Well I decided to use my 2GB (Slow A$$) Sandisk Cruzer micro or mini (cure little thing) (Since my 4GB Sandisk U3 drive is too big for PeToUSB.exe),

Well I formatted the drive using PeToUSB.exe and it copyed over all the files that it looks like should have and said it completed but it still wont boot. Just says invalid system disk and try again. Everytime I hit my keyboards "Any Key" my USB Drives little LED does flash once indicating that it is seeing the drive but not the boot sectore I guess.

So my question is how can I verify that the bootsectore was written correctly or even at all? Or re-write it again. I tried this on 4 different PC all that support USB Booting.

Many thanks,

MrXP

I have a 1GB SanDisk Cruzer micro and what I did was:

Left the U3 partition on it
Formated the fixed disk portion with a Windows 98 system
Added GRUB
Added BartPE

I can boot to DOS and run my DOS utils or via GRUB boot BartPE.

I'm a fan of PEtoUSB but didn't use it on this stick. But it is definitely possible to make it bootable.

hth

MrXP,
you might want to re-start from the FAQs here, starting from FAQ #4:
http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...SB/USBfaqs.html

Do use the HP format utility and check it boots in DOS 7.x.

Then you might want to read the last part of the Howto page:
http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...B/USBstick.html

To check the presence of the MBR and Bootsector you can use any hex/disk editor, and beeblebrox/ptedit32, links provided in the above howto.

You might find useful reading the posts between me and ktp starting from here:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...18846&st=68

jaclaz

I tried using this utility on a Apacer 1GB USB Flash Drive on a Dell GX320 system. I built the windows XP portion with BartPE and used this utility to format and copy the build. When I boot it gives me the error:

Remove disks or other media.
Press any key to restart


Does anyone have any advice or ideas? I wasn't able to get this going before using the HP Format, and using this walk through at Toms Hardware.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/09/win...in_your_pocket/


Here is a link to the thread I started.

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19674

Ok so I tried it one more time without making any changes and this time it started booting from the flash drive. It gave me the Windows XP splash screen then I get the Blue Screen of Death.

STOP: 0x0000007B


Anyone have any ideas?

I tried burning the build to cd and it boots fine, so I know the build is ok. I know there are differences in running from cd and from USB, and I have tried the RAM Disk options with my USB Flash Drive, but it didn't seem to make a difference. I thought I would try my 100GB external Firewire/USB2.0 drive, but it doesn't show up in the list, even after refreshing. I have tried re-partitioning it, and formatting it with NTFS and Fat32, but it still won't show up in this app. So I am lost there... I have another USB Flash Drive that I will try, maybe that Apacer 1GB just isn't compatible. This other one I have is a 256mb Kingston Flash Drive. Not sure if it's big enough, and I think I have read that it isn't compatible.. I guess I will find out..

Still waiting for help if it's out there. I will answer any questions you might have.

I just tried the Kingston 256mb USB Flash Drive and I get the same BSOD, inaccessible boot device error..

Does this application automatically set the USB Flash drives up with the RAM Disk? or do we have to perform that step after PeToUSB.exe is completed?

I believe this was the error I got when I initially used PEtoUSB and a Dell notebook. The solution was to enable the LBA option when formating the stick with PEtoUSB.

PEtoUSB copies all the BartPE files over to the stick, it does not copy an iso, doesn't need an iso and doesn't boot into RAM.

@colesy
Please read the post just above your first one:


Additionally, read this one:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...=19594&st=7

Once, and only once, you are sure that the MBR/bootsector/filesystem part does work with your machine in DOS, IF the BartPE does not work, there are other things to experiment with, just as an example these:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...3784&st=249
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=19333&hl=

Some DELL machines have been reported in several occasions to be "troublemakers", and, additionally [begin sarcasm] they appear to be owned by people that BOTH need/want/demand an immediate urgent simple working solution AND EITHER giveup OR completely fail to report success and steps taken [/end sarcasm] .

jaclaz

Thanks for the advice guys.. I will try the LBA mode first and then read the posts you suggested jaclaz..

P.S. I don't own the Dells, the School Board I work for runs Dells. Of course a simple working solution would be great, but I am willing to work to get this going. If I do get it going, I will be sure to report my success.

Thanks again.

@colesy

Unless you need to respond directly to a comment in a posting please use the the Add Reply button rather than the " Reply button. It's on the next line down. Thanks.

@all

For Dell desktop owners (with BSOD 07B stops), I ran across an interesting post.

He used the 'PeToUSB' method, but prior to booting,

he replaced files (on the stick): NTDETECT.COM, SETUPLDR.BIN, and RAMDISK.SY_

with the same files from a Server 2003 CD to stop the BSOD.

Look here:
http://ubcd4win.com/forum/index.php?s=&...ost&p=46576

Ed, you there?

