Booting two different PE's from one USB-Stick using Grub Options

[pumuckl]

Hallo,

I have two different versions of BartPE which I would like to get
running BOTH parallel on one USB-Stick instead of using two
differnet USB-Sticks.

One with version is running with the xpe-plugin and full software,
which boots very long whilst the other version is without xpe and
contains mainly virus-scanner and tools, but it boots much faster.

Further I want to start the XP-Recovery Console from this USB-Stick
as well, which boots from the CD with the BCDW-Menue perfect.
(Plugin from UBCDWin)

Both - the 2nd PE as well as the XP-Recovery Console fall back booting
allways the PE-XPE-Version although I tried renaming the directories.

I use FAT32 with Grub For DOS in order to boot other bootable
DOS-Images as well with an 8GB Kingston DataTraveler Stick.

I also tried repartitioning the stick by advices I found in the
forum. However the access to the 2nd partion was so slow even transfering
the files so I gave up and deleted the 2nd partition

I searched the forum but I could not find any resolving my problem.

I thing I may have to hex-edit setupldr.bin for pointing to the different
directories 'I386' and 'CMDC' but I do not know where and what.

Can somebody help please to get two different PE's and CMDC as well running
from one stick only?

My Grub for DOS 'menu.lst' is below.

Thanks to all in advance!


############### Grub For DOS-Menu BEGIN ###################
color white/blue black/light-gray
timeout 30
default 2

# Boot Windows Vista HD0 / Part.0
title Start Windows Vista... from Harddisk Partiton 1!
map (hd1) (hd0)
rootnoverify (hd1)
map --hook
root (hd0,0)
chainloader (hd0,0)/bootmgr

# Boot Windows XP-Pro HD0 / Part.1
title Start Windows XP Prof. from Harddisk Partiton 2!
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
rootnoverify (hd1)
root (hd1,1)
chainloader (hd0,1)/ntldr

# Boot 1st - BartPE by finding setupldr.bin
title Boot WinPE BartPE XPE from this Stick ................ OK!
find --set-root /minint/setupldr.bin
chainloader /minint/setupldr.bin

# Boot 2nd - BartPE by finding setupldr.bin
title Boot WinPE BartPE NORMAL from this Stick ............. (Not OK)
find --set-root /I386/setupldr.bin
chainloader /I386/setupldr.bin

# Boot XP-Recovery Console by finding setupldr.bin
title Boot XP-Recovery Console from this Stick ............. (Not OK)
find --set-root /CMDC/setupldr.bin
chainloader /CMDC/setupldr.bin
############### Grub For DOS-Menu END ####################

[wanderer]

Hi pumuckl

Take a look to this 2 great guides of diddy and wimb_2 for a start.


diddy

Guide for Multi-booting from a USB Drive

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=18846&hl=

Method 1_2 - Using GRUB4DOS


wimb_2

Guide for MultiBoot USB-stick with boot.ini Menu

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=20089


XP recovery console is also possible from the boot.ini


Greetz

[jaclaz]

Additionally to the links given by wanderer:

# Boot 2nd - BartPE by finding setupldr.bin
title Boot WinPE BartPE NORMAL from this Stick ............. (Not OK)
find --set-root /I386/setupldr.bin
chainloader /I386/setupldr.bin

Read this:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...3784&st=249

# Boot XP-Recovery Console by finding setupldr.bin
title Boot XP-Recovery Console from this Stick ............. (Not OK)
find --set-root /CMDC/setupldr.bin
chainloader /CMDC/setupldr.bin

CMDC will NEVER work.
CMDCONS may if loaded through a bootsector or NTLDR/BOOT.INI, read this:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/Recovery-Console-t2254.html
and links therein.

jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: Mar 20 2008, 04:54 AM

[cdob]

# Boot XP-Recovery Console by finding setupldr.bin
title Boot XP-Recovery Console from this Stick ............. (Not OK)
find --set-root /CMDC/setupldr.bin
chainloader /CMDC/setupldr.bin

Use \cmdcons\ folder instead.
Use a current grub4dos. Default menu.lst contains a recovery console example.
Grub4dos set cmdcons flag in RAM.
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?s=&...st&p=141378

And add a \cmdcons\winnt.sif

CODE

[data]
CmdCons="1"

@jaclaz
Just wondering: is \CMDC\ possible?
idea, not tested: edit setupldr.bin, change \minint to \cmdc and provide a txtsetup.sif without /minint flag.

Your boot sector cmdcons solution works fine with syslinux
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...amp;#entry18878

A boot sector file is not required at grub4dos.

[jaclaz]

@cdob

You are right, forgot about newish releases and the direct RAM edit of grub4dos, I'm getting old.

I don't see a reason to use \CMDC\ instead of \cmdcons\.

Is there a reason or it is just some experimenting for the sake of it?

A boot sector file is not required at grub4dos.

