.x (must be installed with DOS 5 or later)

•	MS-DOS 5.0 or later

•	PC-DOS 6.1 or later

•	Open DOS

•	OS/2 3.0 or later

•	Linux

•	BeOS

•	most other versions of DOS and PC-compatible OSs


 Trademarks

The entire risk of the use or the result of the use of this software and documentation remains with the user. No part of this documentation may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, except as expressed in the Software License Agreement.

Copyright © 1998 PowerQuest Corporation. All rights reserved. This software and documentation are copyrighted. All other rights, including ownership of the software, are reserved to PowerQuest Corporation. This software has patents pending in the United States and elsewhere. BootMagic, PowerQuest, and the PowerQuest mark are registered trademarks of PowerQuest Corporation in the United States and elsewhere; PartitionMagic, DriveMapper, and MagicMover are trademarks of PowerQuest Corporation. DOS, Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows 95, and Windows 98 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IBM, OS/2, IBMDOS, and Boot Manager are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Norton Utilities and AntiVirus are trademarks of Symantec Corporation. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective owners.

PowerQuest Corporation

PO Box 1911  ·  Orem, Utah 84059-1911  ·  USA

Sales

+801-226-8977

800-329-2566 (USA only)

Home page: http://www.powerquest.com

E-mail: sales@powerquest.com


 After Installing BootMagic

After installation, BootMagic sorts through your system’s hard disks, looking at the partition tables and gathering information about each currently-installed operating system. BootMagic then automatically runs the configuration program, adding every detected OS to the BootMagic Menu.

At this point, it may be necessary for you to edit the OSs that appear in the menu list. While BootMagic reliably detects most OSs, it may also detect some non-OS partitions. For example, if you have a primary NTFS data partition on the first disk, BootMagic may detect it as Windows NT. Likewise, an HPFS data partition may be detected as OS/2 and a FAT16 or FAT32 data partition may be detected as MS-DOS or Windows 95/98. Because these non-OS partitions cannot be booted, they should be removed from the menu list. You may also choose to add or remove other OS selections, modify OS names and icons for easier identification, set a new startup delay, or select a different default OS.

NOTE:  For information on identifying non-OS partitions in the menu list, see Finding the Right Operating System. For more information on the BootMagic configuration program, select Contents from the help menu bar and open the Configuring BootMagic book in the Help Topics outline.

After you make any necessary changes, click Save/Exit. The next time you reboot your computer, the BootMagic Menu appears, completing the installation. To start an OS, simply select the desired menu item and BootMagic boots it.


 Additional Resources

The following resources contain information on installing, configuring, and using BootMagic, and are designed to help you access needed information quickly and efficiently.

User Guide

Your BootMagic User Guide provides in-depth explanations of BootMagic features. It also provides step-by-step instructions on performing specific tasks.

README.TXT File

BootMagic’s README.TXT is an invaluable resource for the most current information at the time the product shipped. It includes information that may have changed since the user guide was printed, corrections to the manual or help system, and information specific to installation or configuration issues.

README.TXT can be found in the \BTMAGIC.PQ directory or on your BootMagic rescue diskette.

PowerQuest Web Site

PowerQuest’s corporate web site (http://www.powerquest.com) contains a wide array of information, including technical white papers, frequently-asked questions, support information, and news about product updates.


 How to Use Help

In this help system, you will find explanations of BootMagic’s features as well as step-by-step information on how to perform specific tasks. The following tips help you obtain the information you need quickly and efficiently.

In BootMagic:

•	To access Help in the Windows configuration program, select Help > Contents from the menu bar.

•	To access Help in the DOS configuration program, select Help > Topic List from the menu bar.

•	To access context-sensitive Help, click Help in the lower-right corner of most dialogs, or press <F1>.

Within the help system:

•	Click on any topic highlighted in green to jump to that topic. Topic jumps help you easily access related or more-detailed information.

•	Notes and hints are designated by BLUE type. For example, a NOTE: provides you with additional information and time-saving tips.

•	Warnings and other critical information are designated by RED type. For example, WARNING! alerts you to potential mishaps and provides instruction on avoiding problems.

•	When the help system refers to a specific menu option, button, or icon within BootMagic, that name appears in bold type. For example, “click Add” means to click the button labeled Add.

•	Keys that you should press appear in brackets and bold type. If two keys are joined with a plus sign (+), press and hold the first key while pressing the second one. For example, <Ctrl+B> means to press and hold the Ctrl key, press the B key, and then release both together.

•	The names of dialog windows appear in bold type. For example, “select the desired OS within the BootMagic Add OS dialog” means to select an OS within the window labeled BootMagic Add OS.

On the help system button bar:

•	Click Contents to return to the book-and-pages content outline.

•	Click Index to access an index of terms and topics.

•	Click Back to return to the previous topic.

•	Click Print to print the current topic or selected sections.

•	Click Web Page to automatically link to the PowerQuest web site for product updates and support information.


 BootMagic Configuration Program Overview

BootMagic’s configuration program allows you to select which operating systems appear in the BootMagic Menu, thus making them available for boot up. This configuration program consists of two versions, one for DOS and one for Windows 95/98 or Windows NT. Both versions basically look and function in the same way.

The BootMagic configuration program may be launched by any of the following:

•	In Windows select Start > Programs > PowerQuest BootMagic > BootMagic Configuration.

•	In DOS run drive:\BTMAGIC.PQ\CONFIG.BAT.

•	Select Tools > BootMagic Configuration from the PartitionMagic menu.

When you run the configuration program, the BootMagic Configuration window appears.

The BootMagic Runtime Menu group box lists all the OSs that appear as boot up choices whenever you start your computer. The Menu Name column displays the user-specified name for each OS, while the Default column identifies which OS is the system default.

•	Add lets you add an OS to the BootMagic Runtime Menu list.

•	Delete removes the selected OS from the BootMagic Runtime Menu list. This does not delete the OS from the hard disk nor does it prevent the OS from being added again to the menu.

•	Set as Default defines the selected OS as the system default. This is the OS that BootMagic automatically boots if another OS is not chosen before the startup delay expires, or if the startup delay is set to None. If you disable BootMagic, the default OS is automatically booted at every computer startup until you re-enable BootMagic.

•	Properties allows you to view and/or modify the selected OS’s runtime menu properties.

•	The Reorder arrows allow you to rearrange the runtime menu, moving the selected OS either up or down in the list.

•	Startup Delay specifies the length of time BootMagic waits for an OS to be chosen before it automatically boots the default OS.

•	None indicates no startup delay; BootMagic automatically boots the default OS at startup.

•	Indefinite signifies an unlimited delay; BootMagic displays the runtime menu until you choose the OS you wish to boot.

•	Timed designates a user-defined delay from 1 to 99 seconds; BootMagic waits the specified amount of time for an OS to be chosen before booting the default OS. A 30-second timed delay is the BootMagic default.

•	BootMagic Enabled indicates whether BootMagic is currently enabled. This box must be checked for the configuration options to be available. If you disable BootMagic, the default OS is automatically booted at computer startup until you re-enable BootMagic.

•	Save/Exit saves all configuration changes and exits the configuration program.

•	Cancel discards all configuration changes and exits the program.

•	Help displays the BootMagic online help.

NOTE:  You may also access the above options from the menu bar or by right-clicking on the BootMagic Runtime Menu group box.


