vista usb hard drive boot, [ TUTORIAL ] to install vista on a usb hard drive Options

[corsair]

Ok im not sure if this is the right forum but I thought Id share this with you folks.


I hope this method is easy to do and will help anyone looking for
the vista usb solution. This avoids any ghosting or copying over
of OS install to diff drives. Avoids cross mounting registry hives.

Possible drawbacks: (seen this with some hardware, others boot fine without any other attached drives)
Needs another drive plugged in sata or ide channel or BSOD after install procedure (used or unused)
Meaning this boots off usb vista, if there is another hard drive present in the system. Has
something to do with vista verification of disk drives. The ide or sata drive doesnt need to boot, it just
needs to be present. If usb boot is slow its not the install but the hardware bios support on the system.

I read around and compiled my own way of doing so. Credit to those listed
in the urls. (only after reading their materials I was able to understand all this)

http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176 (thx emanuel)

http://www.nedprod.com/Niall_stuff/BootWinUSB/ (thx nialls)

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...181&st=1720 (thx dietmar)


Vista wont start installation on a USB interface no matter what. It is embedded in its OS which
I wasnt able to track down.
So I decided to use VMWARE 6 (may work with older vmware not sure).
You can download vmware and an eval license for 30 days can be emailed to you.
You can also try the free server version of vmware assuming it will work the same.
download vmware install it. (vmware is easy to use)

Step 1: Get vista installed on your drive either use 1a OR 1b

Step 1a: Install vista via ide/sata install
OR
Step 1b: Use vmware.
Create a new vmware for windows, pick custom pick lsi logic as scsi card (vista has support for this card)
use cdrom or iso as you wish for the vista install CD.
have your usb drive u want to install on, plugged in. Vmware will see this device as physical drive 1 (0 being your OS)
use physical disk(advanced) of your usb drive. Make sure you pick the
correct physical drive (drive 1 usually) or else you might wipe the current OS drive.
Use entire disk.
Click advanced on disk in virtual machine settings. Click on independent
and persistent changes for the disk.

Now, please remove all assigned letters in disk management for the USB drive
(If you dont u can corrupt an install that way).
To make sure you clean install vista, remove all partitions in disk management of your USB drive.
(if you have needed data, you can still try but not guaranteed to work it may hang)
Disconnect USB drive!, reconnect.

Play vmware instance.
During vista install, create partitions, format partition (or else u might get corrupt boot as crcdisk error)
Vmware will show that drive as scsi disk under lsi logic controller, this is fine as vista will install on a scsi disk.

Step 2: (if you used step 1a just boot as normal on IDE/SATA)
Boot and go through the vista install procedure in vmware.
Let vista boot to the desktop the first time in the vmware
inside vmware vista do start-> run regedit (in the search box unlike XP)
goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\
Now edit tags
start = 0
Group = boot bus extender

on all these servies
usbccgp
usbehci
usbhub
usbstor
usbuhci
usbohci

If there are no "group" string values add them in for those services


exit regedit

step 3:
goto \windows\system32\DriverStore\FileRepository\usbstor.inf_bb2778a0
copy usbstor.sys into \windows\system32\drivers (ugh not sure why MS doesnt have it in here)
goto \windows\inf
take control and inherit perms for administrator of the inf folder, then
edit usbstor.inf,usbport.inf,usb.inf to have inside section
[*.AddService]
StartType = 0
LoadOrderGroup = boot bus extender


(This is because when you boot into regular desktop out of vmware it will find new usb interface
and mess up the startup type.)

shutdown vista

close vmware
Disconnect USB drive!, reconnect.

Step 4: (if you used step 1a plug drive into USB enclosure)
Now reboot your machine and select USB boot drive from bios boot. Machine should now boot
to vista desktop.