...but once you have one, it will also work with grub4dos, besides Syslinux, memdisk, etc.


OT, I was expecting some input/ideas from you on the "XP Kansas City Shuffle":
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=21242&hl=

You are either too busy with your "real" life or getting old/lazy.....


jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: Mar 20 2008, 08:01 AM

[pumuckl]

Hi, thanks to all!

As I'am currently 2 month in spain with modem-access only I have loaded the mentioned pages and I will study them.
If I'am getting sucsess I will come back and report.

I used Grub for DOS as it was the easiest for my, as I have NO Linux knowledge to deal with syslinux AND Grub for DOS works
fine for me using the GUI-Interface....

However I'am confused by this:
Using 'BOOT.INI' AS WELL OR INSTEAD of 'Grub for DOS' for the "CMDC-Option"...?!?
In fact, the USB-Stick is aknowledged as harddrive on my Laptop and BOOT.INI is a Bootmanger for harddrive,
but can it be mixed?

@jaclaz
Thanks for the link, I may try to patch to get a second PE working.
(http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...3784&st=249)
I saw this before but I was not aware that it might solve my problem...

I have no problem booting XPE. My XPE boots fine... but only one PE from the stick
(presumably the first found on the stick).

I have several PE-Versions - just to boot a faster PE or virus-scan PE only...
I also have a VistaPE running from this stick besides BartPE / UBCDWinPE (Did'nt want to make the menu.list to large..)

My point was a general one:
Can more than one PE on one USB-Stick be booted using the o.m. patching idea (I386, I387 etc.)??

The point is,
* to a boootable PE-CD can nothing be written
* to an usb-stick YES - there are allways minor modifications
For this reason I ZIP the minint befor first use, so I have allways a clean (never used) version to go back
* some usefull apps do not work from PE-CD but from the stick e.g. spyware + rootkit software
They make modifications on the first run....
For this reason it wold be fine to be independent on the number of PE's on one stick - preferrably three versions
just one 'quick & durty' and to others - a fast booting small PE and a full apps longer booting.

Thanks to all again!
I have much to do now - will see what tme 'my boss' allows..?!?
I will come back when I solved at least 2 PE's on one stick!
Sorry for my english...
Regards - Pumuckl

[wanderer]

@pumuckl

However I'am confused by this:
Using 'BOOT.INI' AS WELL OR INSTEAD of 'Grub for DOS' for the "CMDC-Option"...?!?
In fact, the USB-Stick is aknowledged as harddrive on my Laptop and BOOT.INI is a Bootmanger for harddrive,
but can it be mixed?

Boot.ini can be used on USB-stick also.

I managed to start 2x BartPE + Recovery Console from USB-stick using boot.ini.

Because there is a conflict to directory names,booth your BartPE's have I386 and Programs directory,and i don't now how to start I386 from USB-stick,i did use "minint" and a BartPE ram iso,and for the Recovery Console "cmdcons and cmldr".

Let us now if you like\want to use BartPE ram iso.

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...ost&p=65753


@All

Is it possible to start BartPE from USB-stick using I386 directory?


Greetz

[jaclaz]

Is it possible to start BartPE from USB-stick using I386 directory?

Yes, just READ given links:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...3784&st=249

same thing can be done to NTLDR and SETUPLDR.BIN:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=17504

Also review this old thread:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=38


jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: Mar 22 2008, 10:08 AM

[cdob]

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=17504

Yes, this includes USB harddisk and USB-stick.

Two different folders are possible, like \i386 and \i387

@jaclaz
Yes, there is no reason to use \CMDC\ instead of \cmdcons\
Just a idea for experimenting.

About "XP Kansas City Shuffle":
It's all three: busy with "real" life and getting old/lazy.
I'll respond after some tests myself.

[wanderer]

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...3784&st=249

I don't understand what gray means with

Replace following 2 entries in ntldr

\minint\txtsetup.sif....txtsetup.sif
in hex:
5C 6D 69 6E 69 6E 74 5C 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66 00 00 00 00 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66

with
\i386\txtsetup.sif....txtsetup.sif..
in hex:
5C 69 33 38 36 5C 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66 00 00 00 00 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66 00 00

I think there is no minint entry in the NTLDR,does he mean the renamed "I386\Setupldr.bin" of the BartPE build?


Greetz

[cdob]

does he mean the renamed "I386\Setupldr.bin" of the BartPE build?

Yes, editing refers to file setupldr.bin.

Remember, topic 13784 is about PeToUSB.
Dosn't PeToUSB copy file "I386\Setupldr.bin" to "\ntldr" ? Hence there is a renamed setupldr.bin.

[wanderer]

does he mean the renamed "I386\Setupldr.bin" of the BartPE build?

Yes, editing refers to file setupldr.bin.

Remember, topic 13784 is about PeToUSB.
Dosn't PeToUSB copy file "I386\Setupldr.bin" to "\ntldr" ? Hence there is a renamed setupldr.bin.

