Guide for MultiBoot USB-stick with boot.ini Menu Options

[wimb_2]

Screenshots From USB_MultiBoot_10.cmd

=============1. Introduction =============


============ 2. Format Menu =============


============= 3. PeToUSB ========================== 4. HP Format Tool ============

=====

=============5. Main Menu ==============


============= 6. Select XP Source ===========


====== 7. winnt.sif from XP Source ? ======



====== 8. Edit UserData in winnt.sif ======


====== 9. UserData in Current_winnt.sif ======


========== 10. USB-Drive Target ==========


=========== 11. Main Menu Selected ========



============= 12. Status =============


============ 13. Copy Select ===========


====== 14. Ready - Choice BootDrive Letter ====


=============15. END - HELP ===========


========== 16. Windows Explorer ==========


This post has been edited by wimb_2: Jun 6 2008, 01:26 AM

[wanderer]

@wimb_2

Thank you verry much for this great guide
Because of using this guide,I understand a (litle) bit more of bootsectors and the use of the program Mkbt.exe.

Using your guide and program,I'm able to start BartPE,ReatogoPe and programs like them,from the boot.ini instead of Grub4Dos,witch I always wanted.

I'm experimenting a lot with BartPe and ReatogoPE,booting from USB sticks,and your program is a great help for install en reïnstall,after changes,on my USB sticks and saves a lot of time


Greetz wanderer.

[ktp]

@wimb_2

Thank you very much for this excellent guide that I bookmarked carefully. There are lot of useful and valuable information that I re-discover each time. Combined with grub4dos power, this is a guide that all boot lovers should read.

[Malin]

Is there a way to use the multiboot like described here, of cource, not using cdshell?
I edited the files like described there but when i try to install XP in TXT mode, I receive an error message: "File \$WIN_NT$.~BT\biosinfo.inf could not be loaded. The error code is 14".
I already tried to edit the files XPSTP, SETUPLOADER.BIN and TXTSETUP.SIF, but no success
I want to know, if possible, which files point to $WIN_NT$.~BT folder and then to edit those files.

@wimb_2
You did a very great work, keep on going
Thank you very much.

[ilko]

Have a look at this thread:
http://www.msfn.org/board/SOLVED-Install-M...SB-t114543.html

[Malin]

Have a look at this thread:
http://www.msfn.org/board/SOLVED-Install-M...SB-t114543.html

TY ilko, it`s usefull to me

Use for Preparing USB-Drive Only winnt.sif file without an [Unattended] Section and with MsDosInitiated="1"

Is there a way using [Unattended] Section with USB_MultiBoot_8.cmd?

[ilko]

If you use that section, Setup will not ask you where to install windows to, on which disk/partition, and will attempt to install on the USB stick. Only if there is no available space, then you will have an option to change destination drive. That's risky.
The limitation comes from Microsoft and their way of installing from hard drives, using winnt(32).exe and $win_nt$.~bt and ~ls folders.

Read here for details:
http://www.msfn.org/board/Issues-with-Setu...424#entry734424

You can find workarounds of using [unattended] section. What exactly do you have in there?

ilko

This post has been edited by ilko: Apr 14 2008, 04:36 PM

[Malin]

Is there a way starting windows installation like flyakite does in his guide?
That would be perfect!

[ilko]

Which part are you referring? The menus? You could use ntldr/boot.ini or grub4dos, matter of your personal choice. This was covered in the link, given above.
The contents? This has been answered already in the same link.

[Malin]

Sorry for not being so precise...
I wanted to ask if there is a way to chainload those .DAT files, like cdshell does: "if $lastKey == key[3]; then chain /PRO3.DAT", or something similar.

TY ilko for fast replys.

[ilko]

The principles- Windows Setup determines the type of the installation media- for CD/DVD use I368, for hard disk type- use $win_nt$.~bt for boot portion and Text mode Setup itself and ~ls for the source.
$win_nt$.~bt and ~ls are hardcoded in setupldr.bin and setupdd.sys. Hex editing that gives you another possible boot and source. "SetupSourcePath=..." in txtsetup.sif is ignored when installing from HD media.
This must be launched from Setupldr.bin. Have a different versions of the latter, hexedited in order to start the different sources.
Setupldr.bin can be chainloaded directly from grub4dos GRLDR, or from a bootsector, loaded by NTLDR. Having a few bootsectors, calling setupXP1.bin, setup2k31.bin and so on gives you the ability to launch the different setupldr.bin's from NTLDR.

Whether you'd like to use NTLDR and different bootsectors or grub4dos/GRLDR is your choice.

Or are you asking for an option to start Setup 1 or 2 by pressing 1 or 2, instead of navigating to Setup 1 and 2 with the arrow keys? Is that your question? You may use syslinux in this case. I am still puzzled what exactly you want.