* Be careful about it finding new usb devices and to add drivers. Make sure the
start type and groups dont change on the usb services (verify in regedit).
It will find your current hardware's usb device and install drivers for it.
problem is it can overwrite the original usb*.inf file and add new params into it.
double check this or when you reboot again boot will fail.
If you do windows update, fix the registry or it will fail. Update adds new files like the original.
After the drivers get installed for the first time it is safe to assume you wont
have to deal with it being reinstalled unless you goto another machine.
Of course you can always go back to the vmware instance and fix it there.
In short redo step 2 after first USB boot to desktop (finds new hardware), full update, machine change, plugging in new type
of storage USB devices for the first time. (e.g. the UHCI, OHCI, EHCI hardware types change the starttype since drivers
werent prepped yet. )


Hope its simple and straight forward. You can probably install xp and 200(0,3) this way too. (may need
lsi logic drivers to find boot disk though, vista,win2k3 has it natively)
EDIT: xp and windows 200(0,3) exhibit the same behavior of BSOD during boot. Even after
copying usbstor.sys and other files from driver cache cabs. So xp and win2k3 dont work currently.
Still maybe salvageable with other tweaks out there.

The is another way to get WAIK tools for vista and regedit the above changes directly in the boot(1,2).wim
and install(1,2,3,4,5,6).wim but I will leave that out to the daring. Vista installer still wont
do direct usb install though even with those usb service changes in the image.

If your drive doesnt show up under vmware for use then its targetting as removeable device.
you can install the xpfildrvr driver (the hitachi driver) to remedy that. (mostly for usb flash drives)
Careful about USB stick since it needs additional drivers to stop those write cycles in windows.
But atleast the install should be straight forward. No need for extra copying or dealing with
non working boot sectors as the install is directly on the destination.



Lazy mans quick install (step 2), step 3 maybe skipped, just do step 2 again when moving drive around and/or
after updates.
Here is a working INF file which you can copy to your vmware install c:\.
Close vmware, disconnect USB drive!, reconnect, goto disk management assign drive letter, copy inf file to your vista's c:\
Go back to disk management, deassign drive letter. Disconnect USB drive!, reconnect.
Run vmware, inside vmware right click install the inf file. It wont change the usb
inf files for you but it will add the reg and copy usbstor.sys for you. When you run
through updates, you can re install the inf file and reboot.



[version]
signature="$CHICAGO$"
SetupClass=BASE

[DefaultInstall]
AddReg = usbservices.Addreg
CopyFiles = usbstordr

[SourceDisksNames]
1 = yourcdrive,,,\windows\system32\DriverStore\FileRepository\usbstor.inf_bb2778a0

[SourceDisksFiles]
usbstor.sys = 1,,


[DestinationDirs]
DefaultDestDir = 12 ; DIRID_DRIVERS

[usbstordr]
usbstor.sys

[usbservices.Addreg]

HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbccgp","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB parent Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbccgp","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbccgp","Group",0x00000000,"boot bus extender"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbccgp","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbccgp.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbccgp","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbccgp","Type",0x00010001,1


HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbstor","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB Mass Storage Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbstor","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbstor","Group",0x00000000,"boot bus extender"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbstor","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbstor.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbstor","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbstor","Type",0x00010001,1

HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Miniport Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Group",0x00000000,"boot bus extender"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbehci.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Type",0x00010001,1

HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB2 Enabled Hub"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Group",0x00000000,"boot bus extender"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbhub.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Type",0x00010001,1

HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Universal Host Controller Miniport Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Group",0x00000000,"boot bus extender"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbuhci.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Type",0x00010001,1

HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Group",0x00000000,"boot bus extender"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbohci.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Type",0x00010001,1







Have fun.
-Kal P

This post has been edited by corsair: Nov 22 2007, 10:46 PM

[jaclaz]

Interesting!

For those willing to try this method with XP/Server 2003, the relevant info/drivers should be this:
http://www.vmware.com/support/esx21/doc/es...ilogic_vms.html
http://www.lsi.com/obsolete/lsi20320_3157....1&locale=EN
http://www.lsi.com/obsolete/lsi20320_3157....1&locale=EN

jaclaz

P.S.: I added "[TUTORIAL]" to the topic title, so it is easier to find/spot it when doing a search for keyword tutorial .

