[jaclaz]

As said, making a USB stick bootable can be tricky business in some instances.

Something that has proved to be working is to "wipe" the first, say 100 sectors by writing 00's to them, see here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/USB-MultiBoot-8-...4.html&st=8
before re-running the HP utility.

Alternatively or additionally try using the batch by fuwi referenced before.

Alternatively or additionally, you can try my "indirect" way through batch:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=5000

Alternatively or additionally, do try once again formatting it with the HP utility as FAT (yes it is FAT16), then use hdhacker:
http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/
make a copy of BOTH MBR (physicaldrive) AND bootsector (logicaldrive) of your USB stick, compress them in a .zip archive and post the .zip file as attachment, and I'll have a look at them.

jaclaz

[toja92]

Tried filling the drive with 00's and vista didn't recognized the drive after that, so I formated it with the hp utility. After that I copied ntdetect.com, NTLDR and a boot.ini file with two entries, and restarted but it still says "Invalid system drive" so I don't know how to solve this. I attached my MBR & bootsector if you want to look at it.

This post has been edited by toja92: 03 July 2008 - 12:28 PM

[jaclaz]

The files you sent are invalid.

WHY did you save them as .txt?

They are filled with 2E's

What did you use to 00 fill the drive?

You didn't open them in NOTEPAD (or other non-binary-enabled application) and saved them, didn't you?

Since you are working with Vista , try using it's DISKPART utility as follows:

list disk
(to make sure that the USB stick is disk 1 below, if not change accordingly)

Quote

select disk 1
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
exit

Remove the USB stick.

Reinsert USB stick.

Right click on it in Explorer and choose to format it.

Run bootsect.exe /nt52

Remove the USB stick.

Reinsert USB stick.

Use HDhacker to save MBR and bootsector, give to the files the extension .dat, do not open them with any program, just zip or rar them and attach them.

jaclaz

[toja92]

jaclaz, on Jul 3 2008, 01:12 PM, said:

Run bootsect.exe /nt52

Quite hard to run since I don't have the DVD, I bought a cheap laptop with preinstalled Vista and I did not get a DVD with it, so I can't run it.

Anyways I skipped that step and posting the .dat files here.

Attached File(s)

•  BootSector_MBR.rar (1.08K)
  Number of downloads: 8

This post has been edited by toja92: 03 July 2008 - 12:30 PM

[jaclaz]

toja92, on Jul 3 2008, 08:26 PM, said:

jaclaz, on Jul 3 2008, 01:12 PM, said:

Run bootsect.exe /nt52

Quite hard to run since I don't have the DVD, I bought a cheap laptop with preinstalled Vista and I did not get a DVD with it, so I can't run it.

Anyways I skipped that step and posting the .dat files here.

Strange.
I thought bootsect.exe wass installed by default, have you tried opening a command prompt and running it?
http://support.micro...kb/919529/en-us

However the MBR you posted is simply "crazy", cannot say what may cause this behaviour.

Get beeblebrox here:
http://students.cs.byu.edu/~codyb/
and use it to access your stick, you'll see values:
06-80-0-2-3-248-254-63-128-4013568

"Right" values should be:
06-80-0-1-1-248-254-63-63-4000122

Try correcting them, save changes, extract and reinsert USB stick, re-format it.

Still we need to find a way to correct the bootsector to invoke NTLDR if you do not have bootsect.exe, Vistabootpro should have a feature for it:
http://www.pronetwor...pic.php?t=77547
http://www.vistabootpro.org/

See if it works...

jaclaz

[toja92]

I found a working version of bootsect, so I did a /nt52, should I try placing ntdetect.com, ntldr and boot.ini files on it? And I corrected the values with beeblebrox too....