This post has been edited by ilko: Apr 14 2008, 05:34 PM

[Malin]

All I want is a fully unattended xp installation from usb/hdd.
Thank You!

[wimb_2]

- boot.ini and winnt.sif Files and $OEM$Folder are User Selectable,
Handy for Windows 2003 and Non Standard Installs and for making MultiBoot USB-Drive
Use the supplied winnt.sif file, which is copied to $WIN_NT$.~BT folder on USB-Drive.
For Unattended Install give your key in productkey="XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX" and remove leading ;
Use for Preparing USB-Drive Only winnt.sif file without an [Unattended] Section and with MsDosInitiated="1"

- OEM or nLite winnt.sif File is detected in XPSOURCE and Auto Changed for Install of XP from USB.
In that case All Setup Parameters come from XPSOURCE and therefore Empty $OEM$_X Folder is Selected.

- Change $OEM$ folder to your needs, which is copied to $WIN_NT$.~LS folder on USB-Drive
CMDLINES.TXT is used for making UserAccounts and install of Registry Tweaks at T-12
Info see: http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/
ren_fold.cmd was changed such that $OEM$\$1 and $OEM$\$$ folders are copied
as usual to systemdrive (usually C:\) and systemroot (usually C:\WINDOWS) respectively.
For anything else you want to copy from USB-Drive, you can add similar lines to ren_fold.cmd,
which is executed at T-9 by the Section SetupParams of winnt.sif file
Or Use CMDLINES.TXT and useraccounts.cmd in the $OEM$ Folder for Extra Copy Commands.

Download Direct from CD Forum: USB_MultiBoot_8.zip

@Malin
USB_MultiBoot_8.cmd supports making USB-stick for fully unattended xp installation from USB.
Use the default Settings and Use the supplied winnt.sif file, which is copied to $WIN_NT$.~BT folder on USB-Drive.
For Unattended Install give your key in productkey="XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX" and remove leading ;

In supplied $OEM$_UserXP Folder you can in useraccounts.cmd Change UserXP for Your Login Name.

This post has been edited by wimb_2: Apr 18 2008, 02:18 AM

[wimb_2]

Multi-Partitioning the USB-stick using cfadisk.sys or dummydisk.sys was studied

as follow up on reply of jaclaz in http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...21362&st=16

I used cfadisk.sys as described by diddy in http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18846
so that the USB-stick was indeed seen as Fixed Local Disk and patitioning is possible.

Here is the procedure from diddy for using cfadisk.sys slightly modified by me:

Download Hitachi Microdrive Filter (cfadisk.sys) from http://xpefiles.com/cs/files/folders/hardware/entry616.aspx

Open cfadisk.inf and edit the [cfadisk_device] section
by adding an entry with Hardware-id for your USB-stick and removing the others (DiskIBM)

The Hardware-id for your stick is found from
Device Manager > Diskdrives (USB-stick) > Properties > Details > 1st entry
For my 1GB Corsair test USB-stick I get: USBSTOR\DiskCorsair_Flash_Voyager___1.00

CODE

[cfadisk_device]
%Microdrive_devdesc% = cfadisk_install,USBSTOR\DiskCorsair_Flash_Voyager___1.00

Open Device manager and check for your USB drive in "Disk Drives".
Right click on the entry for your drive and select option to update driver.

* Don't use windows update
* Install from a list or specific location
* Don't search. I will choose the driver to install
* Have disk
* Browse to location of edited cfadisk.inf

Update and restart windows

If the driver installed successfully your USB stick should now be mounted as a Local Disk not Removable Disk

==============================================================================

Then I tried to use dummydisk.sys of Anton Bassov
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/sovie...ct_hooking.aspx

as described by Dietmar, but was not successful, as found also by diddy.
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...181&st=1957

On booting XP from Harddisk, the system was in trouble and changed to ControlSet002
but dummy.sys belongs to ControlSet001 so that did not work.

The Current ControlSet being used is found in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Select registry key.

I decided to remove the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\dummy\Enum]
from the proposed Registry Tweak.
The point is that the Enum Registry key is produced later by the Windows XP System
and must not be introduced with the Tweak.

After using Ghost for Restore of my XP System, I did install dummy.sys again and got success.

The USB-stick was seen as Fixed Local Harddisk and Partitioning is possible and NTFS Format can be used.

So here is the adapted procedure of Dietmar and diddy which worked for me:

* Downloaded the driver dummydisk.sys
* Renamed dummydisk.sys to dummy.sys and copied it to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers Folder
* Imported the following file to registry:

CODE

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\dummy]
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\
52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,64,00,75,00,6d,00,6d,00,79,00,2e,\
00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00
"DisplayName"="USB-Massenspeichertreiber"
"Group"="System Reserved"
"Tag"=dword:00000001

After Reboot your USB device is shown at once as Local harddisk.
Also, every new connected USB stick is shown as Local harddisk and Partitioning is possible.
The fact that dummy.sys is NOT USB-stick Specific, makes it more easy to use than cfadisk.sys

When dummy.sys is Installed, then a with Killdisk Erased USB-stick
will be initiated by Windows Disk Manager giving it a MBR.
New Multiple Patitions with NTFS Format can be made.
Setting Active the first partition is needed for booting from the stick.