You are right,thanks for clarification

Ok,I can start with the i386 directory now

When using multiple BartPE's on the USB-stick,there are also multiple "Programs" directory's.

How to solve this problem?


Greetz

[cdob]

When using multiple BartPE's on the USB-stick,there are also multiple "Programs" directory's.

How to solve this problem?

There are different approaches:
use different Programs folder: change plugins

Or merge two Programs folder to one Programs folder.
You may use different nu2menu folders. Rename one to nu2menu2 http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?s=&...st&p=143053

[wanderer]

Thank you cdob

I used different nu2menu folders and it works fine

Did use your "gsar method".


Only one thing still puzzels me,meaning the "gray method".

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...3784&st=249

I now only one way to HEX-edit,like NTLDR input and PELDR output,for example.

But that can't work because I get a "General Protection Fault","replacing 6 chars to 4 chars" as pavel mentioned.

Is there a way to do this otherwise?

Maybe input "5C 6D 69 6E 69 6E 74 5C 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66 00 00 00 00 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66"

and output "5C 69 33 38 36 5C 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66 00 00 00 00 74 78 74 73 65 74 75 70 2E 73 69 66 00 00"?

Greetz

This post has been edited by wanderer: Mar 23 2008, 01:30 PM

[cdob]

I didn't used "gray method". Not tested, should work too.

However there is a design error: \minint\txtsetup.sif....txtsetup.sif: Second string txtsetup.sif moves location.
Luckily this is not used at PE and should not matter. XP $WIN_NT$.~BT installation may fail.

General hints:
A string is teminated with a 0x00 at C programming language.
You may shorten a string. Just termiate string with 0x00 again.
Don't change starting location of a string. Don't change filesize.

[wanderer]

@cdob

Thank you for all your explanation,and the nu2menu2 solution concerning multiple "Progams" directory's

@jaclaz

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=17504

The "gsar method" works fine for me,so thanks for the link


Greetz wanderer

[jaclaz]

@jaclaz

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=17504

The "gsar method" works fine for me,so thanks for the link


Greetz wanderer

You are welcome , sorry if I mislead you with:

same thing can be done to NTLDR and SETUPLDR.BIN:

What I meant was actually :

same thing described here for NTLDR with hex editor can be done to SETUPLDR.BIN with gsar

That was what I was thinking, but obviously not what I wrote...

jaclaz

[wanderer]

No problem,I wasn't mislead so no harm done and everything works fine

Hopefully we here from pumuckl if it works for him to


Greetz

[pumuckl]

Due to problems with connecting to free internet-providers via modem here in spain (never had before)
I had a big delay in making progress to get a 2nd PE running from my USB-Stick.

I choosed the UBCDWin-PE-Version to run from the \I386-Directory:

I tried first patching as advised by the thread...
(http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...3784&st=249)
but no success - boot hangs - or mostlikely I mispatched with the hex-editor?!?...

Yesterday I tried the 'cob'-method with 'gsar.exe' and this was a full sucsess!!

Thanks to all for all your help!!!

Now I'am thinking of waht is the easiest
* combining the two 'programs'-directories or
* a patch - changing the name 'Programs' on the second PE to 'Programm'
* whether it is possible before starting with grub to use a rename utility
to rename the appropriate Programm-Dir...
There was with DRDOS a rendir utility which easily would do it but I'am not familier
with grub wether it is possible to start a cmd-file (or rendir directly) to do this before
the requested PE is started.
The command to be executed would be on root-level: "rendir Programs Programm"
... thats all.

Merging the two PE Program-Dir's is too much work because they contain mostly totally
different software items - all the old goodie's which I like and want to keep running ..
- DOS e.g. Lotus, Wordstar, dBase Multiplan etc. and
- Windows 3.1 Excel, Winword, WinSketch etc.
and those are started through the Progman-Shell from Windows 3.1 (nice look / see old threads)
just to mention a few...

I searched the whole PE-Directory for the string and found only a few CMD, INI and CFG-files,
and the files SOFTWARE and DEFAULT in the Config-Directory...
... and I'am unsure about 'X:\I386\SYSTEM32\SETUPREG.HIV'...?
... there is nothing to see but it could be binary coded ...?

Further to that, since I have all drivers I need - also SATA - for my next new laptop included
in my PE, I only work with my USB-Stick and make modifications to nu2menu directly.

In any case the easiest way would be a rename via grub for dos before starting PE...
Can Grub for DOS rename Directories....

Thanks to ALL again for your help - regards Pumuckl

[jaclaz]

In any case the easiest way would be a rename via grub for dos before starting PE...
Can Grub for DOS rename Directories....

NO, but you can use grldr to load grub4dos to load DOS, do the renaming and then use grub.exe from DOS to get back to grub4dos and load one of the two PE's.
You can even completely automate it via batch file.

jaclaz