How to make a USB Stick bootable for XP Options

[Dietmar]

Hi all,

I want to describe how to make nearly every USB Stick bootable for XP.

Set in Bios all USB entries as "enabled".
If possible, set boot from USB harddrive as first boot device.

Remember what you changed in Bios on a paper, because
after a few minutes you have forgotten, what you have changed!!!

Use Hexeditor Winhex, open the physikal USB Stick drive and write FF (not 00)
to the whole USB Stick. ALL is gone then from USB Stick!

After a few minutes look on that stick with Winhex, whether ALL FF are written.

Then use the HP format utility with FAT32 as normal. ( NOT Quick Format)

Now, this tool writes only the first 512 Bytes to MBR of the USB Stick.
You can control this with Winhex.

Look with Winhex on that physiclal USB Drive, whether in bootsektor schablone Bios drive is 80 (Hex) (key for harddisks).
If not, you receive later on booting the message "Wrong boot medium"!

After that, copy ONLY three files from XP SP1 to that USB Stick:

ntdetect.com,
ntldr
boot.ini

Change the content of boot.ini on the USB Stick (and store it there) to

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional2"


Disable then any SATA entries in Bios. Remember the changes in Bios!
The USB Stick is connected and boots after a few seconds to

Microsoft Windows XP Professional1
Microsoft Windows XP Professional2

Voila, NOW the Stick is ready for USB boot with XP SP1.

DONT overwrite the ntdetect.com, ntldr, boot.ini, when you copy the files and folders from XP SP1 to that USB stick!!!

Many Bioses are searching ONLY in the lowest memory of the USB Stick after them.

And if you delete them, they are copied late too high!!!
The bootprocess will stopp then very early with a blinking Cursor.


Nice to hear from you all

Dietmar

PS: All of my USB STICKS are able to boot XP SP1 after that procedure!!

[Ed_P]

@Dietmar

Dumb question on my part, what is "use the HP format utility with FAT32 as normal"?? Is it the same as Windows 98's FDisk? If not, where does one get the HP utility if they don't have an HP pc?

[jaclaz]

@All
Dietmar post must be read TOGETHER with this thread:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181&hl=
otherwise it's incomplete.

@Ed_P
The "famous" HP format utility is freely downloadable from their site.
From my tutorial here:
http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...B/USBstick.html

UTILITIES FOUND

About the second problem, there are a few freely available tools that supposedly work, the most used of which is the so-called HP USB UTILITY.


There are two versions of this utility for Windows:

(search for the relevant spxxxxx with Google or on HP site)


sp27213 HP Windows Format Utility for USB Drive Key or DiskOnKey

version 2.00.006 A (6 Feb 04)


sp27608 Windows-based Format Utility for HP Drive Key or DiskOnKey USB Device

version 2.1.8 A (17 May 04)

(substitutes 27213)



A DOS one:

sp27214 DOS-based Format Utility for HP Drive Key or DiskOnKey USB Device

version 1.00.012 (12 Jul 04)

......

There are reports that using the HP version 2.00.006 A utility gives better results than the version 2.1.8 A, but I could not find any difference on my USB Pendrives.

Look also here:
http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...SB/USBfaqs.html

FAQ #4

Question:

Do I really have to read all your lenghty article to learn how to make a USB key bootable?


Short Answer:

No, just Google for "USB boot howto" or "USB bootable howto" (WITHOUT quotes) and you'll find quite a lot of easier tutorials.


Long answer:

If you plan to use your key on just one computer (a newish model with good USB support) or to a series of computers all complying to the said USB support, this guide here will be enough:

http://www.bay-wolf.com/usbmemstick.htm
it is simple, it is graphic and it has links to needed files, what do you want more?

As a side note, you can try formatting as FAT instead of FAT32, if the latter does not work on your PC, see this article also:

http://fuzzymunchkin.dyndns.org:8080/tdot/...eyfob/index.php
that covers also Linux booting and is at the moment both in English and German (French is expected soon)

It seems like Dietmar has proved me wrong about FAQ#1÷3

As soon as his method will have been reported working on a wider range of machines and possibly we have a "final" version of his tutorials, and of the "custom" NTDETECT.COM, I will update my answers.

jaclaz

[Dietmar]

Hi Ed,

go to

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/hp...load/20306.html

where you can download the HP format utility SP27213.exe .

Dietmar

[Dietmar]

Hi jaclaz,

do you know a tool,
with which I can change the removable Bit for a USB Stick, so that it is shown as a real harddrive?
I ask this, because my booted XP is still be shown on a removable
USB Stick beside floppy and from there it cant be updated by Microsoft.

