Bootable CD-ROMs allow you to boot and run a run-time image from a CD-ROM. Using the El Torito Bootable CD-ROM specification, a single CD-ROM image can be duplicated and used across many target systems. Running the operating system (OS) from read-only media also protects the integrity of the file system from potential corruption.

Bootable CD-ROMs use the Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) Windows XP Embedded component. This allows write-access to read-only or write-protected media.

A bootable CD-ROM is created at the end of the development cycle, when a run-time image is ready to be deployed.

To track your progress in the following table, select the check box next to each step.

Step

1. Review the Bootable CD system requirements. Verify that the appropriate components and configurations have been included.

2. Build the bootable CD run-time image. Include all components required for the bootable CD-ROM and any hardware devices on the target system.

3. Create an ISO file of the run-time image using hd2iso. Use the ISO image to create a CD-ROM that is used to identify the CD-ROM device during the FBA phase.

4. Boot the run-time image on the hard drive partition and run First Boot Agent (FBA). When Windows XP Embedded starts, verify that EWF is enabled.

5. Run ETPrep and reboot the system. ETPrep deletes the temporary EWF partition and configures the run-time image to boot from the CD-ROM device.

6. Convert the post-FBA run-time image to an ISO file. This follows the same procedure as in step 3. This CD-ROM contains the final run-time image that can be deployed.

7. Burn the ISO file to CD-ROM and deploy.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms932879.aspx