Best regards, and Good luck to all...
chuckr

Your Look Here link doesn't work.

I know - just checked it out.

Try again.....

Test for 911 board's "Insert Special Item" dropdown list = "Insert: Post Link".

"Option text" <-- pasted in the ASCII text, same as below... (http://etc.)
"Content text" <-- typed in the: Test "Click here..."

Test "Click here..."

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

This works: Pasted in plain old ASCII text =

http://ubcd4win.com/forum/index.php?s=&...ost&p=46576

Just for the record, and to try and clear any possible misunderstanding, the post referred to is NOT "Dell" specific, it applies to other machines as well.

Generally speaking, the problem can be an incompatibility between the particular version of NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM and the BIOS of the machine.

The "least" compatible ones appear to be the XP SP2 files.

Both XP SP1 and Server 2003 SP1+ files have been reported to be "more" compatible, but there is still the possibility of using Dietmar's modified NTDETECT.COM and gray's modifications to NTLDR to boot from \I386 also when on HD like media.

To this you add that there are TWO "main" ways to boot BartPE from USB, direct booting and ramdisk.

The TWO different ways have been already talked to death, the Ramdisk approach is MUCH MORE compatible than the other one with "picky" BIOSes, but it has some limitations, mainly the fact that you NEED files from Server 2003 SP1+ (and a license for them) and the amoint of RAM that needs to be adeqyate to the size of the image.

BOTH ways were devised by Bart himself, here:
DIRECT booting
http://www.911cd.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7632
and here:
RAMDISK booting
http://www.911cd.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10806

Here are a couple of threads where the two ways are compared and more interesting info is given:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=11213
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=16239

A clear, complete howto for RAMDISK booting is here:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=10482


A FULL, NEWISH approach, to another version of RAMDISK booting that has several advantages over the elder approach is here:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19333

jaclaz

So does simple text editing, ie cut & pasted text and this approach:

But thanks for pointing out the problem. There's a couple of things that need to be tweaked on the board, including one of the new emoticons.

Hi all,

About the dell machines , I have tried 4 different models now ,
2 of these are my own, don't have any problem booting these.

I am using Dietmars modified NTDETECT and my own modification to Ntldr,
using File Based Write Filter and write protecting these from the start with
the method i have described in http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...mp;#entry128546.
This makes sure that FBWF always will work and nothing will be written to the USB stick.

I do have a problem with some of the 'IBM' models, but these have a general
problem with different usb devices mounted during a normal boot.

I have tried 10 different USB stick's now , and all will boot.
I can transfer the system to a hard drive , and it will boot.
Yesterday tried a 4gb Sandisk cruzer , had to format it as fat ,
the transferred bartpe system use 2.2 Gb of space on the stick.
dont ask, i dont know how this worked ?? but it booted as it should.

By the way , the new IBM laptop models are very fast in booting from USB devices,
but you will have a black screen until the windows logo appear ?.

Regards Gray.

Gray, Are you saying that the above link is the one that works well?
Or the method you're using, with Dietmar's NTDETECT and your binary mods to NTLDR?

I kind of got lost there...
(I don't have a Dell. Just trying to help those that do, and trying to understand -why-
the process works or not.)
Thanks,
chuck


@Ed_P

""So does simple text editing, ie cut & pasted text"" <===< I -did- this, as I posted.

""and this approach: "" <===< Don't have one of those. I use Firefox...

Your's looks like a URL, mine doesn't. I apparently wasn't very clear. Sorry.


Those options are forum posting options, not browser options, and are available in all the browsers I use; IE, Netscape and Firefox. The list expands if I include version numbers.



Now do you see what I'm referring to?

"AAH-HAA", says this dummy!

So busy trying to "learn the board", that the "baby" icons were drowned out by my latest discoveries:
-Insert Special Item-, -Fonts-, and -Sizes- (as you may have noticed)...

Also, I'm more of a "words-person" than a "picture-person" (DOS days, gone by) and tend to not see
baby-icons. Really do like the new "emoticons", though -- cool!

Thanks for the help --- I'll try to post slower and look closer now, when I reply.
(and try to stay ON-topic)
chuck

The methods I am using seems to be working on all 'new' machines I have been testing,
even works on 4-5 year old dell models (GX60 and others).
The only problems was with the IBM machines (Different ThinkCentre versions for the last couple of years).

Regards Gray.

Hi Guys,

Not sure if this is the right thread so apologies if wrong, but am hoping that you might be able to help...

I am trying to create a 8GB FAT32 USB key that boots BartPE

The reason for this is that I currently use BartPE to re-image a bunch of laptops using Ghost and therefore the Bart image contains some ghost image files the largest of which is 4.5GB (split into 2GB files max size) and therefore will not fit onto a 4GB flash drive.

