MSFN Forums > How to install from USB- WinSetupFromUSB with GUI

Full Version: How to install from USB- WinSetupFromUSB with GUI

MSFN Forums > Member Contributed Projects > Install XP from USB

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DeadMeatGF

Aug 15 2008, 03:39 AM

I've gone through the thread, and read the FAQ, but please forgive me if I've missed the answer.

I got directed here after being dumped with a Tablet PC pre-installed with XP Pro (no pen/touch support, great huh?) and no Floppy/CD/DVD etc.
I downloaded the GUI, ran it to format the USB key and copy the XP Tablet files and plugged it into the Tablet ...
I can boot into USB fine, I can start Setup fine - but I get:

Q8: I got "Insert WinXP CD" Error, why?
A8: The correct value in WINNT.SIF is MsDosInitiated="1". This is done automatically by the script. You must have changed WINNT.SIF after prepared USB disk.

Well, I don't have a WINNT.SIF (apart from the Sample one) and I can't find a reference to MsDosInitiated in any of my files on the USB key.

I know I'm probably doing something fundamentally stupid ... but if anyone could tell me what it is, I'd be grateful!

ilko_t

Aug 16 2008, 05:53 PM

Sorry about the delayed responses, I am still on holiday and have a little break from computers

QUOTE (edie209 @ Aug 11 2008, 09:27 AM)

I have been playing around and I tried formating in NTFS the results are amazing I have gone from nearly 2 hours for the 1st section of the install to about 4 mins.

All is not well though on part3 of the install I get an error

CODE

Windows could not start because the following file was missing or currupt
<Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll
Please reinstall a copy of the above file

So I am going to try and find out why I get this message, but if anyone knows why please tell me

Good, NTFS really helps sometimes. For HAL.DLL error please check the FAQs.

QUOTE (sunray73 @ Aug 13 2008, 11:21 AM)

So I was able to get BartPE to load up but as far as any of many linux dist.. nada... I get the following error. I'm running a 4GB formatted FAT32.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Booting 'Start SysLinux bootsector from partition 0'

Filesystem type is fat, partition type 0cx

SYSLINUX 3.64 2008-04-10 EBIOS Copyright © 1994-2008 H. Peter Anvin
could not find kernal image: linux
boot:
------------------------------------------------------------------

Umm, you need you ammend your syslinux.cfg for the particular distro and check kernel parameters for USB boot. The program just adds syslinux bootsector, copy the contents to USB and loads syslinux, and from the message you have posted it seems that syslinux is loaded indeed.

QUOTE (DeadMeatGF @ Aug 15 2008, 02:39 AM)

It happens if your source is on CD, will be fixed very soon. Please use the file in post #36 it's fixed there, just extract it to WinSetupFromUSB folder and launch it instead of the other EXE.
When I get back from holiday will put all changes in new beta version.
Thanks for the feedbacks.

ilko

ilko_t

Sep 8 2008, 09:56 AM

Program updated to 0.1 Beta, please refer to first post for list of changes and download links.

tonich

Sep 9 2008, 09:29 AM

Me runes Win98, but me thinks this is a goood piece of software and deserves moar feedback.
Thanks to people, who put this together!
Greets!

jonsa79

Sep 10 2008, 07:26 AM

CODE

Windows could not start because the following file was missing or currupt
<Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll
Please reinstall a copy of the above file

I'm getting this error all the time.
I've read the FAQ's and can't seem to understand what I'm doing wrong?
I'm trying to install to a notebook that has no problem with formating and reading the first set of files,
but when the computer restarts it just gives the error above.
Now when I'm trying to install with another USB-stick with other settings it doesn't allow me to format anymore. It keeps giving me this hal.dll error.
What can be wrong?

Thx!

ilko_t

Sep 10 2008, 08:13 AM

jonsa79- what partition are you installing windows to? First, second...?
What folder name you gave for Windows, is it the default Windows?
Doe the laptop have a hidden first partition?

Please post your BOOT.INI on the root of the USB stick too. There must be a mismatch between BOOT.INI parameters and the location you install Windows to.

tonich- thanks

ykchanaed

Sep 17 2008, 03:41 AM

$OEM$
Presetup.cmd

Would you please add support to copy the $Docs and $Progs folders inside the $OEM$ folder in the Presetup.cmd

Thanks

onepic

Sep 17 2008, 08:34 AM

@ilko_t

Nice work and pls. receive my congratulations for it !

