Install XP from a RAM loaded ISO image. Use a default XP ISO image.
Addional files are at a F6 virtual floppy.

After years of search a new driver is developed:
FiraDisk: File/RAM Disk driver for Windows.
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8804
The driver is at early development.

The driver does mount a grub4dos RAM drive.
That's awsome and can be used at a lot of conditions.

Use grub4dos to load a virtual floppy and XP installation image to RAM first.
The virtual floppy is used at F6 stage.
32 bit FiraDisk drivers are loaded by default.You don't have to press F6.
You may press F6 to get selection choice.


There is a fake setup.exe used after first reboot.
The idea is used from drivers from CD
The integrated version is changed: this fake setup.exe launch a batch setup.cmd.
There are includeded the source code, a hidden window processed setup.exe.
And a visible window debug version setup_dbg.exe. To use this version rename this to setup.exe.

The fake setup calls the original, renamed setup: setupORG.exe
The original version is not includede. Therefore edit the floppy image and add the file:
Expand setup.ex_ from your windows version
copy the file to \setup\I386\setupORG.exe or \setup\AMD64\setupORG.exe

BTS DriverPacks method 2 are supported. http://driverpacks.net/
This use a fake setup and setupORG.exe too.
If you use a DriverPacks version, copy this setupORG.exe to floppy image.

You may add a file \WINNT.SIF too.

Used files at USB:
\Inst\XP_INST.IMA
\Inst\XP_RAM.ISO

A basic XP_INST.IMA is attached. Add setuporg.exe as described.
XP_RAM.ISO is a default XP ISO image. This file is loaded to RAM.

grub4dos menu.lstAssumptions:
hd0 : booted USB device
hd1 : windows target device
Tested at virtual machine. Has to be tested at real hardware:
several hard disks, several USB drives, internal multi card reader

As wimb indicated, comment this if you read and install to the same hard disk.

XP installation from CD and remapped drive order:
Files are not deleted from installation media.
Setup creates a valid boot.ini. No need to fix boot.ini.
Boot once from USB.

Setup may assign letter c: to another device.
C: is not available for new installed windows.
Setup.cmd deletes MountedDevices.
At reboot windows assign letters again: c:\windows

txtsetup.oem copy a flag file fixDrive.USB to activate this behaviour
If you don't need this behaviour, comment the lines

Setup.cmd uses ImDisk to mount the ISO file.
http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html#ImDisk

The name \Inst\XP_RAM.ISO is the internal default.
The name can be configured:
The floppy image contains a file \setup\ISOimage.ini. Edit this file.

Next the file $winnt$.inf is adjusted.
Windows setup continues and use the mounted ISO file.

Install from USB to USB is possible too.
This part based on Dietmar's tutorials. http://www.winusb.de
Read \USB32\to_usb.txt for details.
At windows setup press F6 and load firadisk and all usb drivers.


In addition there is optional approach to lower RAM usage, e.g. use a 600mb image at 512mb RAM.
Integrated mkISO_RAMload_sort.cmd creates a sorted ISO image:
boot and textmode files are in front of media.
Mkisofs.exe, dd.exe and gsar.exe are used to the create the ISO image.
http://cdrecord.berlios.de/private/cdrecord.html
http://www.student.tugraz.at/thomas.plank/
dd.exe http://www.chrysocome.net/dd
gsar.exe http://home.online.no/~tjaberg

Given a sorted ISO image, OEM at end of ISO image.
Use grub4dos map to load first part to RAM only.
Integrate all \I386 and \AMD64 files.
IsoBuster Free does list LBA (Logical Block Address) of files. http://www.isobuster.com/license-models.php
The LBA show the file location. Calculate N: LBA of file and add file length
Use this number to load image to RAM.

Example: load the first 234567 sectors to RAM.
Remember one CD sector holds 2048 byte dataXP_RAM.ISO has to be continuous, defrag a splitted file.



v02:
firadisk updated: map to (fd0) only. F6 does work
64 bit prepared, unfortunately BSOD 0x7b at 64 bit firadisk
added flag file fixDrive.USB
added config file ISOimage.ini
under construction: install from USB to USB

v03:
added: install from USB to USB
added: added sorted files
added: multiboot ISO image, sub directory

v04:
ISOimage.ini is enabled by default
enhanced: sorted files, experimental RAMboot.lst created


This post has been edited by cdob: Oct 11 2009, 02:14 AM