XP booting direct from USB Options

[euhenio]

You did not read my post http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19056 .
MS has provided loading from RAM (for 2003, XP it is compatible).
It is enough to install XP on disk C and to add ramdisk service.

[jaclaz]

You did not read my post http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19056 .
MS has provided loading from RAM (for 2003, XP it is compatible).
It is enough to install XP on disk C and to add ramdisk service.

Actually I tried to read your site, but unfortunately the systran translation of it from Russian does not appear to be accurate enough to let me understand much.

However, from what I get, you still need to have a bootable USB device and a compatible motherboard, it would be really interesting if you could, if not translate the entire article to English, post on the other thread the basics:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19056

jaclaz

[...Tim...]

Just for those who are in need for a (minimalistic) hex to binary converter to get along with the ntdetect thing:

You may have a try with hex2bin

It does some simple checking on the input file but it is not intended to be used with hex-files containing lines over 1MB in size.

So I think it will do for the purpose though it's no great stuff.

Tim

This post has been edited by ...Tim...: Feb 5 2007, 07:18 AM

[jaclaz]

Just to keep things together and up to date, here:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=1145&hl=

you can find an initial translation of euhenio's method.

Discussion is here:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19056

jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: Feb 15 2007, 01:43 PM

[ned14]

I have successfully moved an existing WinXP SP2 installation over to boot from a USB hard drive. I have written up the procedure I used at http://www.nedprod.com/Niall_stuff/BootWinUSB/. One thing people may find interesting is that using ntdetect.com from a WinXP install disc to replace the one SP2 uses fixed the BSOD STOP 0x7b for me at least.

Let me know of any errata etc.

Niall

[ktp]

I have successfully moved an existing WinXP SP2 installation over to boot from a USB hard drive. I have written up the procedure I used at http://www.nedprod.com/Niall_stuff/BootWinUSB/. One thing people may find interesting is that using ntdetect.com from a WinXP install disc to replace the one SP2 uses fixed the BSOD STOP 0x7b for me at least.

Let me know of any errata etc.

Niall

Well in your page there is a sentence :
" I'm not talking about multi-computer boot ability (this is an entirely different question), but rather that your hard drive can boot on one computer but is accessible by any computer."

This is not clear for me. Could you confirm that your removable USB disk can only be booted on your system. It cannot be used with other computer (as far as there is differences in CPU, chpset etc...) ?

Anyhow it the first time I learn that I could change an existing XP installation to removable USB drive. Other articles seem to indicate the need to start a new install, causing lost of all registry settings. Of course I assume I can reverse back and put back the USB disk to the IDE at any time. This also allows disk imaging (disk to disk copy). So on failure you can just plug-in the "cloned" disk, either in IDE or in external enclosure (USB).

This post has been edited by ktp: Feb 21 2007, 12:59 PM

[ned14]

Well in your page there is a sentence :
" I'm not talking about multi-computer boot ability (this is an entirely different question), but rather that your hard drive can boot on one computer but is accessible by any computer."

This is not clear for me. Could you confirm that your removable USB disk can only be booted on your system. It cannot be used with other computer (as far as there is differences in CPU, chpset etc...) ?

The answer to this is probably no, it cannot be used in any system. Thing is, I haven't tried nor am I going to try - it might damage my existing WinXP installation. All I wanted was to work around my electrically fried primary IDE channel and get my laptop usable again.

You can still stick the USB hard drive into any other system and access the data on it as a removeable hard drive. I have found this extremely convenient.

Anyhow it the first time I learn that I could change an existing XP installation to removable USB drive. Other articles seem to indicate the need to start a new install, causing lost of all registry settings. Of course I assume I can reverse back and put back the USB disk to the IDE at any time. This also allows disk imaging (disk to disk copy). So on failure you can just plug-in the "cloned" disk, either in IDE or in external enclosure (USB).

Certainly no reason why not. All one is doing is loading the USB drivers a bit sooner than normal and configuring CriticalDeviceDatabase to be aware that the boot drive could be on USB. So long as you haven't deleting the IDE config registry keys, it should just go back into your IDE slot.

The other thing different in my guide from other guides is that I used wholly WinXP SP2 and needed nothing from SP1. This will probably be more convenient for a lot of people like me who got a native SP2 install disc.