Even some programs do not want to install themselves on a removable drive.
For example Word97 and TuneUp utilities 2003, 2004.

Until now, I have to install those programs on a USB harddrive, and after all is done, I copy it back to USB stick.

This works, but I think it can be done easier.

Do you have any information where this removable Bit stays?
I think, it CANT be seen with my Hexeditor Winhex.

Dietmar

[jaclaz]

Hi Dietmar,
well actually it is exactly what I am looking for.

I suspect that there is NOTHING like a "removable" bit on the actiual stick that can be edited, but that it is something in the Registry that Win2k/XP sets when it finds some "special" bit in the stick controller ID (which is NOT editable).

I have downloaded all sorts of utilities to try to "delve deeper" into USB sticks, by the way one of the best I found is this one:
Diskview
http://www.osr.com/default.shtml
http://www.osronline.com/
http://www.osronline.com/section.cfm?section=27
(there are quite a lot of VERY GOOD utilities there)
You will need to Sign In (no prob it is FREE)

While "playing" with my Win2k Registry, I found this key:

CODE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\atapi\Parameters\
NonRemovableMedia

With this content:

Kingston Technology DataPak 340        
SunDisk SDP5A-10                       
SunDisk SDCFB-10                       
SunDisk SDP3B-20                       
SunDisk SDP3B-175                      
SunDisk SDP5-2.5                       
Calluna Technology CT260MC             
BN-S004AC-S 1.00
Calluna Technology CT520RM

I have not been able to find ANY reference to this key, I wonder if it is a "last-minute" fix for devices that somehow are detected as "removable" even if they are not.
And, would a similar key work under one of these:

CODE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\usbehci
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\usbhub
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\usbhub20
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\USBMSD
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\USBSTOR

jaclaz

P.S.: Also you might be able to get some info here:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/usbfaq.mspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default....e656e9a.xml.asp
... and maybe, just maybe the Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager (Standard)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.as...isplayLang%3den

can be of some use?

[Dietmar]

HI all,

Waaaohh it works, my USB Stick is shown as HARDDRIVE C: !!!

hihihihih

Dietmar


PS: Now XP SP2 will work with USB boot.

[Dietmar]

Hi all,

I masked the removable Bit with the filterdriver for Hitachi Microdrive.
After that, your USB Stick is shown as USB harddrive.

This filter can be downloaded from www.xpefiles.com . .
Look there for Hardware/Drivers Hitachi Microdrive and load xpfildrvr1224_320
down. The only thing you have to change is in cfadisk.inf .


Here is the copy of my CHANGED cfadisk.inf





[Version]
Signature="$Windows NT$"
Class=DiskDrive
ClassGuid={4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Provider=%HGST%
LayoutFile=layout.inf
DriverVer=12/14/2002,1.00.0000.1

[Manufacturer]
%HGST% = cfadisk_device

[DestinationDirs]
cfadisk_copyfiles=12 ; %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers
gendisk_copyfiles=12 ; %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers

[cfadisk_copyfiles]
cfadisk.sys

[gendisk_copyfiles]
disk.sys

; ---------------------

[cfadisk_device]
%Microdrive_devdesc% = cfadisk_install,USBSTOR\DiskBUFFALO_USB_Flash_Disk__2.00


[cfadisk_addreg]
HKR,,"LowerFilters",0x00010008,"cfadisk"

[cfadisk_install]
CopyFiles=cfadisk_copyfiles,gendisk_copyfiles

[cfadisk_install.HW]
AddReg=cfadisk_addreg

[cfadisk_install.Services]
AddService=disk,2,gendisk_ServiceInstallSection
AddService=cfadisk,,cfadisk_ServiceInstallSection

[gendisk_ServiceInstallSection]
DisplayName = "Disk Driver"
ServiceType = 1
StartType = 0
ErrorControl = 1
ServiceBinary = %12%\disk.sys
LoadOrderGroup = SCSI Class

[cfadisk_ServiceInstallSection]
DisplayName = "CompactFlash Filter Driver"
ServiceType = 1
StartType = 3
ErrorControl = 1
ServiceBinary = %12%\cfadisk.sys
LoadOrderGroup = Pnp Filter

; -----------------------

[Strings]
HGST = "Hitachi Global Storage Technologies"
Microdrive_devdesc = "Hitachi Microdrive"





There is ONE line with USBSTOR\DiskBUFFALO_USB_Flash_Disk__2.00
this is exakt the HardwareID from my Buffalo USB Stick, can be found in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR

is exakt the first entry right in HardwareID string.