EDIT: Placed ntdetect.com, ntldr and boot.ini files, and it worked(I see the two fake entries I wrote in boot.ini) So, to see if it worked, I started the installation, copied the files (no change partitioning, so it's FAT16), and guess what? Same old blinking "_" and it don't work. I tried running a bootsect /nt52 again, changing boot.ini (the two old entries still not there and changed timeout to 30, but still, no dice. I appreciate your big help so far, do you know how I should continue? Can you make it boot some way? Remember, windows is "half-installed" (files only copied), or should I remove the files and try something else?

This post has been edited by toja92: 03 July 2008 - 02:49 PM

[jaclaz]

Well, the good news is that we found a replicable way to make the stick bootable.

I need to know EXACTLY which steps you took for "starting" the installation, or if you prefer, a link to the tutorial you are using/trying to follow.

Since this "peculiar" machine (or couple stick/motherboard) appear to behave weirdly, ANY step that involves re-formatting or re-partitioning the stick should be avoided, if the stick is booting and after the whatever-you-do it is not booting anymore, it means that the procedure changes something.

For the record, a blinking cursor is usually connected to a problem with the bootsector, whilst the "Non system disk, replace and press any key" is usually connected to a MBR problem.

You should repeat the steps that made the stick bootable, I would try also - before formatting - to experiment in beeblebrox changing the 06 (FAT16 CHS mapped) to 0E (FAT16 LBA mapped).

Once you have a booting stick, simply use hdhacker to save both MBR and bootsector, then, once the stick fails to boot, simply restore those two sectors with hdhacker.

Please save your current (NOT BOOTING) MBR + bootsector, then repeat the procedure for making the stick bootable and save the (GOOD, BOOTING) MBR + bootsector, post the four of them, maybe I can find by looking at them what is wrong.

jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: 04 July 2008 - 01:10 AM

[toja92]

I had partial success after writing the working bootsect & mbr, but Windows was only "half installed" and after that I tried to boot which failed with a bluescreen. I will try again soon. Here are three different mbrs and bootsectors, one none working, one working and one after win xp setup. The tutorial I'm following is available on WinUSB (I downloaded tutorial 5, but you can choose "tutorial" from the menu at top to just read). Big thanks for your help so far

Attached File(s)

•  HDHacker.rar (3.11K)
  Number of downloads: 4

[jaclaz]

Hmmm, still something is strange...

The three bootsectors are IDENTICAL (exception made for volume serial that is irrelevant).

The three MBR's are ALMOST identical:
Bad_MBR_HardDisk1.dat and MBR_HardDisk1.dat are identical.

Win_XP_MBR_HardDisk1.dat, instead has partition type set as 0E instead of 06.

The non-booting of the couple Win_XP_MBR_HardDisk1.dat+Win_XP_BootSector_DriveH.dat can be attributed to the partition type change (it should mean that your motherboard BIOS does not like LBA addressing on USB stick).

But there is NO reason why the couple Bad_MBR_HardDisk1.dat+Bad_BootSector_DriveH.dat does not boot while the couple
MBR_HardDisk1.dat+BootSector_DriveH.dat works, as they are IDENTICAL.

Maybe in the haste of testing you "mixed" versions? Or a "cold" or "warm" reboot was needed?

Just in case I am attaching a "fixed" MBR that implements the same "hack" the HP USB formatting utility uses, see here for reference:
http://www.boot-land...opic=2246&st=15

It should be "more" compatible and hopefully let you boot with both 06 and 0E as partition type.

jaclaz

Attached File(s)

•  MBR_HardDisk1_fixed.zip (525bytes)
  Number of downloads: 5

[toja92]

Do you have any idea why windows only gets "half installed" ie. It copies the files and when I rewrite the working boot sectors, it think windows already is installed but it isnt, so I end up with a bsod.

[jaclaz]

You do not get "a" BSOD, you get a BSOD with an error number.