I have test it today and it is working OK from a 2GB USB Stick (formated as NTFS) and installed from it a winxp sp3 profesional VLK on my notebook but there is "small problem". The setup it seems not ask to select your Name and Organization and also skip the selection for time zone

. Can you fix that because not all of us are live in US

. Thank you in advance !

ilko_t

Sep 17 2008, 10:16 AM

QUOTE (ykchanaed @ Sep 17 2008, 02:41 AM)

$OEM$
Presetup.cmd

Would you please add support to copy the $Docs and $Progs folders inside the $OEM$ folder in the Presetup.cmd

Thanks

The next version will support everything as if installing from a CD. Hence no hacks or modifications will be needed to to accomplish such tasks.
Currently working on it, should be ready very shortly.

QUOTE (onepic @ Sep 17 2008, 07:34 AM)

@ilko_t

Nice work and pls. receive my congratulations for it !

. Can you fix that because not all of us are live in US

. Thank you in advance !

The program is not messing with these settings. You most likely have a file unattended.txt in your source, which if found is copied and used as winnt.sif. This replicates what normal Setup would do.
If that's the case- have a look in \I386 in your Windows source and rename unattended.txt to anything else BEFORE you use the program if you don't want to use it.

Thanks for the feedbacks

onepic

Sep 18 2008, 03:12 AM

I have renamed unattended.txt into unattended.tx_ and i have rebuild the setup and now all ok and it run like from original CD. Th'x for the tip !

btw... tested today on a 16GB usb stick and is working OK from there too.

latteslave

Sep 28 2008, 11:44 PM

Great app and thanks! A couple of roadblocks for me:

At first I could not get the graphical install to go... Then I realized I had a 30MB partition stopping the whol thing.

Next issue - got the full install done, but could not boot without the USB key in the laptop. After reading the help, I realized that the binifix4.cmd file did not run (I even got an error telling me so during the first desktop launch.) I looked for the file but could not find it. Finally, I went back to the install of the WinSetupFromUSB and found the file in the install.

Is this the normal process? Did I do something wrong during the setup of the USB that caused the file not to be copied over?

Any help would be appreciated... I want to create a new USB - just in case, but want it to run the first time.

Thanks,

B

ilko_t

Sep 29 2008, 12:56 AM

Was your XP source on a CD?
Can you copy it to a hard disk, use that as a source and report if that resolved the problem. I guess TXTSETUP.SIF editing fails when source is on a CD, because of the read-only attributes.

Thanks for the feedback.

edit: Couldn't understand this part, can you explain further?

QUOTE

At first I could not get the graphical install to go... Then I realized I had a 30MB partition stopping the whol thing.

jkey

Sep 29 2008, 04:23 AM

Thanks for this wonderful tool!

latteslave

Oct 1 2008, 01:34 AM

QUOTE (ilko_t @ Sep 28 2008, 11:56 PM)

QUOTE

At first I could not get the graphical install to go... Then I realized I had a 30MB partition stopping the whol thing.

I should have been more clear. I got through the text setup the first time, but could not get the GUI to run on reboot. After several bad attempts, I actually paid attention when I got to the partitioning screen. Since I set up the USB for Disk 0 Parition 1, it was trying to boot from a little 30MB partition that was built into the MINI 9. I deleted that partition, reformatted and low and behold it booted the GUI no problem...

Thanks again!

lieblingsbesuch

Oct 2 2008, 07:56 AM

When will 0.2 be released?

ilko_t

Oct 2 2008, 11:02 AM

@lieblingsbesuch- Working on that, but real life also has it's own opinion how time should be distributed, actively negotiating with it

@latteslave- does that mean you succeeded when source was used from a HD?

loopux

Oct 2 2008, 11:32 AM

Gparted is not working well for me...it loads ..take a lot of time...lot of verbose comments..then ask for my keyboards..ask for my language and then finally finish into a terminal type shell...i thought gparted had a graphic GUI (well i am sure it has one because i have it on ubuntu)..i tried all the various options (load in mem, safe etc)
why so? any ideas? it is probably possible to use it like this too but too complicate for me...

only thing i myabe should add i also have ubuntu live in the same partition (and bartpe, and winxp install), but in a different folder off course (casper)

matteo

ilko_t

Oct 2 2008, 11:50 AM

QUOTE (loopux @ Oct 2 2008, 10:32 AM)

What version of GParted you tried? Both 0.3.6-7 and 0.3.4-8 worked right away in my tests on 3 different computers.
For 0.3.6-7 if it doesn't start GUI try waiting a few seconds, it should auto start depending on the options you choose, [0] beginner etc.
Try "sudo startx" too.
Ubuntu most likely will be included in the next version, matter of a few weeks.