 Adding an Operating System to the BootMagic Menu

The BootMagic Menu appears each time you start or restart your computer, listing all bootable operating systems. If you wish to add an OS to this menu, follow these steps:

1.	In the BootMagic Configuration window, click Add.

The BootMagic Add OS dialog appears. This dialog lists all the system OSs detected by BootMagic, along with their associated volume name, partition, and disk information.

•	Used specifies whether or not the OS partition is already included in the BootMagic Menu.

•	OS Name displays the detected name for the operating system(s). If no OS is detected, or if BootMagic is unable to identify the OS, this column displays  Unknown.

NOTE:  BootMagic may sometimes detect an OS that doesn’t exist or may detect the wrong name for an existing OS. For help on finding the operating system and partition you want, see Finding the Right Operating System.

•	Volume Name lists the name assigned to the partition.

•	Partition Type identifies the partition’s file system type (e.g., FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, HPFS, Ext2, etc.). If the partition is an extended partition, its partition type is listed as Extended.

•	Disk specifies the system hard disk on which the partition is located (e.g., 1 is the first hard disk, 2 is the second, etc.).

•	Partition identifies the partition as either Primary (Pri) or Logical (Log) and also identifies its location on the hard disk (e.g., Pri-2 is the second primary partition, Log-1 is the first logical partition, etc.).

2.	If you wish to view all your system’s partitions, including those that BootMagic does not recognize as containing an OS, mark the Advanced check box.

The Advanced option is useful in the event that BootMagic does not detect an OS you wish to add to the BootMagic Menu. For more information on finding the operating system and partition you want, see Finding the Right Operating System.

3.	Select the OS you wish to add to the BootMagic Menu.

WARNING!  Do not add non-OS partitions to the BootMagic Menu. You cannot boot your computer from a partition without an OS.

4.	Click OK.

The BootMagic Menu Item Properties dialog appears.

5.	Define the menu properties as desired, and then click OK.

NOTE:  For more information on defining menu properties, see BootMagic Menu Item Properties.

The added OS appears in the BootMagic Runtime Menu list and will appear as a boot-up choice the next time you start your computer.


 Finding the Right Operating System

BootMagic lists all OSs detected on your system in the BootMagic Add OS dialog. Occasionally though, an existing OS may not be listed, an OS may be listed with an incorrect name, or a non-bootable partition may be listed as containing an OS.

BootMagic uses a partition’s file system and boot record to detect an OS. After identifying the partition’s file system, BootMagic looks at the partition’s boot record. If it finds a valid boot record, BootMagic assumes the partition is bootable. It then uses the system filenames in the boot record to identify the OS. Using this method, it is difficult to determine the difference between some OSs such as Windows 95, Windows 98, or MS-DOS. Consequently, BootMagic may accurately detect a partition-based OS, but misname it in the Add OS list.

In other instances, some data partitions may contain a boot record with OS system filenames, but not actually contain a bootable OS. Because BootMagic uses the boot record to identify an OS, it will list an OS name for the partition in the Add OS list, even though the partition is not actually bootable.

If there are inaccurate entries in your Add OS list, use the following information to help you distinguish between OS entries and non-bootable partitions:

•	The BootMagic Add OS dialog not only lists each detected OS, but also lists its volume name, partition type, partition, and disk information. Because you know which OSs you have installed on which partitions, you can use this information to identify a desired OS. For example, if you want to find a Windows NT OS that is installed on the first partition of the first hard disk, you simply need to look for an OS entry with a NTFS partition type, a Pri-1 partition, and a 1 disk.

•	If the OS you need is not listed in the Add OS dialog, click the Advanced check box to display all your system partitions. You can then use the volume name, partition type, partition, and disk information to identify the desired OS. For example, if you are looking for a Linux OS installed on the third logical partition of the second hard drive, simply find the OS entry with an Ext2 partition type, a Log-3 partition, and a 2 disk.

•	Occasionally, BootMagic may detect non-bootable partitions as containing an OS. This is due to the fact that most data partitions are marked as bootable when they are created, even though there is no OS installed. For example, if you have a primary NTFS data partition on the first disk, it may contain a boot record even though the partition is not bootable. Because BootMagic uses the partition boot record to identify an OS, BootMagic detects the partition as having a bootable Windows NT OS.

If a non-bootable partition has been added to the BootMagic Menu list by mistake, you can easily remove it. Identify the non-OS entry using the volume name, disk, partition, and partition type information provided in the General page of the BootMagic Menu Item Properties dialog. Once identified, simply delete the non-bootable menu item from the list.

NOTE:  For more information on menu item properties, see BootMagic Menu Item Properties. For more information on removing a menu item from the BootMagic Menu, see Removing an Operating System.

•	If you have narrowed your search to two or three OS entries, but still cannot discern which is which, go ahead and add the OS entries to the BootMagic Menu. Reboot your computer, then select one of the unidentified OS items from the menu. Once you see which OS (if any) is booted by the menu item, you can use the BootMagic configuration program to rename the entry and change its icon. Repeat this process to identify any other unknown OS items.


 Modifying an Operating System's BootMagic Properties

If you wish to view and/or modify a listed OS’s menu properties, follow these steps:

1.	In the BootMagic Configuration window, select the OS you wish to modify.

2.	Click Properties.

3.	The BootMagic Menu Item Properties dialog appears.

NOTE:  For more information on specific properties, see BootMagic Menu Item Properties.

4.	Modify the properties as desired, then click OK.


 BootMagic Menu Item Properties

The BootMagic Menu Item Properties dialog contains two tabbed pages: the General page and the Visible Partitions page.

General Properties

The General page provides options for identifying the selected OS in the runtime menu and for editing system files.

The name and icon at the top of the dialog identify the selected OS and correspond to the name and icon that appear in the BootMagic Menu.

Name identifies the user-defined name for the OS. Because this name appears in the BootMagic Menu, it should clearly describe the OS for easy identification. You may modify this name by typing directly in the text box.

Change Icon allows you to select another icon for the OS menu item. Because this icon appears in the BootMagic Menu, it should correspond to the OS for easy identification. If you wish to change the OS-identifying icon, follow these steps:

1.	In the General page, click Change Icon.

The BootMagic Change Icon dialog appears.

2.	Navigate to the BootMagic ICO folder, which contains icons for all supported OSs.

NOTE:  You may also use other 16-color, 32x32 pixel icons with an .ICO file extension.

3.	Select the desired icon. A preview of the icon appears in the dialog’s view box (located in the upper-right corner).

4.	Click OK.

The icon appears at the top of the General page.

The lower half of the General page displays the selected OS’s disk and partition information.

•	OS displays the user-defined name for the OS.

•	Volume Name lists the name assigned to the partition.

•	Partition Type identifies the partition’s file system type (e.g., FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, HPFS, Ext2, etc.). If the partition is an extended partition, its partition type is listed as Extended.

•	Disk specifies the system hard disk on which the partition is located (e.g., 1 is the first hard disk, 2 is the second, etc.).

•	Partition identifies the partition as either Primary (Pri) or Logical (Log) and also identifies its location on the hard disk (e.g., Pri-1 is the first primary partition, Log-2 is the second logical partition, etc.).

Visible Partitions

The Visible Partitions page identifies which primary partitions on the first drive are visible when the selected OS is booted. Visible partitions are checked, hidden partitions are not.

