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

[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

[plainolguy]

I have a question. I would like to use GAG which I am used to and like, to add UBCD4Win, Bartpe, UBCd, etc. to my USB HDD. Is this method able to work with GAG? What should I try to start with to enable me to multiboot a part of my USB HDD? Stay with this thread or read others also?

Thanks, Plain

[plainolguy]

Okay. I finally read enough to figure out how to get started. If I get stuck I `ll be back.

[Da Killah]

Hi all,

Dear wimb_2,
There seems to be a CRC error in "USB_MultiBoot_9.zip" with the file "USB_MultiBoot_9\MULTI_CONTENT\grub.exe"
Do you have another download location?

Because of the CRC error I tried something myself. Used the HP utility with latest version to format my USB stick as NTFS.
Then copied the XP BootFiles ntldr, NTDETECT.COM and boot.ini from my Windows XP Pro SP3 English installation root to the root of the USB stick.
There was no Bootfont.bin present so could not copy that one. Rebooted my computer with the USB stick but it does not load. Now I have used this same USB stick before to boot from only then it was with DOS. But so I know it is bootable. What am I doing wrong?

I want to be able to use my USB stick to boot AeroStudio (which is like cdshell or bcdw) and from there boot images, winpe, etc.
I need it partitioned as NTFS so I can use the whole 4 GB of space. The speed increase is also a nice plus.

Can anyone help on how to achieve this?

[jaclaz]

Because of the CRC error I tried something myself. Used the HP utility with latest version to format my USB stick as NTFS.
Then copied the XP BootFiles ntldr, NTDETECT.COM and boot.ini from my Windows XP Pro SP3 English installation root to the root of the USB stick.
There was no Bootfont.bin present so could not copy that one. Rebooted my computer with the USB stick but it does not load. Now I have used this same USB stick before to boot from only then it was with DOS. But so I know it is bootable. What am I doing wrong?

There are some similar reports.

The cause can be usually tracked down to "UNKNOWN REASON" , but usually it can be resolved using these two things:
1) Write binary 00's to first, say, 100 sectors of the stick, using a hex/disk editor or a dd-like program
2) making sure that the HP utility has made the partition actually bootable (Active)

For 1) if you do not have a hex/disk editor handy and you do not want to "dirt your hands" with dsfo/dsfi or similar command line dd-like utilities, you may want to try this one (just found - never tested):
http://www.sdean12.org
http://www.sdean12.org/Download.htm
http://www.sdean12.org/zipped2/USBFlashTools100.zip

For 2) you should get beeblebrox:
http://students.cs.byu.edu/~codyb/
and verify that the partition on the USB stick is Active (must have 80 in the Boot field)

However some motherboards have been reported to be simply not capable of booting a NTFS formatted stick (BIOS limit), and some other workaround must be found.

jaclaz

[ilko]

Do not use the latest version of HP USB format tool (2.1.8?), as far as I remember it was not setting the partition active, use 2.0.6 instead, or set it active manually.
For the GRUB.EXE- why don't you just download the latest version and replace grldr/grub.exe?

http://grub4dos.jot.com/WikiHome

[Da Killah]

Thank you very much for replying. I checked with beeblebrox and indeed the stick's ntfs partition was not bootable (80) so I set it. rebooted and now it doesn't skip the stick but it just hangs on it with a blinking cursor. nothing else. Tried the USB_MultiBoot_9 script and same result after trying to boot off the stick.

And ilko. I just tried it since I will not be using GRUB but AeroStudio. It's sort of a vista looking bootloader which you can design on yourself on how it looks. Very cool. Check http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showforum=72

Anything else I can try? In stead of using a CD/DVD I would very much like to use my USB stick since it is faster and has much more capacity. And don't forget much smaller in size so you can easily always have it with you.

[jaclaz]

Anything else I can try? In stead of using a CD/DVD I would very much like to use my USB stick since it is faster and has much more capacity. And don't forget much smaller in size so you can easily always have it with you.

Retry after having 00ed out initial sectors.

Try again with FAT16 first. (I know you want a bigger sized partition, but bear with me)

Copy to it NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM and BOOT.INI

Confirm that it boots.

Open the stick in Disk Manager.

Delete FAT16 partition.

Create new bigger NTFS partition.

Copy to it NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM and BOOT.INI

If you have problems, install the Hitachi Microdrive Filter cfadisk.sys or dummydisk.sys:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...20089&st=24

If it still does not boot, it may be a problem of your motherboard BIOS, there are reports that using the grub4dos grldr.mbr MBR (+grldr) works better, and you may also use FAT32 which is strongly suggested INSTEAD of NTFS on Flash based devices.

jaclaz

[wimb_2]

New Release USB_MultiBoot_10.zip available,

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

Download Direct from CD Forum: USB_MultiBoot_10.zip


wimb

[ZStoner]

I'm new here, and trying out these tools for my Eee 701. When I downloaded it, my virus scanner detected a Rootkit trojan in dummy.sys. I just want to be re-assured that this is indeed a safe file.
I didn't see any disclaimers yet regarding virus checkers, so I though I would mention it. And the last thing I'd want is an infected rootkit installed on my SSD flash drive.

Thanks in advance,
----Z.

[Ed_P]

It's not unusual for an AV to find fault with a PE plugin. Some are designed to circumvent PC security to resolve and fix problems.

When an av flags a file you want to keep try running the file through another av, several online scanners are available. If the file is flagged by all of them then you will have to decide whether to ignore the warnings or to discard the plugin.

[wimb_2]

When I downloaded it, my virus scanner detected a Rootkit trojan in dummy.sys. I just want to be re-assured that this is indeed a safe file.

I can assure you that USB_MultiBoot_10.zip does not contain a Rootkit trojan.
What Virus Scanner did you use ?
It must have been a false positive warning that you have received.

According to

• Avast 4.8 Free Home Edition http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
• BitDefender Online Scanner http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

USB_MultiBoot_10.zip is Save.

This post has been edited by wimb_2: Jun 15 2008, 12:29 AM

[wimb_2]

There is now an easy-to-read Tutorial on Install of XP from USB available at BootLand Forum.
Together with the ScreenShots of USB_MultiBoot_10.cmd and the List of FAQs this will be a handy source of information.

Links on Install of XP from USB using USB_MultiBoot_10.cmd

• Download Program - USB_MultiBoot_10.zip - and Mirror - USB_MultiBoot_10.zip - (Thanks to Siginet)
• Tutorial on Install of XP from USB at BootLand Forum - Tutorial
• ScreenShots of USB_MultiBoot.cmd - ScreenShots
• List of FAQs at MSFN Forum - FAQs
• Install XP from USB at MSFN Forum - Install XP from USB
• Install XP from USB - Support and Changes USB_MultiBoot.cmd - Support and Changes
• Guide for MultiBoot USB-stick with boot.ini Menu - Guide
• More Help with Bookmarks is available in the Help_Info Folder in USB_MultiBoot.zip

There is an Alternative Download from BootLand Forum: USB_MultiBoot_10.zip

Regards,

wimb

This post has been edited by wimb_2: Jun 17 2008, 02:26 AM

[ZStoner]

The scanner I have is AVG Free.
I was nearly certain the file was not malicious because of the need for it and its purpose for these tools.
Since I hadn't tried any of the previous versions, I err'ed on the side of caution that maybe it might have been specific to version 10.
But I now have some assurance from those who have used it including yourself.
Thanks much,
-----Z.