This post has been edited by jaclaz: Nov 15 2007, 06:17 AM

[hooovahh]

Hmmm quite amazing. Can any one confirm this technique works? It sounds logical. When I get a chance I'll try it out I'm sure I'll have more questions then.

Also what about boot time, assuming you're using USB 2.0 ports with USB 2.0 hardware does it still take forever to boot to it?

[corsair]

Hmmm quite amazing. Can any one confirm this technique works? It sounds logical. When I get a chance I'll try it out I'm sure I'll have more questions then.

Also what about boot time, assuming you're using USB 2.0 ports with USB 2.0 hardware does it still take forever to boot to it?

boot time is quick with usb2.0 ports and hardware support from bios.
It will be slow on some motherboards that boot in bios at 1.1 but in OS mode work at 2.0.
I have gotten this to work on dell d630 laptop boots at full speed usb 2.0.
Same drive on another desktop system with gigabyte 965p-ds3 motherboard it boots slow
since it starts off at 1.1 speeds but does 2.0 when fully booted.

[Nuno Brito]

Very good tutorial - I'm truly amazed with it's simplicity, excellent!

[Amir Sakhdari]

It is useful information but it doesn’t work? I have some problems whit the installing process when I remove the drive letter in disk management the VMware console have the problem to finding and saving to the disk.

[hooovahh]

I tried doing the tutorial with 2003 enterprise edition, using VMware 5.x, and using an external USB 2 enclosure for a 2.5'' hard drive. I didn't have a problem with any of the install part. I removed the drive litter properly, created a new virtual machine, and installed 2003 properly. Then I edited the files, registry, and copied the .sys file to the proper directory. Then I rebooted my computer and...for some reason my computer doesn't want to boot to this external USB device. I have booted to a 1GB flash drive before via USB on this computer so I don't know what the problem is, any one else have some results?

Also I found this completely different method to getting XP on a USB device.
http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

[jaclaz]

Also I found this completely different method to getting XP on a USB device.
http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

Yep, that one is a "derivative" of Dietmar's Tutorials (see his signature):
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181

jaclaz

[ktp]

I tried this method today, but Vista hang at boot time, loading drivers. I reboot again and again, using Safe mode where list of drivers loaded are displayed.
All the time the Vista boot hang (or stopped?) at loading \windows\system32\drivers\crcdisk.sys.

[hooovahh]

Also I found this completely different method to getting XP on a USB device.
http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

Yep, that one is a "derivative" of Dietmar's Tutorials (see his signature):
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181

jaclaz

Sorry I had no idea, I figured that it wasn't new news.

[corsair]

emanuels tutorial works with windows xp sp2
http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176 (thx emanuel)

IF you modify the CD you can install it directly onto the usb drive no vmware required.
That tutorial should work for windows 2003 as well.
The installs go fine with my vmware method, but after you change the regedits and load usbstor.sys it still bsods 7b
This is for xp and 2003 only.

Vista works.
I have been able to install it many times on 2 different hardware. Dell D630 laptop, and a custom built desktop with Gigabyte ds3 965p
motherboard. You can swap drives between the 2 and it will boot activated and all. (pending does the initial usb driver install for both
and you fix the reg again)


Also you should be able to boot and BSOD even if you just went through the install procedure.

[corsair]

I tried this method today, but Vista hang at boot time, loading drivers. I reboot again and again, using Safe mode where list of drivers loaded are displayed.
All the time the Vista boot hang (or stopped?) at loading \windows\system32\drivers\crcdisk.sys.

Does it load all the USB* drivers? should be able to see that.
main one is usbstor.sys and it has to exist in \windows\system32\drivers\usbstor.sys
If it does load all the drivers then, verify you formated the C: partition inside vmware during install?
If you had its drive letter assigned anytime during vmware install/modify it does corrupt inode entries as both OSes try to mark
the disk clean.