Sometimes BootMagic does not unhide a partition that is necessary for an OS’s operation. If this is the case, you can override BootMagic’s selections. To do this, mark the Override Default Selections check box, then mark the primary partition(s) you wish to make visible. If you want to hide a partition, simply unmark its check box. Partitions that cannot be hidden or unhidden are grayed out, preventing you from modifying their status. For example, the partition the selected OS boots from cannot be hidden; therefore, it is grayed out. Its status cannot be overridden.

NOTE:  Only partitions that are FAT, FAT32, HPFS, and NTFS may be hidden.

The Override Default Selections option is primarily useful for certain types of Windows NT installations. For example, if your NT boot files are installed on one primary partition, but all the remaining NT files are installed to a different primary partition, BootMagic may not always make the second partition visible. Likewise, if you have a primary data partition that you use with Windows NT, BootMagic may keep it hidden. Using the Override Default Selections option allows you to unhide these partitions, making them accessible when Windows NT is booted.

You can use the Override Default Selections option almost any time you need to make a primary partition visible. However, please note that with some OSs such as Windows 95/98 and OS/2, making a second primary partition visible can cause errors and data loss.


 Removing an Operating System from the BootMagic Menu

If you wish to remove an OS from the BootMagic Menu, follow these steps:

1.	In the BootMagic Configuration window, select the OS you wish to delete from the BootMagic Runtime Menu list.

2.	Click Delete.

The OS is removed from the BootMagic Runtime Menu list and will not appear as a boot-up choice the next time you start your computer.

NOTE:  Deleting an OS from the BootMagic Menu does not remove the OS from your system. The OS remains in its partition and can be added again to the menu if desired.


 Setting a Default Operating System

BootMagic automatically selects the OS in the home partition (i.e., the partition in which BootMagic is installed) as the system default. This is the OS that BootMagic automatically boots if another OS is not chosen before the startup delay expires, if the startup delay is set to None, or if you disable BootMagic.

NOTE:  For more information on the startup delay, see Setting the Startup Delay.

If you wish to select another OS as the default, follow these steps:

1.	In the BootMagic Configuration window, select the OS you wish to set as the system default.

2.	Click Set as Default.

The selected OS is set as the system default.


 Setting the Startup Delay

By default, BootMagic uses a Timed startup delay set to 30 seconds. You may change this setting with the following options:

•	Select None to eliminate any time delay. BootMagic automatically boots the default OS at startup without displaying the BootMagic Menu.

•	Select Indefinite to specify an unlimited time delay. BootMagic displays the runtime menu until you choose the OS you wish to boot.

•	Select Timed to designate a time delay from 1 to 99 seconds. BootMagic waits the specified amount of time for an OS to be chosen before booting the default OS.

NOTE:  If you set the startup delay to either None or Timed, you must also ensure that a valid OS item is selected as the system default. Without a default OS, BootMagic cannot automatically boot your system.

NOTE:  If you set the startup delay to None and select a default OS that cannot run the BootMagic configuration program, you will be unable to modify the configuration settings and boot other OSs. If this happens, boot your computer with the BootMagic rescue diskette, then run the configuration program and change either the default OS or the startup delay.

For more information on creating a rescue diskette, see “Creating a BootMagic Rescue Diskette” (page 3) in the BootMagic User Guide.


 Disabling BootMagic

You may encounter situations in which you want to disable BootMagic. For example, if you are diagnosing an OS startup problem and need to reboot your system multiple times, you may wish to bypass loading BootMagic every time. Disabling BootMagic replaces the BootMagic master boot record (MBR) with a copy of your original MBR. When you reboot your computer, BootMagic no longer loads and the default OS is automatically booted.

NOTE:  Disabling BootMagic does not destroy any of your configuration settings. All of the current settings are saved until BootMagic is re-enabled.

To disable BootMagic, follow these steps:

1.	Unmark the BootMagic Enabled check box in the BootMagic Configuration window.

The configuration options become unavailable and BootMagic remains disabled until the box is re-checked.

2.	Click Save/Exit to save your changes and exit the configuration program.

BootMagic remains disabled until you choose to re-enable it. When BootMagic is re-enabled, it saves a copy of the current MBR and then reinstalls the BootMagic MBR. Upon reboot, BootMagic loads normally and all the previous configuration settings are restored.

To re-enable BootMagic, follow these steps:

1.	Run the BootMagic configuration program.

To run the BootMagic configuration program from the home partition (i.e., the partition in which Bootmagic is installed):

a.	Click Start > Programs > PowerQuest BootMagic > BootMagic Configuration on the Windows taskbar.

If you are not in the home partition:

a.	Boot using the BootMagic rescue diskette.

NOTE:  For more information on creating a rescue diskette, see “Creating a BootMagic Rescue Diskette” (page 3) in the BootMagic User Guide.

b.	Follow the instructions to run the BootMagic configuration program.

2.	In the configuration program, check the BootMagic Enabled check box to re-enable BootMagic.

3.	Click Save/Exit.


 Installing a New Operating System

BootMagic makes installing multiple OSs on your system easy. Follow these general guidelines when installing a new OS:

•	Before installing any new OS, it is recommended that you back up your system and make bootable diskettes for both your current OS and BootMagic. Although the backup and boot diskettes may never be necessary, they provide a safety net should any problems occur.

For instructions on creating an OS boot diskette, see Creating an Operating System Boot Diskette. For instructions on creating a BootMagic rescue diskette, see “Creating A BootMagic Rescue Diskette” (page 3) in the BootMagic User Guide.

•	Some OSs require you to reboot your computer during installation. If this happens, go ahead and reboot as required. If the BootMagic Menu appears, press <Esc> twice. This automatically boots your system to the active partition, which should be the partition to which you are installing the OS.

•	If an OS installation gives you the option of installing the OS boot code to either the master boot record (MBR) or the partition, choose the partition. Otherwise, the OS installation will overwrite the BootMagic MBR and disable BootMagic.

If the MBR is overwritten by mistake, or if BootMagic fails to appear after an OS installation, you can easily fix the problem by running the BootMagic configuration program (either from your hard drive or from the BootMagic rescue diskette) and re-enabling BootMagic. When you save the configuration and exit the program, BootMagic rewrites the MBR.

•	After installing a new OS, you must run BootMagic’s configuration program to add the new OS to the BootMagic Menu. New OSs are not automatically added to the menu.

NOTE:  For more information on the installation requirements of a specific OS, click one of the links below:

•	DOS

•	Windows 3.x

•	Windows 95/98

•	Windows NT

•	OS/2

•	BeOS

•	Linux

You can install an OS to either a primary or logical partition.

Installing to a Primary Partition

If you want to install an OS to a primary partition, follow these steps:

1.	Create the partition using PartitionMagic or a similar partitioning utility.

2.	Make the primary partition active using PartitionMagic, PQBoot or BMBoot.

3.	When finished, reboot your computer and insert the OS’s installation disk.

4.	Proceed with the installation as normal.

Installing to a Logical Partition

Some OSs can also be installed to a logical partition. In fact, if you plan to install either Windows NT or OS/2 to its own partition, it is recommended that you install to a logical partition. Please note that Windows NT requires a few boot files to be located on a primary partition on the first hard drive.

