1. To download DiscWizard Starter Edition (DWSE) you must first have access to a functional PC with Internet access.
2. The minimum download size is 2.4 MB and the video requirement needed to run the utility is 800x600 resolution.

Bootable Floppy Version

1. Download the DWSE diskette creator file to your hard drive.
2. Locate the downloaded file. Select the file, and run the executable by double-clicking it.
3. You will need (2) two blank 1.44 MB floppy diskettes.
4. Insert the first blank floppy when prompted and follow the on screen directions. At the prompt press “C” and insert the second blank floppy to complete the DWSE boot diskette creation.

Bootable ISO CD - Windows XP CD burning software

Unfortunately, as stated in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q279157:
"The CD-RW recording feature that is built in to the Windows XP shell does not support the creation of an International Standards Organization (ISO) image. To create an ISO image in Windows XP, you need to install a third party utility that supports this feature."

Bootable ISO CD - creating with Roxio Easy CD creator

1. Download the DiscWizard Starter Edition .ISO file to your hard drive.
2. Locate the downloaded file. Select the file, and then open the file by double-clicking it. Roxio Easy CD Creator will then launch.
3. Insert a blank CD-R in the drive.
4. At the record CD Setup screen select “Start Recording”. Follow the on screen prompts to complete the DWSE boot CD creation.
5. You may also create the boot CD by using the “Open this file from its current location” option instead of downloading the file to your hard drive.

Bootable ISO CD - creating with Ahead Software Nero version 5.5.24 or higher

1. Download the DiscWizard Starter Edition .ISO file to your hard drive.
2. Open your Nero Burning ROM software.
3. If the Nero Wizard opens by default then close it (click the close wizard button). Otherwise skip this step.
4. Click Cancel when the New Compilation window opens. Once this cancels you should be at the main Nero Burning Window.
5. From the pull down menu at the top of the Window, choose File > then select Burn Image. This will open a file-browsing box.
6. Choose the DWSE_EN.ISO file (after navigating to the location you downloaded it to) then click the Open button.
7. Now the Write CD window will open. Click the Write button.
8. Once the CD has completed writing you can discard the log file, close Nero, and reboot from the CD. Be sure you BIOS is set to boot from CD, otherwise you will just boot as normal.

More detailed steps with screen shots can be found on Ahead software's web site.

You may be able to create the bootable CD using software other than Roxio Easy CD Creator or Ahead Software’s Nero. Check with your software manufacturer for more information on creating a CD from an ISO image file. This is an .ISO image file. Do not burn the file to the CD as a simple data file. It must be treated as an .ISO image or it will not run the program properly.

How to use DiscWizard Starter Edition

1. Download the latest version of DiscWizard Starter Edition.
2. Boot to the DiscWizard Starter Edition floppy diskettes or CD.
3. From the DWSE main menu, select the "setup your hard disc" option.
4. Select the hard disc you want to install then click next.
5. When prompted, select the operating system you plan to use or install.
6. At the option menu, select "Easy Installation" and follow the system prompts. Easy installation makes configuration selections for you and will automatically install the default partition for that particular operating system. After a few "final warnings", the drive will be partitioned and formatted, and become accessible as a logical drive letter after rebooting. Press ENTER to continue.
7. If you require custom settings, select "Advanced Options". For "advanced options" You will also be prompted to choose what type of partition you want depending on what the operating system supports. After a few "final warnings", the drive will be partitioned and formatted, and become accessible as a logical drive letter after rebooting. Press ENTER to continue.
8. If a Dynamic Drive Overlay (DDO) is required, DiscWizard Starter Edition will give very important instructions for booting to the computer. You will be given an option and instructions for creating an Ontrack Boot Diskette (requires a floppy with the OS on it). You will then be prompted to remove the diskette from Drive A: and press RESET or CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot.
9. After re-booting, place the Windows Startup diskette or Windows operating system in the computer when prompted and start the install process.

1. Download the latest version of DiscWizard Starter Edition.
2. Boot to the DiscWizard Starter Edition floppy diskettes.
3. At the main menu select "Maintenance Menu".
4. Select "Update Dynamic Drive Overlay" and follow all system prompts to allow DiscWizard Starter Edition to recreate the Dynamic Drive Overlay (DDO).
5. Remove the diskette and reboot to the hard drive.
6. The Seagate Technology blue banner should appear.
7. After the system has stabilized, you can create a special boot diskette that could be useful in the future if your system is prone to virus infections. At the DiscWizard Starter Edition Maintenance Menu, select "Create Ontrack Boot Diskette".

Check all of your diskettes for viruses with a recent version of a virus scanning software package. Please note that boot sector viruses can infect all diskettes, not just bootable diskettes. If your system rebooted to a "non-system diskette" prior to the DDO error, the chances are high that a virus may have caused this problem.

What to do if DiscWizard does not boot

DiscWizard Starter Edition requires at least 800x600 resolution.

Occasionally Disc Wizard Starter Edition’s (DWSE) video mode does not work with some video cards. If DWSE hangs during boot or comes up as a gray screen instead of the Disc Wizard interface you can alter the video mode. (These instructions only apply to the floppy versions of the utility.)

1. Take the DWSE floppy disk #1 to another computer that is already running Windows (or any operating system with a text editor).
2. Open Notepad (Start > Programs > Accessories > Notepad).
3. Choose File > Open from the pull down menu at the top of Notepad.
4. Browse to the DWSE floppy disk #1 (A: ).
5. Open the file DM.bat.
6. Change the line “call dwse /ve:32 NOMOUSE” to “call dwse /ve:31 NOMOUSE”.
7. Choose File > Save from the pull down menu at the top of Notepad.
8. Exit Notepad and take the floppy back to the system you are trying to install the hard disc drive into.
9. Reboot and use DWSE as normal.

If the instructions above did not resolve your issue, try the following suggestion.

When booting up with our bootable Discwizard Starter Edition diskettes, you may encounter the following scenario:

You insert diskette #1, which then prompts you to insert diskette #2 which should bring you to the main menu of DiscWizard Starter Edition, but instead you get to a DOS prompt or get into a loop that keeps prompting you to insert diskette #1 and so forth.

To fix this issue:

1. Reboot with diskette #2.
2. You will then be prompted to insert diskette #1.
3. You should now be booting into the DiscWizard Starter Edition main menu.

DiscWizard Starter Edition Maintenance Options

Please see our document on How To Use DiscWizard Starter Edition Maintenance Options.