Plug in your drive to usb, Deassign all usb letters for that drive, Go back to your vmware make sure it boots cleanly. Scan disk it in vmware.
power off, disconnect usb drive. Reboot computer and boot from usb?
If same, then you might need another drive plugged in one of the SATA or IDE ports in your regular comp. I have see this with my dell laptop.
IF you dont have the internal drive plugged in it hangs. IF its there it boots. Guess something to do with the install and the drive being present.
I dont see this behavior on my desktop system. I only have my usb drive plugged in and it boots all the way.

[corsair]

It is useful information but it doesn’t work? I have some problems whit the installing process when I remove the drive letter in disk management the VMware console have the problem to finding and saving to the disk.

You have to use physical raw disk. If you remove drive letters the physical drive is still present. Vmware still sees it.
vista boot does work.
xp and 2003 does not with my way loads all usb*.sys drivers but still bsods 7b.

This post has been edited by corsair: Nov 19 2007, 01:44 PM

[ktp]

@corsair

I did all things correctly as you described, and got all things ok (usb* driver loaded etc...).
No drive letter assigned etc..., boots OK under vmware.
I have an internal IDE drive plugged and boots the external USB HDD.
The problem is still the same. Maybe I have to unplug the internal IDE HDD for test? :-).

[corsair]

@corsair

I did all things correctly as you described, and got all things ok (usb* driver loaded etc...).
No drive letter assigned etc..., boots OK under vmware.
I have an internal IDE drive plugged and boots the external USB HDD.
The problem is still the same. Maybe I have to unplug the internal IDE HDD for test? :-).

I have seen the crcdisk error myself, a reinstall has usually made it go away. Yes i agree it boots in vmware cleanly.
Try the inf file install first towards the end of my post. copy it into notepad save as name.inf in c:\ partition of your usb drive.
deassign the drive letter, unplug usb drive, replug, go into vmware, right click install the inf file. close vmware, try boot off usb.
Also try disconnecting the ide drive as well, windows may be looking at as system first boot disk and finding a different install base.

This post has been edited by corsair: Nov 19 2007, 02:00 PM

[ktp]

@corsair

Mea culpa! I recheck I did not set under Vmware the independent disk, persistent mode (I thought it was the default).
I will try again, even restart from scratch if needed. Stay tuned.

Thank you for your support and prompt reply.

[ktp]

OK I am reinstalling Vista in VMware, but at least by re-reading the thread I found an error : there are 6 services that need to be regedited.
Original post from corsair mentioned only 5 services, while the proposed inf file have 6 entries. The missing mentioned entry was usbohci.

This post has been edited by ktp: Nov 19 2007, 02:35 PM

[corsair]

OK I am reinstalling Vista in VMware, but at least by re-reading the thread I found an error : there are 6 services that need to be regedited.
Original post from corsair mentioned only 5 services, while the proposed inf file have 6 entries. The missing mentioned entry was usbohci.

I did see that, did get it working without usbohci, but best to have all of them in there to avoid confusion. added it to my orig post.
Please remember again, copying to usb drive very tricky between both OSes. Vmware and current running OS will try to wipe each others state.
Always make changes with deassigning/assigning in conjunction with unplug/replug usb after deassign will work most definitely.

[ktp]

Latest news:
I did reinstall from scratch, following exactly the procedure. But unfortunately still hang at crcdisk.sys with or without internal IDE HDD attached. :-(
And of course the USB HDD boots fine under vmware.

[corsair]

Latest news:
I did reinstall from scratch, following exactly the procedure. But unfortunately still hang at crcdisk.sys with or without internal IDE HDD attached. :-(
And of course the USB HDD boots fine under vmware.

bummer, I will see if I can reproduce the crcdisk.sys hang again and trace it down to what exactly its waiting on.
What version of vista are you installing? home premium, business, not that it should matter. I have tried home premium and business edition dvd from dell.