If you want to install Windows NT to a logical partition, follow these steps:

1.	Decide on which primary partition you want to have the Windows NT boot files located.

2.	Make that primary partition active using PartitionMagic, PQBoot or BMBoot.

3.	Insert the Windows NT installation disk and reboot the computer.

4.	Proceed with the installation as normal.

If you want to install OS/2 to a logical partition, follow these steps:

1.	Insert the OS/2 installation disk and reboot your computer.

2.	Proceed with the installation as normal.


 DOS - Installation Issues

BootMagic supports the installation of most versions of DOS. In general, DOS must be installed on the first hard drive and in a primary FAT partition that starts within the first 2 GB of the drive. To ensure proper operation with BootMagic, we further recommend that DOS be installed completely within the first 2 GB of the drive.

NOTE:  BootMagic can boot some installations of DOS from a primary FAT partition on the second drive. For more information, see Booting Operating Systems From a Second Drive.

Some versions of DOS repartition, reformat, or otherwise reconfigure the hard drive during installation. This can result in data loss on one or more of the drive’s partitions. Therefore, if prompted to partition, format, or configure the drive during a DOS installation, deny the request.

If a DOS installation refuses to proceed unless it reconfigures the drive, follow these steps:

1.	Exit setup.

2.	At the A:\ prompt, type SYS <drive letter:>, where drive letter is the letter of the drive to which you are installing DOS.

The SYS command copies the DOS system files to the drive.

3.	Reboot your computer, leaving the installation disk in the floppy drive, and restart setup.

4.	Once it detects the system files on the drive, the DOS setup asks if you would like to replace the current operating system. Select Yes, and proceed with the installation.


 Windows 3.x - Installation Issues

Windows 3.x cannot run as an independent operating system. Instead, it must run on top of an active DOS OS. Consequently, Windows 3.x is limited by the same restrictions that apply to DOS.

NOTE:  For information on DOS-specific installation issues, see DOS.

Because Windows 3.x is not an independent OS, BootMagic does not recognize it as bootable. In other words, BootMagic will not boot directly to Windows 3.x. Instead, it boots the DOS over which Windows 3.x runs. If you wish to boot Windows 3.x from BootMagic, follow these steps:

1.	Add the DOS OS to the BootMagic Menu and boot to that DOS.

2.	Use a text editor (such as EDIT.COM) to edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

3.	Add the WIN command as the last line of the file.

This command causes DOS to automatically launch Windows 3.x.

4.	Run the BootMagic configuration program.

5.	Rename the DOS OS item and change its icon to identify it as Windows 3.x.

6.	Click Save/Exit.

The Windows 3.x selection appears in the BootMagic Menu.

NOTE:  For more information on editing the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, see your DOS or Windows 3.x documentation.


 Windows 95/98 - Installation Issues

In general, both Windows 95 and Windows 98 must be installed in a primary partition on the first hard drive.

NOTE:  BootMagic can boot some installations of Windows 95/98 from a primary FAT partition on the second drive. For more information, see Booting Operating Systems From a Second Drive.

The Windows partition may be a FAT32 partition only if you are installing Windows 95B (sometimes referred to as Windows 95 OSR2) or Windows 98.

During installation, Windows 95/98 replaces the master boot record (MBR), overwriting the BootMagic MBR. To correct this problem, follow these steps:

1.	After you install Windows 95/98, run the BootMagic configuration program.

To run the BootMagic configuration program from the home partition (i.e., the partition in which Bootmagic is installed):

a.	Click Start > Programs > PowerQuest BootMagic > BootMagic Configuration on the Windows taskbar.

If you are not in the home partition:

a.	Boot using the BootMagic rescue diskette.

NOTE:  For more information on creating a rescue diskette, see “Creating a BootMagic Rescue Diskette” (page 3) in the BootMagic User Guide.

b.	Follow the instructions to run the BootMagic configuration program.

2.	In the configuration program, check the BootMagic Enabled check box to re-enable BootMagic.

3.	Click Save/Exit. The configuration program rewrites the BootMagic MBR.


 Windows NT 3.5x/4.0 - Installation Issues

Windows NT can be installed in either a primary or logical partition on any hard drive; however, the NT boot partition (i.e., the partition containing the boot files NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, and BOOT.INI) must lie completely within the first 2 GB of the first hard drive in a primary partition.

Windows NT 4.0 and earlier do not support FAT32, and therefore, cannot be installed on any FAT32 partition.

Windows NT can be installed in three different configurations:

•	You can install all the Windows NT files in a single NTFS or FAT primary partition. This configuration is most often used when NT is the first OS installed on a system.

•	You can install most of the Windows NT files in a logical partition, but install the NT boot files within the first 2 GB of a visible, primary NTFS or FAT partition on the first drive. If you wish to install Windows NT to its own partition, this is the suggested configuration.

•	You can also install Windows NT so that the boot files are placed in one primary NTFS or FAT partition on the first drive, and the rest of the NT files are in another primary partition. Both partitions must be visible in order for NT to boot.

NOTE:  If BootMagic doesn’t automatically make the correct partitions visible, you can unhide the necessary partition(s). For more information, see Visible Partitions.


 OS/2 - Installation Issues

OS/2 can be installed in either a primary or logical partition on any hard drive; however, the boot files and system partition must lie completely within the first 2 GB of the hard drive. OS/2 data partitions may be installed elsewhere.

OS/2 must be installed on either a FAT or HPFS partition.

NOTE:  If you wish to install OS/2 in its own partition, it is recommended that you install it in a logical partition.

If OS/2 is installed to any partition other than a primary partition on the first drive, OS/2 requires Boot Manager to be present during installation. However, once OS/2 is installed, BootMagic detects the partition and Boot Manager can be removed.

The OS/2 hard disk drivers may not support drives over 4 GB. If an error message appears during installation, informing you that there is not enough free space on the drive or partition, you will need to download the OS/2 drivers for large drive support. You may download these drivers at ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/os2ddpak/idedasd.exe.


 BeOS - Installation Issues

BeOS can be installed on any drive and in any primary partition, except for the home partition (i.e. the partition in which Bootmagic is installed). BeOS partitions use the BeOS file system. To install BeOS, simply follow the normal installation procedures.


 Linux - Installation Issues

Linux can be installed on any drive and in any primary or logical partition, except for the home partition (i.e., the partition in which BootMagic is installed). Linux partitions use the Linux Ext2 file system.

When installing Linux, do not install LILO in the master boot record (MBR); LILO will overwrite the BootMagic MBR. Instead, install LILO to the Linux partition.

Do not set up partitions with Linux FDISK; it may render partition tables unreadable to other OSs. Linux FDISK can be used, however, to change a partition type to Linux Ext2 or to swap partition types.

Do not set up partitions with Disk Druid as it may also render logical partition tables unreadable to some OSs and hard disk utilities. However, Disk Druid can still be used to change partition types and/or set partition mount points.


Booting Operating Systems From the Second Drive
 Booting Operating Systems From a Second Drive

BootMagic supports booting most OSs from the second drive. Some OSs, such as OS/2, Linux, and BeOS, are designed to boot from any disk. Others, such as Windows 95/98, Windows NT, and DOS, do not commonly support second-drive booting.

