Drive letter problem with USB install

[fusan]

Hi all

I have finally managed to make an unattended install from a DVD using BartPE.

My installation is a little different from others since Documents and Settings are placed on

drive d and therefore I need to split the harddisk in two partitions.

I use the switch: ProfilesDir="D:\Documents and Settings\" under section: [GuiUnattended]

in winnt.sif.

Everything works fine with the DVD so I wanted to try this installation from an USB stick.

This caused the problem... after windows has finished installing, I found out that the

drives looks like this:

C: is the first partition on the harddisk

D: is the USB

E: is the second partitions on the harddisk

So since Im putting the Documents and Settings on drive D: windows tries to install it on my

USB stick, witch is absolutely not desireble since it should have been on the HD.

I mean how on earth did the USB mengle in between the partitions???

The question now is... How do I switch the D: and E: drive letter before windows try to install

Documents and Settings so I get this:

C: first partition on the harddisk

D: second partitions on the harddisk

E: is USB, CDROM etc.

[jaclaz]

Installng from CD or DVD or installing from USB device (stick or hard disk) is different.

Check the "historical" thread here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html

http://www.msfn.org/board/How-to-boot-inst...key-t61384.html

to see how the problem of drive letter assigning was solved (for a "normal" install), maybe there is something in there that you can use, like migrate.inf.

jaclaz

[davidville]

Lately I have gone to usb drives to install Windows.

I misplaced my 4Gb usb drive so ttried with an old 6Gb HDD with IDE-to-USB connector.

But I ran into the same problem you have (I think).

I experimented last week and was able to solve it by using only an extended partition.

Now when I boot into WinPE and afterwards the external HDD comes up last in order.

Hope this helps,

David

[fusan]

@jaclaz

Ive read boths posts without finding out how to get more control over the drive letter assignment.

I have no idea were to place migrate.inf or what it does, even though I downloaded the USB_Multiboot

and viewed it.

@davidville

Ill try to change the second partition (D:) to extended to se if it helps (I really hope it will).

[fusan]

@davidville

Changing the D: partition from Primary to Extended worked like a charm!!!!!

Thanks a lot m8

[jaclaz]

Happy the problem is solved.

For the record, migrate.inf is a file normally used by 2K/XP setup when run from another NT/2K/XP install by running WINNT32.EXE where the information about drive letters of the other (already installed) NT/2K/XP are kept, so that the new install uses the same drive letters.

FYI:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/234048/en-us

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19663

jaclaz