loopux

Oct 2 2008, 04:55 PM

i tried with the latest available version 0.3.9.4
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.p...ckage_id=271779

i will maybe try wi8th the older versions you suggest and let you know...

thanks for quick answer...
matteo

i did add ubuntu but it was not easy...(see my post)

loopux

Oct 3 2008, 06:43 PM

yes i tried with gparted 0.3.6-7 and its working...strange because it wasnt with the newer version...

matteo

devictoria

Oct 4 2008, 04:17 PM

There is a dangerous error. I had my USB disk connected as Disk 11. It did write the GRUB for DOS boot code to the MBR of the Disk 1 (not 11, but 1).

ilko_t

Oct 4 2008, 04:34 PM

Dangerous indeed, can you attach your WinSetupFromUSB.log file? If not present in program directory look in BACKUPS folder, there are also backups of the MBRs and bootsectors in case you need to revert the original one.

Did you have a card reader, how did you get 12 hard disks?
Thanks for reporting

Volatus

Oct 5 2008, 04:40 AM

I'd kinda like to add a little feature request... a tiny one, but a feature request

I use WinSetupFromUSB GUI to prepare "solo flight" installations on hard drives. I've found it an incredible and groundbreaking new way to get installations done FAST - by first preparing the drive (and boot sector) with Windows' Disk Manager, then use WSFU to "prepare" the drive to install. The drive boots to Windows setup, and happily installs right to itself at blazing speed. I can then delete the source files and enjoy Windows.

There's a small problem though, with bypassing the USB part. The Windows install is tweaked to run an extra "post-setup" routine of changing the boot.ini file, that, on the first boot, hangs at a window saying "do you really want me to set it to -1?" or something like that (it appears behind the welcome screen until it times out, or you Ctrl+Alt+Del it out of the way). I can press a key and it continues OK with no problems, but it's annoying none the less. Also, a second entry gets added to boot.ini, because a boot.ini file (unnecessary with the Grub4DOS loader) already existed in the root of C:.

So, the solution is simply to make an option that skips certain preparations, like the boot.ini in the root, and adding that first-login boot.ini changer. Those two changes would make WSFU even more useful for more than just USB!

devictoria

Oct 5 2008, 07:44 AM

QUOTE (ilko_t @ Oct 4 2008, 11:34 PM)

Can you attach your WinSetupFromUSB.log file?

CODE

2008/10/04 22:12:36- Getting USB drives information
2008/10/04 22:12:36- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic		   MMC/SD USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE7
2008/10/04 22:12:36- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic			   CF USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE5
2008/10/04 22:12:36- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic			   MS USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE6
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic			   SM USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE8
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: MCBOE32G 8APR USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE11
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Disk Partition: Disk #11, Partition #0
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Logical Disk: L:  File system: FAT32 Bootable: -1
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: MXI PRIVATE USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE9
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: MXI READ ONLY USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE10
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Target drive selected- L:
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Drive letter of the active partition in selected disk- L:
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Total target size avialable- 31217 MB
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Checking sizes...
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Total source size- 0 MB
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Target space available- 31217 MB
2008/10/04 22:13:40- Checking sizes...
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Total source size- 533.3 MB
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Target space available- 31217 MB
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Section SetupParams was not found
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Windows source selected- G:
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Source version- Syst‚m Windows XP Professional
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Service Pack- Disk  aktualizace Service Pack 3 syst‚mu Windows XP Professional
2008/10/04 22:13:41- AMD64 flag- 0
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Removing TEMP folder
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backing up MBR of disk #1
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backed up MBR of disk #1
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backing up BootSector of disk #1 partition #0
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backed up BootSector of disk #1 partition #0
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Installing grub4dos bootsector to (hd1,0)
2008/10/04 22:17:45- C:\WinSetupFromUSB\files\grub4dos\grubinst.exe (hd1,0)
2008/10/04 22:17:49- grub4dos installed

ilko_t

Oct 5 2008, 01:20 PM

QUOTE (Volatus @ Oct 5 2008, 03:40 AM)

I'd kinda like to add a little feature request... a tiny one, but a feature request

...

As I got it you are not installing from USB, right? You just use the program as replacement of WINNT32.EXE.
Is there any reason you don't want to use the latter?