==============================================================================

Without dummydisk.sys the stick is seen as Removable Device and Disk Manager will NOT intitiate the MBR code,
but we can use mbrbatch.cmd for Creating and Writing XP-MBR code on the previously Erased USB-stick.

First mbrbatch.cmd is used from CMD Window to CREATE File my_xp.mbr in mbrbatch directory.
When the USB-stick is Physical Drive 2 we can WRITE file my_xp.mbr to Drive 2 by:

CODE

mbrbatch.cmd CREATE my_xp.mbr
mbrbatch.cmd WRITE my_xp.mbr 2

Change the Drive Number 2 for your USB-stick Drive Number seen in XP Disk Manager.

After Disconnecting and Reconnecting the device, Open Windows XP Disk Manager.
Now it is possible to Create New Partition on USB-stick with Windows Disk Manager.

Allow NTFS Format for Removable Drives by:
Change USB-stick Drive Properties in "optimize for performance"

Open Windows Explorer allows now to Format USB-stick with NTFS FileSystem.

In this way the USB-stick gets a Harddisk like structure wth MBR and a single NTFS Partition
similar to what can be made with HP USB Format Tool.

MBRBATCH of jaclaz is a great tool for this purpose. http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=3191

More Interesting Info on USB-sticks Properties See: http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbstick_e.html

==============================================================================

USB_MultiBoot_8.cmd can be used for realising multiple PE from USB-Drive having two Partitions.
Simply by running the program twice.

First BartPE plus XP Setup Folders are Installed on First Partition as usual.
Then UBCD4Win is Installed on Second Partition, using Empty XX_Content Source Folder and No Copy of XP Source.

In GRUB4DOS menu.lst on First Partition one has to make adjustment for launching UBCD4Win

CODE

title UBCD4Win - Load PELDR From USB-HD 0 - Partition 1
root (hd0,1)
chainloader (hd0,1)/PELDR

This works, no problem with manual hexediting and no conflict of PROGRAMS folders

USB_MultiBoot_8.cmd does all the work

This post has been edited by wimb_2: May 4 2008, 03:13 AM

[Czar]

Man... long time since i was active on these forums. Exelent work from you wimb !!
I finally got around to use someusb sticks again and my old bartpe usb bootstick was outdated
the
I managed to get about almost everything to work by trial and errors and alotta searching trough these and
other forums;)

I use the NTFS method by the way (formatted stick as NTFS)

First :
DSL i cant get it to work no way ! i have tried 5 different distros, different GRUB4DOS commands etc etc.
Puppy works fine. I manage to get the DSL to initialize but after it scans for usb devices it just says "cant find KNOPPIX file system"

Is it others in here who has problems with DSL ? would be nice to know other users experiences. I have
really tryed everything i possible can imagine.

If someone has sucsessfully managed to get DSL running with a NTFS formatted stick, GRUB4DOS please
post you menu.lst entry for it and what DSL distro you used. also if you have used modified GZ files or other linux files.

[rmi]

Is it possible to add ubcd and ubcd4win to this multiboot usb? If it is, could anybody tell me how or where to start?


Regards

[jaclaz]

Is it possible to add ubcd and ubcd4win to this multiboot usb? If it is, could anybody tell me how or where to start?


Regards

You joking, right?

Post #25 (two posts above yours) tells you specifically about a way for UBCD4win, but the batch comprises it, just re-start from the beginning of the thread and read it, then download the file and read the info within it.

jaclaz

[TheHive]

Thanks, very usefull info. Alot of it, but usefull none the less. I tried reading the whole thread in one go, but as expected, it was to much for one being half asleep at the moment. I was looking to try something like this with a USB stick. I have a 2 Gig stick and was going to try the USB NTFS method mentioned to Install XP automated Style. Im guessing I can use the USB_MultiBoot_8.cmd and following youre screenshots post. Im guessing those screenshots are for me. lol!

This post has been edited by TheHive: May 4 2008, 03:47 AM

[wimb_2]

I have a 2 Gig stick and was going to try the USB NTFS method mentioned to Install XP automated Style. Im guessing I can use the USB_MultiBoot_8.cmd and following youre screenshots post.

Yes
The Program is quite simple in use as compared to reading and understanding all the details in the Guide

I found it useful to combine all the background knowledge and references in one Guide,
but I realise that it is not simple to read it in one take.

[wimb_2]

For Latest Release of USB_MultiBoot.zip:

See Post #10 http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...=20089&st=9

wimb

This post has been edited by wimb_2: Jun 5 2008, 03:37 AM