NOTE:  Each OS has its own installation restrictions. For more information on specific OS installations, click one of the links below:

•	DOS

•	Windows 3.x

•	Windows 95/98

•	Windows NT

•	OS/2

•	BeOS

•	Linux

If a specific OS doesn’t support installation to a second drive, the OS can sometimes be installed on the first drive and then copied to the second drive with PartitionMagic, Drive Image, or a similar hard disk utility. Once copied, BootMagic detects the OS partition and boots it without problem. This method works with OSs such as Windows 95/98 and DOS.

Windows NT is the one exception. No NT configuration supports booting solely from the second drive. Even when the majority of NT files are located on the second drive, the NT boot code must still reside on the first disk.

NOTE:  BootMagic does not hide or unhide partitions on any drive other than the first. Because DOS, Windows 95/98, and OS/2 each require that they be the only visible, active, primary OS partition, only one primary partition-based OS may be installed on the second drive. Additional OSs on the second drive will not boot unless they can be installed to a logical partition or are manually hidden and unhidden at each boot attempt.


 Third Drive Booting and Beyond

BootMagic recognizes partitions on the third and fourth drives and can even boot an OS from these drives; however, you must consider the following restrictions:

•	For DOS, Windows 95, and OS/2, all primary partitions on all previous drives must be hidden before booting.

Although BootMagic hides the first drive partitions, it does not hide any partitions on the second, third or fourth drives. You must be willing to manually hide and unhide these partitions with every attempt to boot.

•	Only OSs that support installation to any drive (e.g., OS/2, Linux, BeOS, etc.) should be installed on the third or fourth drives.


 Boot Management Software

BootMagic cannot be used with other boot management software. If you are currently using another boot utility (e.g., System Commander, Select-It, etc.), you must either disable or uninstall it before installing BootMagic.

One exception is IBM’s Boot Manager. Boot Manager occupies its own partition instead of altering the master boot record, and therefore does not affect BootMagic. However, after BootMagic is installed, Boot Manager may not work properly. For more information on Boot Manager, see “Upgrading from Boot Manager” (page 4) in the BootMagic User Guide.


 Drive Overlay Software

Dynamic drive overlay (DDO) software is often used to configure large IDE hard drives in situations where the system BIOS limits drive capacity to 540 MB, 2.1 GB, or 4.2 GB. The DDO translates the drive into a configuration that the BIOS can understand, allowing access to the full drive space.

BootMagic can be used with most new DDO software. However, because the DDO determines how the BIOS interprets your system drives and partitions, the DDO must be loaded before you install or run BootMagic. Otherwise, BootMagic will not get the correct information from your drive and may even overwrite the drive overlay code.

Ontrack Disk Manager

BootMagic can be used with Disk Manager versions 6.03 and later. However, the following limitations must be observed:

•	Disk Manager must be installed using Ontrack Proprietary Format. Although Disk Manager can be installed with either Ontrack Proprietary Format or BIOS Standard Format, BootMagic is only compatible with the Ontrack format. BIOS Standard Format prevents the BootMagic loader from being installed and executed at system boot up.

•	Disk Manager cannot be installed on any disk drives other than the first hard drive. If Disk Manager is used on any other drives, you will not be able to install BootMagic.

•	Disk Manager must be loaded before you install or run BootMagic. To load Disk Manager, boot your system from the hard drive (i.e., without a floppy boot diskette). If you need to boot from a floppy disk, wait until the following message appears: “Press the spacebar to boot from floppy.” Press <Space>, then insert the boot floppy as instructed. When finished booting your system, install or run BootMagic as normal.

MicroHouse EZ-Drive

BootMagic is compatible with EZ-Drive versions 8.0 and later. If you have an older version of EZ-Drive, you must either upgrade to a newer version or remove EZ-Drive from your system.

NOTE:  Before removing EZ-Drive, make sure your BIOS fully supports your system hard drive(s). Also be sure to back up all information on the drive; once you remove EZ-Drive, all data on the drive will be lost.

EZ-Drive can be installed either with or without Floppy Boot Protection. Both installations are supported by BootMagic.

EZ-Drive must be loaded before you install or run BootMagic. To load EZ-Drive, boot your system to the hard drive (i.e., without a floppy boot diskette). If you need to boot from a floppy disk, wait until the following message appears: “Loading EZ-BIOS: press Ctrl to view diagnostics or boot from floppy.” Press <Ctrl>, then insert the boot floppy as instructed. When finished booting your system, install or run BootMagic as normal.


 Anti-Virus Software

BootMagic is compatible with most anti-virus software (e.g., Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan, etc.). However, because these programs scan the master boot record (MBR) for viruses, they may interpret BootMagic’s modifications to the MBR as a potential attack. If this occurs, do not attempt to repair the MBR using the anti-virus software. You will overwrite BootMagic’s customized MBR and completely disable the program. If necessary, most anti-virus programs allow you to manually disable MBR virus detection.

Some motherboards also contain virus protection software within the BIOS. This software can occasionally cause problems by preventing BootMagic from making changes to the MBR. If this occurs, simply disable the virus warning option in the CMOS setup of your system BIOS.


 Frequently-Asked Questions

I installed BootMagic, so why do I keep getting my old boot manager whenever I start my computer?

BootMagic cannot be used with boot management utilities other than Boot Manager. All other boot utilities must be disabled or uninstalled before you install BootMagic. After you install BootMagic and restart your system, if BootMagic is not the boot utility that first appears, disable the other utility and then run BootMagic’s configuration program to re-enable BootMagic.

My Boot Manager program stopped booting correctly after I installed BootMagic. How can I fix it?

If Boot Manager does not boot your OSs correctly after BootMagic is installed, try the following fix:

1.	Launch the BootMagic configuration program.

2.	In the BootMagic Runtime Menu list, select the Boot Manager menu item.

3.	Click Properties.

The BootMagic Menu Items Properties dialog appears.

4.	Select the Visible Partitions tab.

5.	In the Visible Partitions page, checkmark the Override Default Selections check box.

6.	Checkmark any hidden partition that is not grayed out.

7.	Click OK.

8.	Click Save/Exit to save your changes and exit the configuration program.

9.	When you launch Boot Manager from BootMagic, Boot Manager should now correctly boot your OSs.

Why does BootMagic always boot to the operating system that I just installed?

Some OS installations overwrite the master boot record (MBR). If this occurs, BootMagic is disabled and your computer boots to the last operating system you installed. If you have access to the \BTMAGIC.PQ directory, run CONFIG.BAT under DOS or BMCFG32.EXE under Windows. Once in the configuration program, check the BootMagic Enabled box, then click Save/Exit to restore the BootMagic MBR.

NOTE:  If you do not have access to the \BTMAGIC.PQ directory, you can use the BootMagic rescue diskette to run the configuration program.

I installed a new operating system. Where is it?

BootMagic does not automatically incorporate a new OS into the BootMagic Menu; you must add it using the configuration program. When you finish installing the new operating system and reboot your system, the BootMagic Menu should appear. Boot an OS from which you can run the BootMagic configuration program. You may also use the BootMagic rescue diskette to access the configuration program. Once in the configuration program, add the newly installed OS to the menu list.

NOTE:  For more information on adding an OS to the menu list, see Adding an Operating System.

If the BootMagic Menu doesn’t appear upon reboot, the new OS installation has probably overwritten the MBR. See the question “Why does BootMagic always boot to the operating system that I just installed?” for more information.

Why does my data partition appear as an operating system in the Add OS list?