CODE

winnt32.exe /noreboot /makelocalsource /syspart:X: /tempdrive:X:

You may want to use /makelocalsource:all and /unattend:winnt.sif (/unattend:unattend.txt) in case you do MCE/tablet and use answer file.
It will prepare drive X: with the installation files, boot.ini will be prepared at end of TXT part, having one entry only.

If you want to use WSFU, you may just delete boot.ini in root folder and comment out or delete in \$WIN_NT$.~BT\WINNT.SIF GuiRunOnce section
"binifix4.cmd c:"
to
;"binifix4.cmd c:"

If you want ~BT and ~LS folders to be deleted at the end of GUI part (T -1) comment out or delete in SetupParams section
UserExecute = ren_fold.cmd
to
;UserExecute = ren_fold.cmd

@devictoria
Thanks, it's fixed in the program now.
In addition grubinst.exe, which installs the grub4dos bootsector, refuses to work with hd10, hd11 etc. Reported to the authors:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5897
Will include a fixed version of it as soon as they fix it.
Thanks again for reporting.

Volatus

Oct 5 2008, 02:23 PM

QUOTE (ilko_t @ Oct 5 2008, 12:20 PM)

As I got it you are not installing from USB, right? You just use the program as replacement of WINNT32.EXE.
Is there any reason you don't want to use the latter?

CODE

winnt32.exe /noreboot /makelocalsource /syspart:X: /tempdrive:X:

Huh. Could be that I had no idea that was even possible...

I always avoided the WINNT*.exe files like the plague because they did a horrible job of botching up a Windows install. Do it from DOS and you end up having to start the install as FAT32 and later convert to NTFS (end up with a non-native file system). Do it from Windows and you end up with a migrate.inf file that screws up your drive letters. Plus, I didn't even know about those switches

ForRubbish

Oct 9 2008, 08:02 AM

QUOTE (ilko_t @ Jul 11 2008, 09:31 PM)

Here comes the first GUI for our little project.

What it can be used for adding to your USB stick/disk:
<snipped>

I like to express my Thank you to the author and many other contributors for this awesome utility tool. I have successfully tested this tool on an Asus Eee PC 901 (without CD/DVD Rom drive) using SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro (3920MB), and it installed wonderfully.

This tool is an administrator's best friend. I'm looking forward to your future updates!

Once again, Thank you very much. Cheers!

Best regards,
FR (SG)

thegr8anand

Oct 10 2008, 09:59 PM

Hey guys. I just found about this and this is a wonderful tool. KUTGW...

Just one question. I have vista on my laptop's drive and have recently added an external hard drive. On vista it shows as 2 partitions, G and H (i split it into 2 from G to G and H). Now i am planning to install XP customized version on H drive, the external drive partition. So when I run the program, in Boot.Ini adjustments: do i put Disk Nr = 1 and Patition Nr = 2 ???? And how should the Boot.ini look if i use those settings. I tried those settings and it looks like this on USB:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup + Start Windows from hd 1 part 2" /FASTDETECT

Is this allright? I will be using a 4gb USB drive for this and this is XP Pro with SP3 and extra drivers inculded like the SATA ones for my external HD.

Thanks.

ilko_t

Oct 10 2008, 10:21 PM

@thegr8anand- I guess the external hard disk is USB, right?
In this case you'd need other approach:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181
http://www.winusb.de/index_en.html
http://ngine.de/article/id/8

This subforum as about installing Windows from USB.

@ForRubbish- thanks, appreciate it : )

@Volatus- glad if it helped : )

thegr8anand

Oct 10 2008, 10:36 PM

No the HD is SATA, it is actually an internal HD in a an external enclosure connected using sata. My internal laptop drive has 3 partitions C,D,E and the new HD has G & H.

That is what i want to to do. I want to install XP from the 4GB USB i have on this 2nd drive i have as my laptop's cd-drive is not working.

ilko_t

Oct 10 2008, 10:46 PM

Ok, good there is no misunderstanding.

Assuming G amd H are primary partition syntax is right, you did it properly.
Mind you, Windows XP most likely will place boot files (BOOT.INI, NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM) on C:, where Vista is. The issue is that it will also rewrite the bootsector of C: with XP one, invoking NTLDR.

From there you have number of options:

1. Run from Vista

CODE

bootsect.exe /nt60 C:

This will place Vista bootsector on C:. Next you have to use tool such as EasyBCD to add XP to VIsta boot menu.
2. Run EasyBCD from XP and let it repair Vista bootsector.
3. Use Vista DVD for the purpose, Startup repair may fail, try bootsect instead.
4. Use grub4dos to start Vista:
http://diddy.boot-land.net/grub4dos/Grub4dos.htm

thegr8anand

Oct 10 2008, 10:53 PM

Cool.

