Non-System Disk or Disk Error on Remote Boot Client

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When a remote boot workstation attempts to boot using the boot block from the remote boot server, the following error may occur on the workstation:

   Non-System Disk or Disk Error.

CAUSE

When a remote boot server prepares the boot block for the workstation, it gathers the component files needed for the workstation to boot and have connectivity with the network. If some of the required MS-DOS boot files are missing or inaccessible, the "non-system disk or disk error" message may occur. The same message may be observed when you attempt to boot from an MS-DOS formatted floppy disk that does not contain the Msdos.sys or Io.sys files.

RESOLUTION

Make sure of the following:

1. Make sure that the share \\<Server>\Rplfiles exists and contains the Msdos.sys and Io.sys files.

2. Make sure that the Msdos.sys and Io.sys files do not have any access restrictions on them. On an MS-DOS disk, these files would normally have the read-only, system, and hidden attributes. The procedure for copying these files, as stated in the Microsoft Windows NT Installation Guide, removes these attributes before copying and does not restore them to the files that exist in the \\<Server>\Rplfiles share. Any restrictions on these files will prevent their inclusion in the boot block.

3. If you copied MS-DOS files from an operating system other than MS-DOS, you may need to rename them to Msdos.sys and Io.sys respectively.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on remote boot, please consult the Microsoft Windows NT Installation Guide.