If you have a primary NTFS partition on the first disk, it appears in the BootMagic Add OS list as Windows NT. Depending on how you installed NT, this partition may or may not be bootable. If both the NT boot files and the NT system files are installed in this partition, the partition is bootable. If the partition only contains NT data files, it cannot be booted.

If you have a primary HPFS partition, it also appears in the BootMagic Add OS list, but as OS/2. Again, this partition may or may not be bootable. If OS/2 is installed in the partition, it can be booted. If the partition only contains data files, it cannot be booted.

Finally, primary FAT16 or FAT32 data partitions may appear as versions of DOS or Windows 95/98; however, because these data partitions contain no OS, they are not bootable.

Extra OS listings may appear confusing, but the problem is easily resolved. Run the BootMagic configuration program. Look through the listed OSs, using the disk and partition information in the BootMagic Menu Item Properties dialog to distinguish bootable OS partitions from non-bootable partitions. As you identify each OS, simply remove any unwanted or non-bootable entries from the menu.

For more information on distinguishing a bootable partition from a non-bootable partition, see Finding the Right Operating System.

Why isn’t my operating system in the BootMagic Add OS list?

BootMagic may not always detect all of the OSs that are installed. If your OS does not appear in the BootMagic Add OS list, simply mark the Advanced check box to display all the partitions on your system. Select the partition that contains the desired OS, and add it to the BootMagic Menu.

For more information on finding an OS that doesn’t appear in the BootMagic Add OS list, see Finding the Right Operating System.

Why does the DOS OS installation tell me DOS is already installed?

Some DOS installations look at all visible partitions on your system; if they find another partition with the DOS system files installed, you may get this message. To install the new DOS OS, hide all other partitions that contain DOS system files, then install the new DOS OS.

My operating system used to boot, so why do I now get a “non-system disk” or similar error?

Some OSs, such as DOS and Windows NT, may stop booting if the partition crosses the 2.1 GB boundary. To resolve the problem, move or resize the partition to below 2.1 GB.

After installation, why does the BootMagic Menu list more operating systems than I have?

After installation, BootMagic sorts through all your system’s hard disks, looking at the partition tables and gathering information about each possible OS. While this method reliably detects most OSs, it may also detect some non-OS partitions. For example, if you have a primary NTFS data partition on the first disk, BootMagic detects it as Windows NT. Likewise, an HPFS data partition may be detected as OS/2 and a FAT16 or FAT32 data partition as MS-DOS or Windows 95/98.

After gathering all this information, BootMagic then adds every detected OS to the BootMagic Runtime Menu list. If you click Save/Exit at this point, all the listed OSs appear in the BootMagic Menu.

Extra OS listings may appear confusing, but the problem is easily resolved. Run the BootMagic configuration program again. Look through the listed OSs, using the disk and partition information in the BootMagic Menu Item Properties dialog to distinguish bootable OS partitions from non-bootable partitions. As you identify each OS, simply remove any unwanted or non-bootable entries from the menu.

For more information on differentiating between OS partitions and non-bootable partitions, see Finding the Right Operating System.


 Recovering a Failed Operating System

A working OS may suddenly stop booting if a disk crash, virus, or other errors corrupt and destroy key system files. Although alarming, this problem can often be solved by restoring or repairing the damaged files. The following information provides basic recovery techniques for DOS, Windows 95/98, and Windows NT. If you have questions about other OSs, or for more in-depth information on the above OSs, please consult the OS manufacturer’s documentation and support resources.

Before attempting to recover any non-working OS, first boot to the failed OS using BootMagic. This ensures that BootMagic sets the corresponding partition active and makes all necessary partitions visible.

After booting through BootMagic, reboot your computer using the appropriate OS boot diskette. If an OS boot diskette is unavailable, a DOS boot diskette may sometimes be used to examine system files and detect potential problems.

NOTE:  Do not use the BootMagic rescue diskette to restore system files.

DOS

MS-DOS requires a boot record and the following three files for proper operation: IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM. PC-DOS and other PC-type DOSs require a boot record and the following three files: IBMBIO.COM, IBMDOS.COM, and COMMAND.COM. Both MS-DOS and the PC-type DOSs may also need CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. If present, these files may contain information required for DOS to boot properly. All DOS system files are usually found in the C:\ root directory.

CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT are both text files, and can be edited directly. The boot record and remaining files can be restored from a diskette with an identical version of DOS. Boot from the diskette, then at the DOS prompt, copy the needed files from the diskette. If it is necessary to restore the boot record, type SYS C: at the DOS prompt (assuming C: is the DOS root directory).

Once you finish examining and/or restoring the boot record and system files, remove the DOS boot diskette from your computer and reboot to the OS through BootMagic.

Windows 95/98

In addition to the boot record, Windows 95/98 needs five working files to get to a DOS/Windows prompt: CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, IO.SYS, COMMAND.COM, and MSDOS.SYS. These files are usually located in the C:\ root directory.

During the installation of Windows 95/98, users can create a start up diskette that will restore these system files. This diskette should be used if you need to recover Windows 95/98.

If a start up disk is unavailable, you can create a Windows 95/98 boot diskette. Once you have a boot diskette, the following information may help in recovering the needed system files.

NOTE:  For more information on making a boot diskette, see Creating an Operating System Boot Diskette.

Each of the five needed files should be examined to determine whether or not it is damaged. In general, the text file CONFIG.SYS should contain a shell statement pointing to the Windows 95/98 subdirectory. Likewise, the text file AUTOEXEC.BAT should contain a path statement, one portion of which points to the Windows 95/98 \COMMAND subdirectory and not to the old \DOS directory. If needed, both these files can be edited directly.

NOTE:  Some valid Windows 95/98 configurations may have empty or non-existent CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. These files are not always necessary for Windows 95/98.

If either IO.SYS or COMMAND.COM is corrupted, you can copy these files from the Windows 95/98 boot diskette.

NOTE:  IO.SYS is a hidden system file; you must use the ATTRIB -H command to make this file visible before it can be copied.

If the wrong MSDOS.SYS file appears, be sure to search the entire drive for another instance of the file. If no valid copy is found, copy this file from the Windows 95/98 boot diskette.

NOTE:  MSDOS.SYS is a hidden system file; you must use the ATTRIB -H command to make this file visible before it can be copied.

If you need to reload the boot record, but have a valid copy of MSDOS.SYS, you must first rename the MSDOS.SYS file in the Windows 95/98 root directory. Otherwise, the SYS command used to load the boot record will overwrite the MSDOS.SYS file with a useless copy. Use the Windows 95/98 boot diskette to boot to the DOS/Windows prompt, then rename MSDOS.SYS using the following commands:

NOTE:  In this example, C:\ is assumed to contain the hard drive Windows 95/98 root directory.

A:\> C:

C:\> ATTRIB -H -S -R MSDOS.SYS

C:\> COPY MSDOS.SYS MSDOS.TMP

Now you can reload the boot record with the following commands:

C:\> A:

A:\> SYS C:

NOTE:  Using the SYS command may sometimes create an entirely new Windows 95/98 OS, leaving your old Windows OS still unusable.

Finally, restore the correct MSDOS.SYS file with the following commands:

A:\> C:

C:\> ATTRIB -H -S -R MSDOS.SYS

C:\> COPY MSDOS.TMP MSDOS.SYS

Once you finish examining and/or restoring the boot record and system files, remove the Windows 95/98 boot diskette from your computer and reboot to the OS through BootMagic.