I was thinking of this: I will install XP on H and when install is complete and XP is working, i can restart and use Vista DVD to repair startup and then from Vista add an entry for XP using EasyBCD. Will this be allright?

EDIT: Forgot to ask: The XPSource has unattended settings in it, will it affect with the boot.ini settings i made and the winnt.sif settings. do i need to make changes to that to be safe?

ilko_t

Oct 10 2008, 11:08 PM

Should be fine, although you can do that from XP as well by EasyBCD.
Vista DVD has an option Startup repair, I've seen cases when it fails to rewrite the bootsector. If this happens use any of the other ways above, or as stated here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933179

Just do not use Drive:\boot\Bootsect.exe –NT60 All, replace All with the drive letter in question. MS really don't care if people are using other OS, the command with all switch will replace bootsectors on ALL partitions:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749177.aspx

Do all these procedures with USB disk removed.

edit: boot.ini and winnt.sif are not related. What unattended settings do you have? Some of the settings in [unattended] section will not be applied, depends. Anything else is fine. If you have something in [unattended] please post that part only.
Do not replace winnt.sif in ~BT folder, it has some critical entries added by the program. Edit it instead, but keep the changes the program made.

thegr8anand

Oct 10 2008, 11:20 PM

What i mean to ask is, whether it will have an effect on installing XP on partition H and not C. I have never used unattended so thats why i am asking.

This is Winnt.sif from ~BT folder:

CODE

[Data]
AutoPartition=0
UnattendedInstall="Yes"
MsDosInitiated="1"
floppyless="1"
winntupgrade="no"
win9xupgrade="no"
EulaComplete="1"


[GuiUnattended]
AdminPassword=*
EncryptedAdminPassword=NO
TimeZone=85
OEMSkipRegional=1
OemSkipWelcome=1

[Display]
BitsPerPel=32
Xresolution=1024
Yresolution=768

.....


[TapiLocation]
CountryCode=1

[RegionalSettings]
LanguageGroup=1
SystemLocale=00000409
UserLocale=00000409
InputLocale=0409:00000409

[Identification]
JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP

[Networking]
InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[GuiRunOnce]
"binifix4.cmd c:"
[SetupParams]
UserExecute="ren_fold.cmd"


This is Winnt.sif from ~LS folder:

[Data]
AutoPartition=0
UnattendedInstall="Yes"
MsDosInitiated=No

[Unattended]
UnattendMode=FullUnattended
OemSkipEula=Yes
UnattendSwitch="yes"
WaitForReboot="No"
TargetPath=\WINDOWS
DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
NonDriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
OemPreinstall=Yes

[GuiUnattended]
AdminPassword=*
EncryptedAdminPassword=NO
TimeZone=85
OEMSkipRegional=1
OemSkipWelcome=1

[Display]
BitsPerPel=32
Xresolution=1024
Yresolution=768

.....

ilko_t

Oct 10 2008, 11:29 PM

Nope, where you setup Windows you set during Text mode. We need to know that in advance, because of the USB disk drives are "shifted" and resulting BOOT.INI from Windows setup is not proper. That's why we need to know in advance and create proper boot.ini in order to start GUI part of the setup and Windows for first time.

Remember to start from USB 3 times- Text mode, GUI mode and first start, when desktop is fully loaded you can unplug the stick.

edit: unless you have custom files/folders in $OEM$ to be copied you are fine. If you do have- then easiest way is to integrate BTS mass storage drivers pack to your source and redo the USB disk.
Here is why:
http://www.msfn.org/board/install-OEM-drivers-t123023.html

0.2 is almost ready, all this has been taken care of, beta testers are always welcome btw, just let me know if you can help

thegr8anand

Oct 10 2008, 11:30 PM

Thanks a lot ilko.. I will try it now and report back.

thegr8anand

Oct 10 2008, 11:42 PM

Hmmm. When i select USB boot, it says there is some configuration problem and it cannot continue. EDIT: The file system i used for my USB was NTFS, is this why it gave me thi error?

And yes i do have extra files(setups) in the OEM folder. Can i try your 0.2 version. If it fixes all this then it can be good for testing.

Also here is my presetup.cmd if it matters. My actual USB drive letter right now in Vista is "I". So i dont know if it makes any difference when i run from USB.