I have successfully tested this with smaller images on 4GB flash drives and used usb2pe.exe and this has worked fine
I have successfully tested an 8GB flash drive booting to win98 on fat32 using the HP format utility

I am now struggling to create a fat32 BartPE image and get it onto the flash drive and am hoping that you guys can point me in the right direction as I must have read through a dozen posts about usb booting following links all over the place and ending up back where I started

Many Thanks
Luke

Well, you did the most part of it.

Read this thread:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19594

where you should get all you need.

If any doubt, please post them on the referenced thread, as this one is for the petousb.exe utility, that, by design, is limited to 2Gb.

jaclaz

Hi all! First time caller here with a BSOD using PEtoUSB and a valid BartPE setup (works on CD great!) in Windows XP SP2 and intel motherboard. The partition built (fat16) gives the same STOP 0x000007B on flash drive and on usb drive right after the windowsXP splash screen. Is there a fix to this? I've seen references that say windows is reseting the usb port and that may be the problem, but i can't find a workaround. thanks!!!
BS in nepal

For my Dell nb I had to use the LBA option of PEtoUSB before my stick would boot. Did you try that option?

It depends on the way the stick is detected, you can try this:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=19235&hl=

@Ed_P
Well, if he got a BSOD mixedupmacandpc has ALREADY booted well past the MBR and bootsector.....your CHS/LBA problem should have prevented you from booting at that level, well BEFORE a BSOD could come out

jaclaz

Thanks Ed, yes, I use the LBA fat16 option. Must be some strangeness in PetoUSB, as if I just create a flash drive bootable using ATI via the Mudcrab method found here, it works: Procedure that works

I've tried two sticks and two usb drives all with the same BSOD. I'd really like to get the bartpe function on the usb drive, if possible. thanks!

Ok.

Blue screen, black screen, all the same, it didn't work!! It's been awhile since I had the problem, I don't remember the exact symptoms, all I remember is it didn't work, for weeks!! And Dell was unbelievable in their efforts to resolve the problem. In addition to numerous emails over the course of many weeks they even replaced the mainboard in the notebook in an effort to fix the problem.

Then, try what I suggested you in my previous post!

If it does not work you'll have to use RAMdisk booting.

The guide you are referring to is for booting an Acronis product, NOT NT/PE based.

NT/PE have a different booting process from Dos and Linux.


I have to disagree, though the final result is the same, symptoms (and the reason why) are much different.
It would be like if mixedupmacandpc's car wouldn't start (because it has a flat battery) and you tell him "It happened to me once, there was no gasoline in the tank"

jaclaz

Jaclaz, thanks for your post. I don't own a car but a Royal Enfield and there is no petro here so yes, it won't start. India has cut us off, again. Anyway, I understand what mudcrab's guide is for, and it works, but I'd rather have a PE -based boot. The thread you point to suggests many things, so are you recommending using a modified NTDETECT compiled from the ascii post or this one: http://www.markwilson.co.uk/blog/2006/01/b...m-usb-flash.htm

Thanks!

@mixedupmacandpc
Using the modified NTDETECT.COM, if it worked for madweeser it might work for you.


jaclaz

Is there a straight download of that, or do i have to somehow compile the hex code on the webpage? thx...

I don't get it.

Out of 100 PAGES x 20 = ÷ 2,000 posts, I selected just three posts, which you are expected to read:
#1 Contains the code (enough for an advanced user)
#2 Contains a tutorial on how to build from he code (enough for an intermediate user)
#3 Contains a fully automated way to build (enough for a newbie)

I mean, you don't sound like belonging to level #4..... , don't you?

jaclaz

For sure - #4 or #5 where hyperlink goes to file download that does everything. My eyes are blurred from all the long-winded posts ive read on this topic : even those three posts u reference go on and on and on and branch out to infinity. but i'll look at #3 again, although they are not numbered. See, I told ya I was a #4

Hi

This PEtoUSB utility is the ultimate utility to use. I have been using all other utilities and having no joy as kept getting "missing or corrupt txtsetup.sif" errors and if could get past that then more errors but after using this utility all is OK!!!!. I just successfully got a Transcend Jetflash 1GB stick working straight from this utility.

I successfully made my PEtoUSB stick and when I try to boot with it it gives me a blue screen, what happened?

Did you use the LBA option? Does BartPE boot from a CD for you?

If the Blue Screen also refers to 0x000007b STOP, it probably means that the stick + motherboard does not allow for direct booting, you might need to try the RAMDISK approach.
See this for a start in understanding how the two ways work:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=16239&hl=

jaclaz

winbom.ini! That's the file Ed_P didn't what it was...

See this post:

@BartPEorDie

No need to shout.

I downsized your post from "size=7" to normal.

What is the point you are trying to make?

jaclaz

No point. I just thought it was kind of funny, is all...

Cheers.

Has anyone used a mapped network drive to hold the source files? I can see the directory and the underlying files but, the ok button is grayed out.