Copy this HardwareID for YOUR USB Stick
and put it in cfadisk.inf exakt where until now here by me

USBSTOR\DiskBUFFALO_USB_Flash_Disk__2.00 is standing.


After that go to devicemanager, search for your IDE drive and there also is your USB Stick listened (NOT in USB!!!). Klick "Search for new drivers" for your USB stick and give the directory, where your changed cfadisk.inf is, together with cfadisk.sys.
Klick install. Reboot your Computer and voila , your USB Stick is shown as USB harddrive, you can put 4 partitions on it .

Nice to hear from you
Dietmar

[jaclaz]

I masked the removable Bit with the filterdriver for Hitachi Microdrive.

Nice find!


I must find the time to test all this!

jaclaz

P.S.: Also, you might be interested in this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;823732

[Squale]

Good job !

All is ok on a PQI Cool Drive 1Go.

Squale

[bilou_gateux]

Alternative download link for xpfildrvr1224.zip ?

I can't access to www.xpefiles.com today.

[jaclaz]

Alternative download link for xpfildrvr1224.zip ?

I can't access to www.xpefiles.com today.

I mirrored it here for you (and for others):
http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...rvr1224_320.zip

jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: Jan 18 2009, 11:11 AM

[Mavrick]

Here is the way I do it. It's very easy... Just put your CD in the drive and plug the Flash Drive/USB HDD in and click a few buttons.

FlashBoot


Hope this helps...

[jaclaz]

Here is the way I do it.  It's very easy... Just put your CD in the drive and plug the Flash Drive/USB HDD in and click a few buttons.

FlashBoot
Hope this helps...

Hey, Mavrick, I understand this is your second post, so welcome to the board....
...but...
... please take your time before posting an unuseful suggestion.

Here we are talking about a way to:
1) Booting a FULL XP from a USB stick, NOT BartPE, NOT WinPE
2) Having that USB stick seen as a NON-Removable drive

Flashboot is a well known COMMERCIAL program that only helps in makng a USB stick bootable and copying to it BartPE.

On this board there are FREEWARE alternatives to that.

jaclaz

[Former_-Draino-_post]

Not sure why booting from a flash drive is such a big deal. Dell has a utility on their web site that makes it real easy to boot from a flash drive. It's been there for about 2 years now.

I've been able to boot my laptop with a USB flash drive since I got it in 2002.

Am I missing something that make this a big deal?


D




EDIT: OK now I see what we are talking about. Sorry for the post.

[jaclaz]

I've been able to boot my laptop with a USB flash drive since I got it in 2002.

Oh, yeah?
Are you sure that you booted a FULL XP from USB stick in 2002?

Am I missing something that make this a big deal?

Yep, probably the fact the no one before Dietmar was EVER able to boot a FULL XP install from a USB stick/external hard disk, or, if someone, like you, already did it, they kept their secret well guarded.


As said just ONE post above, welcome on the board, but please READ a thread before posting to it.

Dell has a utility on their web site that makes it real easy to boot from a flash drive. It's been there for about 2 years now.

Yep, linked to in my page (post #3) on this thread...
Just for the record, the DELL utility while working in MOST cases, does NOT work in ALL cases.

For people who wnts it but does not want to read my entire page, here it is:

Dell has a utility to make their keys bootable. R69131.EXE

ftp://ftp.dell.com/rmsd/R69131.exe

it looks like the HP one, but it won't recognize the Pendrives I tested.


Another Dell utility can be found here:

http://www.bay-wolf.com/downloads.htm

the description text is wrong as it does not have MS-DOS files on it, but rather FREE DOS ones, we will see this utility later.

jaclaz

[Former_-Draino-_post]

Yep, probably the fact the no one before Dietmar was EVER able to boot a FULL XP install from a USB stick/external hard disk, or, if someone, like you, already did it, they kept their secret well guarded.


As said just ONE post above, welcome on the board, but please READ a thread before posting to it.
jaclaz

Nice to be part of the community. See my edited post above. Sometimes I hit post a little too early!!!

[jaclaz]

Nice to be part of the community. See my edited post above. Sometimes I hit post a little too early!!!

Yeah, it happens, no prob, mate.

jaclaz

[bilou_gateux]

I mirrored it here for you (and for others):

jaclaz

Thanks.

Seems www.xpefiles.com working again. Probably down on Sunday for maintenance.

link: Hitachi Microdrive

[Former_Deshman_post]

ok, well I have gotten the BartPE to boot a WinXP version from USB...but i can't get either plain XP (i have cds of SP1 and SP2 - everything legal) or i would like to boot XPe (i will build my own version). Is there something I am missing here??

please feel free to PM me if need be.

thanx,
Desh