Windows NT 3.51/4.0

Windows NT requires three boot files: NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, and BOOT.INI. Additional files, such as CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, IO.SYS, COMMAND.COM, and MSDOS.SYS, may also be needed if you had MS-DOS or another OS installed before you installed NT.

During the installation of Windows NT, users can create an NT repair diskette that will restore these system files. This disk simplifies the correction of most basic NT problems.

For Windows NT 3.51, boot directly from the repair diskette. Follow the directions to restore your system files. If you did not make an repair disk, the NT installation disk can be used instead. When you boot from the installation diskette, you are prompted to either install NT or perform a repair. Select the repair option, then follow the on-screen directions.

For Windows NT 4.0, use the three NT boot diskettes made during installation to boot into the NT Setup Program. In the Setup screen, choose the option to repair the current NT installation. Insert the NT emergency repair diskette when prompted, then follow the on-screen directions to restore your system files.

Once you finish all necessary repairs, remove the Windows NT diskette from your computer and reboot to the OS through BootMagic.


 Creating an Operating System Boot Diskette

Boot diskettes are an invaluable tool for diagnosing and repairing certain OS problems. Some OSs, such as Windows 95/98 and Windows NT, give you an opportunity to create a rescue boot diskette during installation. This is the diskette that should be used if you ever experience OS failure.

DOS does not automatically provide an option for creating a boot diskette. However, you can easily create a boot diskette for DOS. You can also create a boot disk for Windows 95/98, if necessary.

To create a boot diskette, follow these steps:

1.	Insert a blank, formatted disk into drive A.

2.	If you are running Windows 95/98;

a.	On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run.

b.	Type SYS A:, then press <Enter>.

Or

If you are running DOS;

a.	At the DOS prompt, type SYS A:, then press <Enter>.

The system files are copied onto the floppy disk.

3.	Copy the following files from your hard disk to the A: drive: SYS.COM, EDIT.COM, FDISK.EXE, FORMAT.COM, and ATTRIB.EXE. In Windows 95/98, these files are usually located in the \WINDOWS\COMMAND subdirectory. In DOS, these files can be found in the \DOS subdirectory.

4.	You may also wish to copy additional files, such as a CD-ROM driver, SCANDISK.EXE, CHKDSK.EXE, or XCOPY.COM. These files extend the capabilities of your boot diskette.

Your OS diskette now contains the basic files needed to boot your computer in case of OS failure. Be sure to write-protect the disk and clearly label it for easy identification.


 Error Messages and Solutions

BootMagic error messages and possible solutions are listed in this section by number. The messages are also grouped into number ranges by the following categories:

General Errors (0-49)

Menu Item & Configuration Errors (50-99)

Boot Errors (100-149)

File and Disk I/O Errors (150-199)

Parser Read/Write and General Errors (200-249)

Partition Table and Boot Record Errors (250-274)

BootMagic Configuration Errors (1000-1499)

NOTE:  If you encounter an error not mentioned in this appendix, visit PowerQuest’s website at http://www.powerquest.com for a complete listing.

General Errors (0-49)

# 1 	Error allocating memory: Need <number> bytes more memory

This error can occur when the number of OS items in the BootMagic menu requires more memory than is available. To solve this problem, simply run the configuration program, and delete one or more OS items from the menu list.

Menu Item & Configuration Errors (50-99)

#50 	No default menu item available to boot

This error usually occurs when you have set the Startup Delay to None or Timed, but have not selected a default OS. To resolve the problem, run the BootMagic configuration program, and then select a valid OS item as the system default.

#51 	Error finding operating system for menu item

BootMagic cannot boot the OS for a listed menu item, a situation that usually means the OS has been deleted from the partition. After displaying this error message, BootMagic automatically runs the configuration program and removes the faulty menu item for you. Save the change and exit the configuration program to return to the BootMagic Menu.

Occasionally, however, this error message appears even when a valid OS is present. If this is the case, simply run the configuration program again and re-add the OS to the menu.

#54 	No menu item entries found in configuration file

The configuration file is either empty or corrupted. Run the BootMagic configuration program and, after deleting any listed items, re-add all desired OSs to the menu.

#55 	The master boot record file <filename> is too large

BootMagic operates by replacing your system’s master boot record (MBR) with a version configured to load and execute the BootMagic program at startup. This error message appears if the file containing the boot code for the BootMagic MBR loader is too large. Reinstall BootMagic so that the file is rewritten with the proper contents.

Boot Errors (100-149)

#102 	Unable to find additional partition for menu item: <menu item>

This error only occurs with Windows NT menu items. Run the configuration program and BootMagic should automatically delete the Windows NT menu item. Re-adding the NT menu item to the list should correct the error.

If this error continues to appear, contact PowerQuest’s technical support department. For more information on contacting technical support, see PowerQuest Technical Support.

#109 	Unable to find partition for menu item: <menu item>

BootMagic cannot find the partition for a listed menu item, a situation that usually means the partition has been deleted. After displaying this error message, BootMagic automatically runs the configuration program and removes the faulty menu item for you. Save the change and exit the configuration program to return to the BootMagic Menu.

Occasionally, however, this error message appears even when a valid partition and OS are present. If this is the case, simply run the configuration program again and re-add the OS to the menu.

File and Disk I/O Errors (150-199)

#150 	Open file failed on file

BootMagic cannot open a needed file. Attempt to fix the problem by simply launching the configuration program, then clicking Save/Exit. If that proves unsuccessful, re-install BootMagic.

#151 	Create file failed on file

BootMagic cannot create a necessary file. This error may mean you are out of disk space; create additional space either by deleting unnecessary files or by making the partition larger.

#152 	Read file failed on file

BootMagic cannot read a necessary file. Attempt to fix the problem by simply launching the configuration program, then clicking Save/Exit. If that proves unsuccessful, re-install BootMagic.

#153 	Write file failed on file

BootMagic cannot write needed information to a file. This error may mean you are out of disk space; create additional space either by deleting unnecessary files or by making the partition larger.

#155 	Error opening drive

BootMagic cannot open the necessary drive, and therefore cannot launch the configuration program. If you are running Windows NT or Windows 95/98, close all other programs and disk utilities, then try running the configuration program again.

#156 	Error getting drive geometry

BootMagic cannot detect the needed drive geometry, and therefore cannot launch the configuration program. If you are running Windows NT or Windows 95/98, close all other programs and disk utilities, then try running the configuration program again.

#162 	EZ-Drive has been installed on this drive, but is not loaded. Load EZ-Drive and then rerun BootMagic install.

If EZ-Drive is installed on your hard drive, it must be loaded before you can install BootMagic. Otherwise, BootMagic could potentially overwrite the drive overlay code. To solve this problem, reboot your system to the hard drive (i.e., without a floppy boot diskette) so that EZ-Drive is loaded properly. If you need to boot from a floppy disk, wait until the following message appears: “Loading EZ-BIOS: press Ctrl to view diagnostics or boot from floppy.” Press <Ctrl>, then insert the boot floppy as instructed. When finished booting your system, install BootMagic as normal.

#163 	Disk Manager has been installed on this drive, but is not loaded. Load Disk Manager and then rerun BootMagic install.

