Even though the following is for Windows 95 users, much applies to Windows 3.1 also.
The number one problem with the Startup Diskette, is when you created it by going to MY COMPUTER, and CONTROL PANEL, and ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS, and then CREATE STARTUP DISK. Windows 95 does not copy the necessary files and drivers needed to access the CD-ROM to the diskette. When you crash the hard drive and lose everything (including CD-ROM access), and BOOT up on the Startup Disk, you still will not have a CD-ROM. If you have lost your Windows, and your Windows is on a CD, you have to be able to access your Windows 95 CD in order to put it all back and/or retrieve files and drivers when prompted to "insert Windows 95 CD".
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You might want to consider creating 2 Startup disks. One disk straight from the Win95 'Create Startup Disk', the other the same with the addition of some other files so that you can access your CD Rom. Write protect both Startup disks after you have added your files and finished any editing, to protect from any possible virus.
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Before starting, you might want to print out a copy of your Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files that will be found on your C:. It is a good idea to have a printed copy of both of these files for emergency reference.
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You should have a diskette or two that came with your computer system that is used to install the CD-ROM. Or you should be able to find the CD Rom driver in your Windows folder. Mine is in my \Windows\Command folder and is called Sgidecd.sys. Yours could have a different name, depending on the manufacturer, but will have the sys extension. You should probably see a line of coding in your Config.sys file that loads this driver.
Mine says: devicehigh=C:\Windows\Command\sgidecd.sys /d:mscd000 (the /d: is a switch, not a reference to my D: drive and the 000 are zeros and not the letter O)
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For a Regular Windows 95 STARTUP DISK:
Insert floppy disk into Drive A:
MY COMPUTER, and CONTROL PANEL, and ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS, and then CREATE STARTUP DISK.
The following files will appear on your STARTUP DISK:
Attrib.exe
Chkdsk.exe
Command.com
Debug.exe
Drvspace.bin
Ebd.sys
Edit.com
Fdisk.exe
Format.com
Io.sys
Msdow.sys
Regedit.exe
Scandisk.exe
Scandisk.ini
Sys.com
Uninstal.exe
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For a second Windows 95 STARTUP DISK including addtional files:
Create a STARTUP DISK the same as above, plus
Copy the following files from your HD to the new STARTUP DISK:
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Emm386.exe
Himem.sys
Mscdex.exe
Your CD driver file filename.sys (Mine happens to be Sgidecd.sys)
If you want to be able to use your mouse, you will need your mouse driver. To find the name of your mouse driver file(s), look in your Device Manager. To do this, go through CONTROL PANEL, SYSTEM. You will see all of your system information. Click on the Mouse. Click on Properties. Click on Driver Tab.
If you have difficulty finding any of the files on your HD, try using the Search option in Explorer under Tools.
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EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS only on the FLOPPY STARTUP DISK
You can open and edit these files using the Windows Notepad.
Be sure to change any C: to A: and remove any folder/directory designations, except the Windows\Command\Share.exe. If your Windows is not working correctly then this statement will be ignored. And you do not have to change the info in the PATH statement. You can either delete or REM (remark out) any statements that are obviously for your sound, or you can leave these as is, and nothing will happen. If you want to have sound when you boot from the STARTUP Disk, you would need to copy the files mentioned in the Autoexec.bat to your floppy, but you might not have enough room left. If you do not see a statement in your Autoexec.bat file for the MSCDEX.exe, you will have to add it. You will probably see the MSCDEX.exe statement in your Config.sys. Notice the parameters following the .exe. You will need to use the exact information in the statement that you add to your Autoexec.bat
In the AUTOEXEC.bat file you might need to designate the drive for your CD. This is done by adding a parameter to the MSCDEX.exe statement. My CD drive is J: so I have added /L:J
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Be sure to test both disks by booting your system with each of the disks to be sure they are correct. Your system should boot to the dos A: prompt. When testing the disk that has the additional files, be sure to test the access of your CD drive by having a CD in the drive, then try to read the CD by changing the drive designate at the A:>. (For example, my CD drive is J: , so at the A:> I type J: to read the CD.) Then at least do a dir command, or better yet, try to find a Readme file and open it.
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This might all sound very confusing and long, but it is really not difficult to do. If you do not get it right the first time, then your system just will not boot up as you wish. Remove the floppy and re-boot from your hard drive.
Below are copies of my Autoexec.bat and Config.sys that might be helpful as a guide to follow, but remember, each system is different:

AUTOEXEC.BAT:
@loadhigh C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SHARE.EXE /l:500 /f:5100
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4
@ECHO OFF
PATH D:\PAGEMGR;%path%;c:\diamond
SET NVJOY=ON
SET NVSB=OFF
SET NVMIDI=P330
SET NVDIR=C:\DIAMOND\EDGE3D
set SOUND16=C:\DIAMOND\
REM A:\SNDINIT.EXE /b
REM
REM
REM
A:\MSCDEX.exe /D:MSCD000 /L:J

CONFIG.SYS:
DEVICE=A:\NVINIT.SYS
device=A:\himem.sys
device=A:\emm386.exe noems
devicehigh=A:\sgidecd.sys /d:mscd000
REM devicehigh=C:\windows\command\sgidecd.sys /d:mscd000
dos=high,umb  
 
 
 

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