Cheers,
Niall

[madweeser]

This sounds realy nice

Im trying atm to get on a USB Key (4Gb)
Im having som masseive problems finding IdeBusDr.sys and so on
from the iata55_enu.exe file

I cant install the iata55_enu.exe since i dont have the raidcard

[JohnnyRock]

I can answer this one.....there is no need to install the raid software, but merely to unrar the self-extracting exe......right click the exe and use "extract to" from the winrar context menu......then navigate to that folder and retrieve the pertinent files

good luck

[madweeser]

Thank you ALOT
that saves some headache

[madweeser]

Darn my image didnt work

Is any who have made an image like this willing to share it?
I do have a FTP if its needed

[bigfefi]

@Dietmar and all the other that get working XP booting from USB HDD device...

I've tried tutorial #3 and tutorial #6, but with no success..
I have "some" question because I don't understand some step. I hope that somebody can explain my doubts...

(1) From tut #6...

In AMD64XPSP2Rhein I change the ntdetect.com against the modified one.
I change the USB*.sys files against them from XP SP1.

Question (1a) : The ntdetect.com that I can create with win_usb_fullpatcher, as mentioned by strider85 @ page 100, is the right one or I have to use the hex code posted at the beggining of this topic?
Question (1b) : Which is the complete list of the USB*.sys file? They are the file listed in tut #3 (usbehci.sys,usbohci.sys,usbuhci.sys, usbhub.sys, usbstor.sys, usbport.sys and usbd.sys)? I search in the working XP SP2 that I use and I don't find usbohci.* file? Is it possible?
Question (1c) :Where I can found the XP SP1 USB*.sys files? I find them in a fresh SP1 installation that I have on my HDD (i tried also with XP SP1 directly) into ...\WINDOWS\system32\drivers? In SP1.cab?
Question (1d) : Where I have to put this USB*.sys? In the folder ...\WINDOWS\system32\drivers of the fresh XP SP2 installation that I have done in the previous steps ?
Question (1e) : The USB*.sys files must be left original or I have to modified them?

(2) From tut #6...

I delete the driver intelppm.sys in Driver cache. This intelppm.sys has to be renamed in system32\drivers.
I also change there the USB*.sys files against them
from XP SP1 . I use winrar to unpack the sp2.cab file and CABPack to pack it again.

Question (2a) : It's sufficient to rename intelppm.sys into intelppm.sys or I have to fisically delete the file?
Question (2b) : Which are the files mentioned here? The file per file list I mean...
Question (2c) : I have to use the file contained in SP1.cab?
Question (2d) : To repack SP2.cab can I use WinRar or it's necessary to use CabPack?

(3) From tut #6 and #3

I delete in Registry the key CriticalDeviceDatabase and put the CriticalDeviceDatabase from Tutorial 3 for Windows Embedded in.

Question (3a) : I load the hive "freshXP":\WINDOWS\system32\config\system (the file ...\system with no extension) as otto. Is right?.
Question (3b) : In the CriticalDeviceDatabase from Tutorial 3 for Windows Embedded I have to change the last two rows using my external USB hdd hardware ID ? Dietmar was using a usbstor#disksony____msc-u01_________,but my usb hdd is a Maxtor...

(4) From tut #6 and tut #3

I put in inf folder the USB*.inf files with System Reserved and Start = 0 in it (see Tutorial3).
I also change in registry the entries for USB* as described in Tutorial 3.

Question (4a) : Which are the files to put into USB ...\WINDOWS\inf folder? usb.inf, usbport.inf and usbstor.inf?
Question (4b) : I open usb.inf and search for LoadOrderGroup. I change LoadOrderGroup from Base to System Reserved and Start changed to 0 only in the section where I find LoadOrderGroup. I saw that I have to apply change only in [StandardHub.AddService] and [CommonClassParent.AddService] section. Is this right?
Question (4c) : I open usbport.inf and search for LoadOrderGroup. I change LoadOrderGroup from Base to System Reserved and Start changed to 0 only in the section where I find LoadOrderGroup. I apply change in this section:

• [EHCI.AddService]
• [OHCI.AddService]
• [UHCI.AddService]
• [ROOTHUB.AddService]

Is this right?
Question (4d) : I open usbstor.inf and change Start to 0 and add LoadOrderGroup = System Reserved in [USBSTOR.AddService] section. Is it right?
Question (4e) : The value System Reserved is still valid for LoadOrderGroup ? Because somewhere in the topic I've read about a Boot Bus Extender value for LoadOrderGroup or also System Bus Extender...
Question (4f) : I delete also the key MountedDevice in hive otto. After I applied all the modifications to otto I select hive otto, then right click on it, I select "Export" and save hive otto (only otto) as otto.reg.Then I copy otto.reg in ...\WINDOWS\system32\config folder in the fresh XP installation. In the same folder i delete the file system (file with no extension) and then rename otto.reg as system. Is this ok?