CODE

REM +==========================================================================+
REM |																		  |
REM |   This presetup.cmd file was dynamically generated by the DriverPacks	|
REM |   BASE, to work with the DriverPacks without any further editing.		|
REM |   However, if you would like to add some custom functionality, you can   |
REM |   edit this file without any problems. Just take into record that this   |
REM |   file will be erased if you run the DriverPacks BASE on these Windows   |
REM |   installation files again!											  |
REM |																		  |
REM |   With special thanks to:												|
REM |   -Pyron, a06lp and iLE for their help with this method;				 |
REM |   -schalti for the optional 'Keep the Drivers' system and Pyron (again)  |
REM |	for turning it into an executable.									|
REM |   -SuperTibaldoKart for creating un7zip.exe							  |
REM |																		  |
REM +==========================================================================+


REM +==========================================================================+
REM |   Finding CD/DVD driveletter.											|
REM |--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
SET TAGFILE=\OEM
FOR %%i IN (C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y) DO IF EXIST "%%i:%TAGFILE%" SET CDDRIVE=%%i:


REM +==========================================================================+
REM |   Decompressing the DriverPacks to the harddisk - using un7zip.exe.	  |
REM |--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
%CDDRIVE%\OEM\bin\un7zip.exe %CDDRIVE%\OEM\DRIVER.7z %SystemDrive%\


REM +==========================================================================+
REM |   Copying/decompressing the files to finish the installation.			|
REM |--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
%CDDRIVE%\OEM\bin\un7zip.exe %CDDRIVE%\OEM\bin\*.7z %SystemDrive%\
COPY /Y %CDDRIVE%\OEM\bin\DPsFnshr.ini %SystemDrive%\
IF EXIST %CDDRIVE%\OEM\*.ins COPY /Y %CDDRIVE%\OEM\*.ins %SystemDrive%\


REM +==========================================================================+
REM |   Scanning for driverdirectories.										|
REM |--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
%CDDRIVE%\OEM\bin\DevPath.exe %SystemDrive%\D


REM +==========================================================================+
REM |   Disable Driver Signing Policy and keep it disabled.					|
REM |--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
START %SystemDrive%\DSPdsblr.exe




REM ===========Added by WinSetupFromUSB============
IF EXIST %systemroot%\system32\setupold.exe DEL /F %systemroot%\system32\setupold.exe
IF EXIST %CDDRIVE%\$WIN_NT$.~LS\$OEM$\$1\nul xcopy %CDDRIVE%\$WIN_NT$.~LS\$OEM$\$1\*.* %systemdrive%\ /i /k /e /r /y /h
IF EXIST %CDDRIVE%\$WIN_NT$.~LS\$OEM$\$$\nul xcopy %CDDRIVE%\$WIN_NT$.~LS\$OEM$\$$\*.* %systemroot%\ /i /k /e /r /y /h
type %systemroot%\system32\tempunat.inf >> %systemroot%\system32\$winnt$.inf
REM ====================END=======================
EXIT

Macster

Oct 11 2008, 12:05 AM

QUOTE (thegr8anand @ Oct 10 2008, 09:53 PM)

I don't mean to overstep ilko_t (he truly is the authority on this subject), but there is another tool (program) out that works well with XP installs over Vista and it works from either on Vista or XP; 32 or 64 bit platforms.. It is called Vista Boot Pro and its free (only asks for donations). It has a BCD editor in it that works really well in most cases. I use it myself, cause I have a laptop that has Vista Ultimate as its native OS and I like running XP for some apps. So I install XP as a second OS and then run Vista Boot Pro (on XP) to repair the boot strap for Vista and add an entry in the BCD (with Vista Boot Pro) so that you have a choice of starting XP or Vista when your machine starts, thereby creating a dual boot configuration. It really makes things a lot easier.

Question: However I have a question regarding unattended installs, can the tool that is provided here allow unattended installs to run off the USB thumb drive? <EDIT> I see there is already an answer to my question before I had it typed.

How soon would beta 0.2 be available to test? If it would be possible, I would like to be one of those testers.

I must admit I have only glanced through the past two years of messages on this forum and I have to say that I have been really impressed with the amount of time of devotion and achievement that has been made for this project. I was beginning to think there wasn't anything out that allowed XP to install from a USB device. Truly remarkable! My hat goes off to all those who have contributed to such a cause.

ilko_t

Oct 11 2008, 01:30 AM

@thegr8anand- since you have BTS driver packs integrated you are fine about the unattended part. Lets fix the boot.
Can you give some more details about the error message?
My guess is that you started from USB and you got that message, which means grub4dos was not installed properly on the USB bootsector.

