Hello I am new here.

I am using USB_MultiBoot_10 and nLite 1.4.5
After I created a cd image, I decide to move it to USB key. I follow the instruction on how to use usb to install xp, and the problem occurred,
In my winxp installation CD created by nlite, I set it so the gui won't ask me to create the first user, but when carried to the usb drive via usb_multiboot_10, the gui ask me to create the first user(and cannot skip). Any one knows how to solve this kind of problem?

After Selecting Your XP Source created by nLite, Select Yes to Use all Setup Parameters from XP Source.

When the 8 parameters are displayed, you can Select Cancel to keep Settings Unchanged,

and you are not asked to create the First User. Then there is No problem

I am sure that's how I do it the first time. but I will try it again.

PS. btw I got an "Produkey" auto protect from my symantec for "wintools\othertools\" but i didn't bother with it, since my main goal will be getting the xp installation to work. Don't think that's the reason.
Okay. I will let you know if everything is preserved or it's my imagination.
Thank you for your help

EDIT: doesn't work... still asking for first user name. Is there any file I can post here to help you guys help me?
reburned my cd to see if i have the right iso. the iso skips the creating first user
And when i create the nlite cd, on unattended section, I pick administrator under Users->autologon hope that helps

Check your winnt.sif file in the XPSOURCE produced by nLite

In the [Data] Section you have got to add:
unattendswitch="Yes"

so that Windows Welcome Screens are Skipped and screen for giving First User will not appear.

For Install of XP from USB we have got to remove the [Unattended] Section in your winnt.sif file,
and that is where nLite has put the unattendswitch="Yes" Setting for you.
Running USB_MultiBoot_10.cmd makes that the Setting unattendswitch="Yes" is lost
and you have got to add this in some way to the [Data] section of your winnt.sif file
when you want to skip Windows Welcome Screens for giving First User Name.

The problem of loosing the unattendswitch="Yes" Setting from the [Unattended] Section
wiil be repaired in the next version, but for the moment you can use the following workaround.

Instead of the manual edit of your winnt.sif file described above,
it is also possible after Display of the Setup Parameters,
to Select Unattended Install instead of Cancel,
and go through the Edit Screens (use Enter) for the 8 Setup Parameters.
Selecting Unattended Install will take care that
unattendswitch="Yes" is added to the [Data] section of the Current_winnt.sif copy of your winnt.sif file.
In this case a given UserName in Screen 8 is not used when Setup Parameters come from nLite.
In $OEM$ Folder a file useraccounts.cmd is made, which however is not used in this case.

I didn't reformat the usb drive, I change the winnt inf file. and now it's working fine and didn't ask me to enter first user. nice wimb you are the best.

HI guys

I have created this bootable flash using usb_multiboot_10. But one thing I have not noticed is that I can only Install a fresh copy of windows on a hard drive. How about REPAIRING and existing installation using xp on the flash drive, say in case some system files are corrupted but i dont wanna lose the programs and data on the hard drive.

Is this possible?

B.R

Yes, it is, in case in BOOT.INI on the hard drive the line about USB repair is intact.

The line is there in my hard drive's boot ini. But when i restart my computer with usb device plugged in, I click on USB repair, But i get error about hal.dll

You need to boot from your USB stick, choosing the appropriate BIOS option. On the USB stick you need to have XP setup files prepared for install from USB. Then you stall normal setup procedure until you get offered repair installation.

You do NOT start from your hard disk choosing the option USB repair, it would be in use only by Setup.

it does not give me any option to repair. I have made the USB stick the FIRST BOOT DEVICE IN BIOS. Wen I reach the step in setup where I have to press F8, it has to show somthing like " WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL" R = REPAIR, ESC = DONT REPAIR etc. but it doesnt, it goes straight to show the harddrive and partitions.

But if I use the CD, it gives me repair option.

1) Was that installation made from USB stick?
2) Post here or attach boot.ini on the hard disk
3) Post here or attach \windows\system32\$winnt$.inf on the hard disk
4) Post here or attach \$win_nt$.~bt\winnt.sif on the USB stick

1. At first I tried using my 20gig hard drive which was formatted and installed on using USB Stick, but still i could not repair that installation using usb stick.
2. I then tried on my 80gig hdd which was formatted and installed with CD, i tried repairing its installation with USB stick but still it cant be repaired. it skips to the partitions list.

below is the info u requested.

(1) boot.ini from my 80gb Hard Disk
[Boot Loader]
timeout=30
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect




(2)$winnt$.inf for my 80gig hdd

[setupparams]
skipmissingfiles=0

[data]
unattendedinstall=no
floppylessbootpath=no
producttype=winnt
standardserverupgrade=no
winntupgrade=no
win9xupgrade=no
win31upgrade=no
sourcepath=\device\cdrom1\
floppyless=0
msdosinitiated=0
dospath=E:\

(3)\$win_nt$.~bt\winnt.sif on the USB stick

[Data]
MsDosInitiated=1
floppyless=1
unattendswitch="Yes"
UnattendedInstall="Yes"
EulaComplete="1"
[GUIRunOnce]
"binifix4.cmd c:"
"undoren.cmd"
;
; Changed by USB_MultiBoot for INSTALL XP from USB
;
command9=%SystemDrive%\DPsFnshr.exe

[UserData]
FullName="USER"
OrgName="USER"
productkey="XXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX"
ComputerName=USER

[GuiUnattended]
OEMSkipRegional="1"
TimeZone=115
AdminPassword=*

[Identification]
JoinWorkgroup="WORKGROUP"
[SetupParams]
UserExecute = "ren_fold.cmd"

As I get it on the 20GB disk you did manage to perform repair install from the USB stick, right?