After all this steps I copy the entire fresh XP installation to the USB HDD and shut down the pc. I disconnect all the eide hdd. Restart the pc. It begin to boot from the usb hdd (the transfer led blink, so the system is accessing to it). I can see the white progress bar, but after a while a MS-DOS style message appear saying that C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM is missing or corrupted!!!!!

Can you help me? Maybe I have misunderstand something during the steps of the tutorial....

Thanks you for your good will in answering to all my question!
bigfefi

[bigfefi]

Hi all!!!

@ the end my pc boot from the usb hdd! WOW!!!
I use the tutorial #6 and #3. I have some observations to do.

1) If I rename iintelppm.sys in intelppm.sys and then reboot, I get error and the pc begin to loop in rebboting. To solve I restart in the standard ide XP, connect the USB XP and rename intelppm.sys into iintelppm.sys. Restat and boowith no problem from the usbb hdd
2) I create ntdetect.com using win_full_patcher.exe. It seems to work...
3) A mistake... I forgot to disable the pagefile in the fresh XP. When I boot from the usb hdd I don't get problem about this. When I try to disable while using the usb XP, I saw that the device in use for pagefile was c:\ ( the usb hdd). But at that moment the pagefile in use was 0 MB... I don't now if when I'll nedd a pagefile it works on the usb.
4) I try to boot from usb with 1 ide hdd connected, 2 ide hdd and NO ide hdd connected. The pc boot from the usb XP with no problem every time...
5) I boot from the all-day XP ( primari ide channel). I connected the usb device. It has been recognized as a generic usb mass storage device. After that I reboot from the usb XP and it was ok.
6) I boot from all-day XP, make some copy&paste from the 2 ide hdd that I had connected... After that I try to boot from the usb XP but the pc seems don't recognize the usb as a valid device to boot so strart to boot from the ide hdd... What's happen???
7) I try to extract an iso image of the modded xp (made the first time I get good boot from usb XP) to the re-formatted usb hdd (after the problem of point 6 before). But I get the same problem... It semms taht the pc don't read the usb... The activity led of the usb hdd change from green to red (pc connected to the device) but the red link don't blink (no activity)...
What's the error/problem?


Some comments? Some suggestions?

In spite of everything I'm quite satisfied, I can get some boots from the usb hhd! Yeah!

Best regards to all!!
Bigfefi

[greno]

I want to take my existing internal HDD w/ XP SP2 and move it to an external USB HDD enclosure. I think Dietmar's tutorials should let me do this. But will I be able to later take this HDD and move it back to being internal HDD? This I would like.

thx,
Gerry

[bigfefi]

Hi guys!
At the end the usb boot was fine with tutorial #6.
Now the "problem" is that

1) I'd like to use the usb XP on a pc that use SATA internal hdd, while the pc that I use to create the usb booting XP use only 1 or 2 IDE hdd. I try this but I think that there's a problem because I can arrive only at the XP logo with the blu progress bar, then pc restart. At the second try I get the screen where to choose for safe mode, normal mode etc etc... If I choose safe mode I have the same problem... the pc start to boot again and again... What can cause this?
2)If I rename iintelppm.sys into original intelppm.sys I get the same problem as the point 1)....

Nobody have some suggestions?

Looking at the different situation that I get, I think that the problem begin when the xp try to boot (from the usb hdd) in a pc that have a different hardware configuration from the pc that we use to "create" the usb xp edition. See for example point 2). With iintelppm.sys I don't have any problem (also trying connecting/disconnecting 1 or more IDE hdd). As soon as I change iintelppm.sys into intelppm.sys (as mentioned in tutorial #6) I get pc rebboting again and again. If, from the all-day XP, I change from intelppm to iintelppm again, I'm able to boot from usb... The same when I try to boot from the SATA pc...

@Dietmar and the other guru: how can you change the pc and get usb boot? I'm not "able" to get this feature from my modded XP... It's a criticaldevicedatabase hive problem?

