MSFN Forums > Install Vista from USB "Hard Disk"

mehargags

Mar 27 2007, 02:27 PM

i know most of us have seen, "How to Install Windows Vista from a high speed USB 2.0 Flash Drive"

where u use these commands

CODE

   1. diskpart
   2. select disk 1
   3. clean
   4. create partition primary
   5. select partition 1
   6. active
   7. format fs=[i][b]fat32[/b][/i]
   8. assign
   9. exit
  10. xcopy d:\*.* /s/e/f e:\ (Copy Windows Vista's DVD ROM content to the Flash Drive E:)

being a sys admin I always carry my USB hard drive (Transcend Storejet 160gb). Its partitioned as single NTFS & not FAT32 as mentioned in the above code. I can't boot from the USB hard drive even though the bios supports it. I tried FixMBR on the USB hdd but it still din't work. All I get is "NTLdr missing".

Is there no way i can use my 2.5" USB hard drive to boot & install Vista from it, just like i'd do from a FlashDrive ??

any pointers pls, im desperate at achieving this.
Thx

zorphnog

Mar 27 2007, 02:41 PM

All the documentation that I've read says that it has to be formatted in FAT32 as a single partition spanning the entire drive, although I'm not sure why.

Mike69

Mar 28 2007, 06:31 AM

i have the same problem...ive tried with fat32 and i still cant boot

mmarable

Mar 28 2007, 07:23 AM

I use a 40GB USB drive with a 10GB FAT32 partiton and a 30GB NTFS partiton.

I just copied the Vista DVD as is directly to the FAT32 partition and it boots and runs the Vista install. If you are looking for something simple like that, it works.

Mike69

Mar 28 2007, 10:48 AM

QUOTE (mmarable @ Mar 28 2007, 02:23 PM)

I use a 40GB USB drive with a 10GB FAT32 partiton and a 30GB NTFS partiton.

I just copied the Vista DVD as is directly to the FAT32 partition and it boots and runs the Vista install. If you are looking for something simple like that, it works.

how did you manage to do that???

wont it needs a boot loader to start the setup?

zorphnog

Mar 29 2007, 08:35 AM

I've just tried this out on my 60GB usb hard drive and confirmed that it works. Here are the steps I used.

Run diskpart (v6.0.6000):

CODE

select disk 1
clean
create partition primary size=10240
create partition primary
select volume 2 //10GB USB partition
format fs=fat32 label="VISTA_BOOT" quick
active
assign
select volume 3 //46GB USB partition
format fs=ntfs label="USB_DISK" quick
assign
exit

Copy Vista contents to USB drive:

CODE

xcopy d:\*.* /s /e /f e:\

Just make sure that you mark the VISTA_BOOT partition as active and you should be good to go.

*EDIT: I just tried it with NTFS format and it works also.

jaclaz

Mar 29 2007, 09:59 AM

Some related info:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=1123&hl=

jaclaz

spacesurfer

May 17 2007, 06:45 PM

I'm getting a

CODE

Remove disks or other media.
Press any key to restart.

error when I do this.

My Vista is vLited. My HDD is in a external HDD enclosure and is 2GB and formatted to FAT32.

Wonder if vLite had anything to do with it.

Thinking that vLite may have modified my boot files, I tried replacing my vLited install.wim in the original ISO image of Vista (using UltraISO) and still got the same error.

I have to vLite because my external HDD is 2 Gb. I can't fit the darn whole Vista on it.

Any thoughts appreciated.

kentk

Oct 24 2007, 02:08 AM

Tried this yesterday without success

copied my files from my working ISO to the usb stick

Got it to boot once, but after the first pictures vista tells me some driver is missing

Tried different settings in bios and after a while I cant get it to boot from the usb at all, invalid partition, insert bootable media and so on..

Made all steps again several times...no success

Is there a problem that I have a 8gb stick ?

Any suggestions ?? I really want this to work...

Static_Nexus

Jun 18 2008, 03:03 AM

QUOTE (spacesurfer @ May 18 2007, 12:45 AM)

I'm getting a

CODE

Remove disks or other media.
Press any key to restart.

error when I do this.

My Vista is vLited. My HDD is in a external HDD enclosure and is 2GB and formatted to FAT32.

Wonder if vLite had anything to do with it.

Thinking that vLite may have modified my boot files, I tried replacing my vLited install.wim in the original ISO image of Vista (using UltraISO) and still got the same error.

I have to vLite because my external HDD is 2 Gb. I can't fit the darn whole Vista on it.

Any thoughts appreciated.

i have this same problem using a 250gb sata 2.5" in a usb enclosure. did you ever find a solution?!

spacesurfer

Jul 8 2008, 09:01 AM

nope. i abandoned vista. good old xp!

$h@d0w

Sep 5 2008, 09:26 AM

QUOTE (zorphnog @ Mar 29 2007, 08:35 AM)

I've just tried this out on my 60GB usb hard drive and confirmed that it works. Here are the steps I used.

Run diskpart (v6.0.6000):

CODE

select disk 1
clean
create partition primary size=10240
create partition primary
select volume 2 //10GB USB partition
format fs=fat32 label="VISTA_BOOT" quick
active
assign
select volume 3 //46GB USB partition
format fs=ntfs label="USB_DISK" quick
assign
exit

Copy Vista contents to USB drive:

CODE

xcopy d:\*.* /s /e /f e:\

Just make sure that you mark the VISTA_BOOT partition as active and you should be good to go.

*EDIT: I just tried it with NTFS format and it works also.

Used this process with my 500GB Porsche Lacie drive and it worked great. I am installing to an Asus eee 1000H

Static_Nexus

Sep 5 2008, 09:33 AM

let me know how it performs! i was thinking about doing that myself but unsure of vista on a 1.6ghz atom with 1gb ram....

jrxnelson

Oct 2 2008, 01:21 PM

Don't forget to rename 'bootmgr' to 'ntldr'.