Can you go in \WinSetupFromUSB\files\grub4dos\ and launch grubinst_gui.exe giving it admin rights.
Select radio button DISK and select your USB disk. Be careful which one you select. Use disk sizes as a clue, just in case.
Then click refresh button next to PART LIST and select from the drop-down menu the partition on the USB disk.
Select Verbose output and click INSTALL.

If you see that it successfully installed, try to boot again from the USB disk. If not- please make a screenshot or post what it says.

@Macster- thanks : )
I should be ready with next version in a few days, most of the new stuff is about unattended install. Started using the same approach as BTS team is using (fake Setup.exe) and presetup.cmd to carry out whatever could be done for the unattended section.

However, there is quick and dirty workaround- the problem with unattended section is that if it's present, even if empty, Text part of setup doesn't ask where to install windows to and puts it on the USB drive, where ~BT and ~LS folders are.
Well, it won't if you create a few big dummy files, making the disk space less than the one stated in txtsetup.sif ~1.1GB on unmodified XP.
Now you can safely put back unattended section in winnt.sif and start setup- it will try to install there, say that it can't and go back to the disk list

CODE

fsutil file createnew U:\dummy1.temp 1000000000

This makes setup 1:1 as from a CD, regarding contents.

I was thinking to use this approach, it eliminates all the mess with unattended section, but if one is with a USB hard disk or 16GB stick it's not practical to occupy all the free space.

thegr8anand

Oct 11 2008, 01:55 AM

Ok. It is working right now. Actually the problem was NTFS file system. I guess my comp had a problem with it. I changed it to FAT32 and ran your program again and now it is working. I am on my other PC and it is installing right now. Seems slow though from USB. At first setup it gave me 2 options: First part of Windows XP Setup or Second part Of XP setup. I didnt know what to choose so i went with the first one. I dont know if it should have asked that.

Also i am not sure if it will install all the extra apps and drivers that were on the CD and the tweaks and removals that were put using nlite.

ilko_t

Oct 11 2008, 02:06 AM

Without the exact error message before I can only guess what the problem was.
On second though- similar message would come if you started second part of setup first, did you?
First part (Step 1)- Text mode, the one without mouse, where you format disks etc.
Second part (Step 2)- GUI mode, the one with mouse and better graphic.

Fat32/16 can be painfully slow on some systems, USB stick matters too, it seems. NTFS really makes huge difference in those cases.

Reminder again- start from USB 3 times- Text, GUI mode and first start of windows. This is important.

thegr8anand

Oct 11 2008, 02:10 AM

I think I am right track then. At first it started GrubDos and I had to select 1st part of Setup or Second part, i selected first. Then i had to choose where to install XP i selected the target drive H which was detected. I quick formatted it and now it is copying files. SO i guess after this i will move to the GUI part.

Also ilko i didnot try your suggestion of grubdos_gui.exe as that time i was running your program after formatting the usb to FAT32. Then i tried to boot from USB and it ran. So i am pretty sure it was because of NTFS file system.

EDIT: Have a problem now. When i first selected 'First part of Windows XP Pro Setup from partition 0' in Grub4Dos, i selected the partition and it copied some files. Now after it restarted and i boot from USB again and select 'Second part of Xp Pro Setup + Start 1st time from partition 0', I am getting an error. It says: "Windows couldnot start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Couldnot read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware."

So am stuck with this error and dont know how to proceed. Just a guess but shouldn't it be Start 1st time from partition 2 or something?

wimb

Oct 11 2008, 04:27 AM

QUOTE (ilko_t @ Oct 11 2008, 09:30 AM)

However, there is quick and dirty workaround- the problem with unattended section is that if it's present, even if empty, Text part of setup doesn't ask where to install windows to and puts it on the USB drive, where ~BT and ~LS folders are.

Hi ilko,

Might it be that this problem is solved with

CODE

[Data]
AutoPartition=0

This works for me in USB_XP_Setup, where [Unattended] Section can be used as normal.

ilko_t

Oct 11 2008, 10:23 AM

QUOTE (thegr8anand @ Oct 11 2008, 01:10 AM)

So am stuck with this error and dont know how to proceed. Just a guess but shouldn't it be Start 1st time from partition 2 or something?

BOOT.INI has improper entry, pointing to non existing location.
Can you post here winsetup.lst from USB stick root?
Was this hard disk partitioned from Vista disk management?