For the 80GB disk- add to boot.ini the following line and try repair again:

NO i did not manage to perform repair install on both harddrives. As for the 20gb, what I meant is that i did a CLEAN install using the USB Stick. but for the 80GB Hard drive I just used the ordinary XP CD. but neither hard drives can do a repair install using USB Stick.

Then, add the line:

to the BOOT.INI of BOTH your 20 Gb and 80 Gb HD.

Something is not "kosher" on the BOOT.INI you posted, however:


The contents of the Default line should correspond to one of the choices under [Operating Systems].

jaclaz

Well guys, thanks for your help. It worked. Now imagine I am faced with a problem where Someone brings in his pc for "repair install". and for instance, the system cannot go past the windows logo (Blue screen of death comes after windows logo). How do i get access to the boot.ini?

and second, how can i modify the setup files on my usb stick so that whenever i do a clean install on a formatted harddrive, I dont have to temper with boot.ini on the hard disk if i wanna do repair install?

USB Repair line in boot line is added by default when installing from USB using the methods in this subforum. It's been like this since the beginning.

In the latest releases of WinSetupFromUSB this line is not included due to the number of complains "why there are two boot options on my new installation". Well, as far as I remember you are the first or the second person rising up this issue, compared to hundreds of thousands of downloads.

How do you add it if not present- BartPE/UBCD4Win, bootcfg from recovery console, Linux live CD with NTFS support...

...or a good ol' plain DOS 7.x/8 diskette (read win9x/Me), with EDIT.COM (for FAT16 and FAT32 volumes) and this app Freeware from Terabyte Unlimited (for NTFS ones):
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-free-software.htm
EditBINI
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/editbini.zip
or
ftp://terabyteunlimited.com/editbini.zip

Or you add to the stick a floppy image created along these lines:
http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy33.htm

With a "wide minded" BOOT.INI, something like this one:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=25365

Some hints are given here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=127900


jaclaz

Hi..thanks for the above info.

One thing, how do i deduce what to write in the usb line by looking at the default line in boot.ini on hard drive?
(what is the "formula" for calculating usb repair line?

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS=""USB Repair"" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

rdisk(z)-->rdisk(z+1)

Drive order.

First Disk (the internal one the BIOS booted from) is normally rdisk(0)

First partition on First disk (usually the booting one) is
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\xxxx

If you have a single hard disk, the second one will be the USB stick, thus rdisk(1).
First partition on Second disk is
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\xxxx

If you have two internal hard disks, the USB will become third, thus rdisk(2).
First partition on Third disk is
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\xxxx

Be aware that on PC's where those internal USB adapters for memory cards are installed, the above may not be true, and the drive number may be shifted.

You can use the dd version by John Newbigin:
http://www.chrysocome.net/dd

Together with this small batch:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8219

In this sample output:


The USB external (Removable) stick is bolded italic and is multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(6)partition(1)\xxxx as the drives are "shifted" by the 4 devices of the adapter.

jaclaz

How do i create the CD/DVD version of the multiboot (One which has vista/xp/bartpe etc on one dvd) using USB_MultiBoot_10 ? Like the one made on USB flash stick.

and I also have another problem: when i run the xp setup on my other pc (Winsonic WS661GX / ECS 661GX-M), After it loads the files (sata drivers etc), it shows "setup is starting windows" and then after a few seconds, it brings the blue screen of death. I tried the installing on my other pc and it works fine. however if i use DVD/CD to install the modded xp, it installs fine. Why is it showing blue screen of death with usb?

Best Regards

kachman

You write CD_Multiboot_1.

USB_Multiboot is for USB Multiboot.
I.e. is a number of tricks collected together to make it possible to replicate what is already possible on CD/DVD on USB devices.

To create a multiboot CD/DVD you can use any of the several guides available, since the changes needed are very few, here is the "historical" guide:
http://flyakite.msfn.org/

Only addition/change I would make is the use of grub4dos or syslinux/isolinux as "main" loader:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=133110
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=129399

BTW, some .iso's can be loaded "as is" from grub4dos or Syslinux/isolinux/memdisk:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showforum=66
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5041

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showforum=92
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=8258&hl=




Who knows?
Are you using the modified NTDETECT.COM?
See FAQ #3 here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=116766

If that one is not the problem/solution, start a new thread, posting DETAILS, like hardware used, source, USB device data, etc., etc.

jaclaz

Why not to remove second boot option after install with additional script?

It's easier simply not to add it

For those interested- trigger is in ~LS\I386\presetup.cmd- binifix5.cmd and /norepair option. Remove it and you will get USB repair line, if switch is present- USB repair option is not added.