If Disk Manager is installed on your hard drive, it must be loaded before you can install BootMagic. Otherwise, BootMagic could potentially overwrite the drive overlay code. To solve this problem, reboot your system to the hard drive (i.e., without a floppy boot diskette) so that Disk Manager is loaded properly. If you need to boot from a floppy disk, wait until the following message appears: “Press the spacebar to boot from floppy.” Press <Space>, then insert the boot floppy as instructed. When finished booting your system, install BootMagic as normal.

#164 	The configuration of Disk Manager on this drive prevents BootMagic installation.

Disk Manager is installed on the drive using BIOS standard format. This format is incompatible with BootMagic.

#166 	Error writing sector number.

This error may be caused by any of the following:

a.	If this error message is preceded by a black box and/or several beeps, you need to disable the virus warning in the CMOS setup of your system’s BIOS Features menu. If the virus warning is disabled and this error still occurs, your hard disk may be defective. Use a disk-checking utility (e.g., SCANDISK, CHKDSK, etc.) to detect any problems.

b.	Installing BootMagic while in Windows sometimes causes this error. If this is the case, exit to DOS and install BootMagic from there.

c.	Launching the DOS configuration program while in Windows sometimes causes this error. If this is the case, exit to DOS and run the configuration program from there.

d.	Anti-virus software or hard drive overlays may cause this error. If the problem is an overlay, BootMagic is probably incompatible with the drive translation software that created the overlay. For more information on software interactions, see Anti-Virus Software or Drive Overlay Software.

#168 	Error loading file PQVXD.VXD

PQVXD.VXD is needed by Windows 95 to access the hard disk. The Windows 95 configuration was either unable to find this file, or the file is corrupted. Re-install BootMagic to replace the file.

Parser Read/Write and General Errors (200-249)

For all errors in this number range: run the configuration program, then re-add any lost menu items to the BootMagic Menu. Save your changes and exit.

Partition Table and Boot Record Errors (250-274)

#255 	Error writing master boot record

This error may be caused by any of the following:

a.	If this error message is preceded by a black box and/or several beeps, you need to disable the virus warning in the CMOS setup of your system’s BIOS Features menu. If the virus warning is disabled and this error still occurs, your hard disk may be defective. Use a disk-checking utility (e.g., SCANDISK, CHKDSK, etc.) to detect any problems.

b.	Installing BootMagic while in Windows sometimes causes this error. If this is the case, exit to DOS and install BootMagic from there.

c.	Launching the DOS configuration program while in Windows sometimes causes this error. If this is the case, exit to DOS and run the configuration program from there.

d.	Anti-virus software or hard drive overlays may cause this error. If the problem is an overlay, BootMagic is probably incompatible with the drive translation software that created the overlay. For more information on software interactions, see Anti-Virus Software or Drive Overlay Software.

#256 	Unable to write BootMagic loader to MBR, not enough free sectors.

BootMagic operates by replacing your system’s master boot record (MBR) with a version configured to load and execute the BootMagic program at startup. This error message appears if there aren’t enough free sectors at the beginning of the hard drive for the BootMagic loader to be installed. If the hard drive was previously configured with a drive overlay that you are no longer using, some portion of that overlay may still be present. Use the overlay program’s setup software to uninstall the overlay completely, and then try again to install BootMagic. If this doesn’t work, or if a drive overlay program was never used, contact PowerQuest’s technical support department. For more information on contacting technical support, see PowerQuest Technical Support.

BootMagic Configuration Errors (1000-1499)

#1002	  Unable to find operating system for the menu item: <menu item>. This menu item will be removed.

BootMagic cannot find the OS for a listed menu item, a situation that usually means the OS has been deleted. After displaying this error message, BootMagic automatically removes the faulty OS item from the menu list.

Occasionally, however, this error message appears even when a valid OS is present. If this is the case, simply re-add the OS to the menu.

#1004	  Invalid icon file for menu item: <menu item>

The file selected is not a valid icon file. Choose a new icon file for the menu item.


 PowerQuest Technical Support

Before Contacting Technical Support

PowerQuest is committed to providing you with comprehensive technical support. However, before contacting our technical support department, please try to resolve your problem by using this help system, the BootMagic User Guide, the README file, and PowerQuest’s corporate website (http://www.powerquest.com). The website contains a wide array of information, including technical white papers, Frequently-Asked Questions, and support information.

If you cannot get the help you need from these resources, you can contact our technical support department via fax, BBS, telephone, email, or postal service mail. PowerQuest offers free technical support to registered users for 90 days from the date of purchase.

Technical Support

Fax

Location	Number
USA	(801) 434-3060
Europe	(+31) 20 582 9260

Fax the PowerQuest Problem Report and a description of your problem to the technical support fax number. This service is available in the U.S., Canada, and Europe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We try to respond to all fax requests within 24 hours.

Faxback

Location	Number
USA	(801) 437-7921
USA Toll Free	(800) 720-0391
BBS

Location	Number
USA	(801) 226-5608

Call the PowerQuest bulletin board for product information and answers to frequently-asked technical questions. The correct modem setup is N-8-1. Our BBS supports transmission speeds from 1200bps to 28.8Kbps.

Telephone

Language	Location	Number
English	USA	(801) 226-6834
Dutch	Netherlands	(+31) 20 581 3906
English	Netherlands	(+31) 20 581 3907
English	UK	(+44) 0171 341 55 17
French	France	(+33) 1 69 32 49 30
German	Germany	(+49) 069 66 568 516

Our USA call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., MST/MDT. Our European call centers are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 CET. Please have the information from the PowerQuest Problem Report ready for the technical support technician.

E-mail

Language	Location	E-mail
English	USA	support@powerquest.com
Italian	USA	italian@powerquest.com
Portuguese	USA	latina@powerquest.com
Spanish	USA	spanish@powerquest.com
Dutch	Netherlands	eurots@powerquest.com
English	Netherlands	eurots@powerquest.com
English	UK	eurots@powerquest.com
French	France	france@powerquest.com
German	Germany	germany@powerquest.com

Please include the information from the PowerQuest Problem Report with a description of your problem in your e-mail message.

Postal Service Mail

USA	Europe
PowerQuest Corporation	PowerQuest
PO Box 1911	Orlyplein 85
Orem, Utah 84059-1911	1043 DS
	Amsterdam
	The Netherlands

Please include the information from the PowerQuest Problem Report with a description of your problem. Be sure to also include a return address, a daytime phone number, or other relevant contact information.


 Problem Report

When you contact technical support, please have the following information ready:

Company Name:_________________________________________________________

Your Name:_____________________________________________________________

Your Voice Phone Number:_________________________________________________

Your Fax Number:________________________________________________________

BootMagic Serial Number:_________________________________________________

Computer Manufacturer:__________________________________________________

Computer Model and Model Number:_________________________________________

Date of Computer Manufacture:_____________________________________________

Processor Type (486, Pentium):_____________________________________________

Amount of Memory (RAM):_________________________________________________

Operating System / Version Number (Windows 98, OS/2, Linux, etc.):________________

Other Hardware (include bus type—ISA, EISA, MCA, PCI, VESA—as well as hard disk model and external drives):

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Memory Resident Software (include memory managers and their version numbers—for example, OnTrack Disk Manager 6.0 or EZ-Drive 7.0):

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Problem Description:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________