On second read- back to your external disk, I guess you have eSata port, right? Are you sure Windows will start from it? Have you had any operating system on it? Are we sure you can boot from it?
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=3366&hl=

QUOTE (wimb @ Oct 11 2008, 03:27 AM)

QUOTE (ilko_t @ Oct 11 2008, 09:30 AM)

Hi ilko,

Might it be that this problem is solved with

CODE

[Data]
AutoPartition=0

This works for me in USB_XP_Setup, where [Unattended] Section can be used as normal.

Works because msdosinitiated=0
msdosinitiated=1 combined even with an empty section [unattended] results in that behavior. I'd love to be proved wrong, it would save sooo much trouble.

ilko_t

Oct 11 2008, 01:21 PM

@thegr8anand

Another test- when you start from USB and see any of the menus, press C on your keyboard, it will go into command prompt.
There you type exactly:

root ( <---and press tab key

It should return something like "Possible disks are hd0 hd1..."
Post the result here.

Next type:

find /windows/system32/$winnt$.inf <----press enter

Should return something like "(hd1,1)"
Post the result here.

thegr8anand

Oct 11 2008, 03:26 PM

Ok i tired your suggestions.

Root ( TAB gives me: hd0, hd1, rd

find /windows/system32/$winnt$.inf says: file not found.

find /ntldr gives me: (hd0,0), (hd1,1),(hd1,2)

I guess it's not seeing the external HD now, even though the first part of setup completed successfully where i chose my external HD partition 2. Also, yes this drive was partitioned in Vista. But it worked in first part and not in second part...

When i try chainloader /ntldr in the grub command window it says: Will boot NTLDR from drive=0x80, partition=0x0(hidden sectors=0x3f)

This is what Boot.ini says:

CODE

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup + Start Windows from hd 1 part 2" /FASTDETECT

ilko_t

Oct 11 2008, 04:23 PM

hd0 is your USB disk, hd1 is the internal disk with Vista.
Why NTLDR is found on both hd1,1 and hd1,2? Do you have there another XP or recovery partition?

Seems your laptop doesn't provide BIOS extension for the esata disk, hence it's not seen by grub4dos and ntldr-->that's why the error "Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem..." and why grub4dos is not displaying it.

First part goes fine, because the sata driver helps installer see the disk, but more important is if BIOS provides arcpath for it, it seems not.

There is a slight possibility this to happen because of the new Vista partition rules, this is a random shot of mine:
http://www.multibooters.co.uk/partitions.html

If you can, backup whatever you have on the external disk, and use other tool to delete all partitions on it and create new ones, even by using Text mode of XP setup for the purpose.

What is the exact model of this laptop? Have you googled if other people managed to have AND boot XP from esata disk, connected to it?
Do you have any setting in BIOS, regarding esata ports?

thegr8anand

Oct 11 2008, 04:32 PM

My laptop is Dell XPS M1710. IT doesnt have an esata port but i am using an ExpressCard which provides me sata connections. I think my internal hard drive is 160GB SATA 150.

Well I have USB 2 connection with my HD as well so i can use that somehow if this doesnt work???

EDIT: Hey ilko, I found these posts from the link you gave me where they have got it working. can you please help me understand that.

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ost&p=40707
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ost&p=46779

ilko_t

Oct 11 2008, 04:51 PM

QUOTE

IT doesnt have an esata port but i am using an ExpressCard which provides me sata connections

Ahh, you should have started with this

It should be possible to make the Windows work from the esata, but needs some experience and time:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21242

cdob has even made a batch file, which automates the process, haven't read details or tested, should be in that thread somewhere.

As for the USB port- we are back to square 1- look a few posts above the links I gave you, they are for XP installed on USB drive.

edit:

QUOTE

EDIT: Hey ilko, I found these posts from the link you gave me where they have got it working. can you please help me understand that.

In simple words- integrated in the motherboard esata, actually just another external sata connector- good chances you can boot from it since BIOS provides extension.

esata port via external card or PCMCIA card- no. Unless manufacturers implement this functionality. It's like using SCSI card, which doesn't have it's own BIOS, extending your motherboard BIOS.
This is not something I can comment thoroughly, little experience with it.

thegr8anand

Oct 11 2008, 06:45 PM

Hmmm. Stuck. Dont know what to do...

Just one thing, The second part of XP setup in Grub, where is the file NTLDR loaded from? Doesnt it have to be loaded from USB drive which has it? So why does it matter if Grub can't see my sata drive as like first part setupldr.bin from USB did the rest...

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