Create A MS-DOS Startup Disk

Since XP was released there has been a lot of confusion about startup disks, boot disks, and also MS-DOS startup disks. A MS-DOS startup disk is not a substitute for the boot disks that you might be familiar with from Windows 95/98/Me. It performs one function and one function only. It gets you to the A:\ prompt from a cold boot. The following list of files is placed on the MS-DOS startup disk when the procedure listed below is performed.Directory of A:\

AUTOEXEC.BAT
COMMAND.COM
KEYB.COM
MODE.COM
EGA.CPI
EGA2.CPI
EGA3.CPI
CONFIG.SYS
DISPLAY.SYS
IO.SYS
KEYBOARD.SYS
KEYBRD2.SYS
KEYBRD3.SYS
KEYBRD4.SYS
MSDOS.SYS
 


Insert a 3.5 floppy in the floppy drive.
Click [Start] [My Computer] then highlight the A:\ drive and right click.

Click [Format] to open the window below.

Check [Create an MS-DOS Startup Disk] [Start] and follow the prompts.

Note: The MS-DOS startup disk only allows the system to boot into an MS-DOS prompt. The disk contains no additional tools and is not a substitute for Windows XP Setup Boot Disks.

source : http://www.theeldergeek.com/create_ms-dos_startup_disk.htm