Please, someone respond!!!!
Best regards
Bigfefi

This post has been edited by bigfefi: Mar 13 2007, 03:48 PM

[greno]

I finally got my external usb hdd to boot XP using the http://www.usboot.org/ technique. What I did was to divide my usb hdd into different partitions so that I could boot it to different hardware. I created two NTFS XP partitions and one NTFS data partition then I boot to partition 1 when attached to my laptop and I boot to partition 2 when attached to my desktop. I try to keep all data in the data partition and it is accessible from either installation. Works great so far.

Gerry

PS. I haven't read this whole thread yet but has someone found a way to boot the external usb hdd from a machine that doesn't have usb boot in BIOS? Can it be done by booting from CDROM and then passing control over to external usb hdd somehow?

[jaclaz]

PS. I haven't read this whole thread yet but has someone found a way to boot the external usb hdd from a machine that doesn't have usb boot in BIOS? Can it be done by booting from CDROM and then passing control over to external usb hdd somehow?

No (not yet).

An idea, nothing more than that due to lack of time (and capability) is sketched here:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18650

jaclaz

[attilaunno]

I finally got my external usb hdd to boot XP using the http://www.usboot.org/ technique. What I did was to divide my usb hdd into different partitions so that I could boot it to different hardware. I created two NTFS XP partitions and one NTFS data partition then I boot to partition 1 when attached to my laptop and I boot to partition 2 when attached to my desktop. I try to keep all data in the data partition and it is accessible from either installation. Works great so far.

Gerry

PS. I haven't read this whole thread yet but has someone found a way to boot the external usb hdd from a machine that doesn't have usb boot in BIOS? Can it be done by booting from CDROM and then passing control over to external usb hdd somehow?

I installed WIN XP onto my USB HDD from a WIN XP setup disk that was modified earlier in order to allow such an installation (namely, the process as in http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176 was done) and using the notebook PC that I would later have used.

As a result, my notebook boot.ini was changed by the windows setup program and a line referring to the partition on the USB disk I were installing windows to was added.
I had to go into three restarts during installation. The last restart was possible just when I applied to the fresh installed windows the USBxxxx.sys, USBxxx.inf and USBxxx.PNF stuff described in tutorials, as well as editing the registry about USB services, CriticalDatabaseDriver and MountedDevices stuff.

It worked perfectly twice, on two different notebooks: One of them has a PentiumM, the other an AMD Turion.

It seems to me that this way there is no need to have actual USB boot capabilities in the BIOS, since the actual boot is always done from the PC internal disk from which it is rerouted to the USB disk as soon as boot.ini is read. Thus, I think the only necessary thing is the low level support for USB, the one you must have to use a USB keyboard or mouse.

What do you think of it?

Note: Unfortunately I'm not able yet to write a detailed procedure (i.e. a new tutorial). By the way I would like to do so and any help in this sense is highly appreciated.


Attilaunno

This post has been edited by attilaunno: Mar 19 2007, 12:14 PM

[Dietmar]

Hi all,

now I have 2 weeks holidays and I am doing some silly things.

Because I get a brandnew Toshiba Satego 490 Notebook with 945PM chipset (Dual Centrino) , where I can do USB boot,
I installed good old Win98 there. This was an hard task.
But now it runs with network and sound but only in 800x600 resolution because of the PCI-X 16 Geforce go 7900 GS (512 MB) card.
Now I know, that Windows 98 SE can handle all PCI express. Wikipedia says that PCI express is downward compatible with PCI and this seems to be true. PCI express is a seriell Bus, PCI is parallel.
But the last Nvidia driver 81.98 for Win98 does not support this grafikcard.

Is there a generic driver for Win98? That SVGAII drivers from Vmware shows only 640x480 and 16 colours.

I make a complete new *.inf folder for the 7900 card. With this new *.inf the drivers nvmini.vxd and nvdisp.drv load in Win98, but I see only flimmering quadrats when you use higher resolutions.

I also installed the new Inf utilty from Intel, after rewriting their *inf's for Win98 hihi.
Now there is full ICH 7 for Win98 and full USB2.0 support.

Now I put this Win98 to an Buffalo 8Gb USB stick.
And voila, all my compis can now start with USB 2.0 from that stick with Win98.

Nice to hear from you all,
Dietmar



This post has been edited by Dietmar: Mar 27 2007, 05:11 AM

[jaclaz]

@Dietmar

Nothing definitive, I think , see here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=69569
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=82521
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=87333

Maybe off-topic, but do have a look at the links in this post of mine:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=1697


jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: Mar 27 2007, 09:12 AM