If it is 0x0000007b "Inaccessible boot device", first thing to try is the modified NTDETECT.COM:
http://www.msfn.org/board/0x0000007B-Blue-...xt-t112630.html

However, besides tutorial 5, you may want to look here:
http://forums.ngine....ewforum.php?f=4
http://www.ngine.de/...jsp?pageid=4176

And here, a "less known" page that may clear some points:
http://www.nedprod.c...uff/BootWinUSB/

And even try the "fully automated" way:
http://www.usboot.org/tiki-index.php

Just in case I am attaching an archive containing the (supposedly working, UNTESTED by me) .sif and .in_/.inf files.

jaclaz

Attached File(s)

•  USBBOOT_files.zip (130.64K)
  Number of downloads: 37

This post has been edited by jaclaz: 05 July 2008 - 03:59 AM

[toja92]

Now here's something I got it partially working (installed, and booting). But after I logged in (only have one account except administrator acc.) logonui.exe freezes. I tried pressing ctrl+alt+delete and task manager turns up. Two seconds later, I get a POOL_BAD_DRIVER bsod, and I can't boot in safe mode (after logging in, whole windows crash, no bsod). Any clue about whats wrong?

[toja92]

please remove this post, thanks

This post has been edited by toja92: 06 July 2008 - 09:05 AM

[jaclaz]

Check, re-check, and triple check EVERYTHING.

Set the BIOS to use as less "advanced" options as possible, disable in it any device that is not vital, like audio, parallel ports, network card, etc.

Boot with /BASEVIDEO and /BOOTLOG
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinte...s/bb963892.aspx

Check the the file %SystemRoot%\Ntbtlog.txt

POOL_BAD_DRIVER says nothing to me, post the CODE of the BSOD, and any other reference.
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Windows-XP-...des-t43519.html
http://northtechs.com/blscreen.htm
http://www.updatexp....p-messages.html

Check the Event Viewer files on a working machine:
http://support.micro...kb/165959/en-us

i.e. *.evt under %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\

This app has a FREE personal license:
http://www.eventlogxp.com/

A good idea could be that of starting again from scratch.

I assume you ALREADY tested the nliting by installing from the modified source on a "normal" HD, didn't you?

Use the files I posted, after having re-chacked them.

jaclaz

[toja92]

"I assume you ALREADY tested the nliting by installing from the modified source on a "normal" HD, didn't you?" Actually, no. I don't have any spare / extra harddrive laying around here. I have a external drive, but I don't want to "challenge destiny". That's why I want to install to my usb drive, so I don't have to use a extra harddrive.

"POOL_BAD_DRIVER says nothing to me, post the CODE of the BSOD, and any other reference." Tricky part, the bsod flashses by one second and then my computer restarts. Should I disable "reboot on system errors" when I press F8 before windows tries to boot?

Actually, it works (partially) with your .sif and .in_/.inf files. And no, I can't use the automated way, I don't know which computer I should do these steps on (it changes some system files, right? plus I can't NLite the files also )

I attached ntbtlog.txt (Or, one "normal" and one in "safe mode")

Attached File(s)

•  ntbtlog.rar (1.79K)
  Number of downloads: 1

This post has been edited by toja92: 06 July 2008 - 09:30 AM

[jaclaz]

toja92, on Jul 6 2008, 05:27 PM, said:

jaclaz said:

"I assume you ALREADY tested the nliting by installing from the modified source on a "normal" HD, didn't you?"

Actually, no. I don't have any spare / extra harddrive laying around here. I have a external drive, but I don't want to "challenge destiny". That's why I want to install to my usb drive, so I don't have to use a extra harddrive.

Yes, but the result is that you cannot boot from it, and we have several "layers" of possible causes:
1) the "quality" of the source (meaning the number of integrated SP's and KB fixes/security updates)
2) the "entity" of your nliting (did you remove too much? )
3) hardware drivers
4) "my" .sif and .inf's

You should AT LEAST try installing your source (WITHOUT and WITH) the USB mods, in a Virtual Machine, VirtualBox should be allright:
http://www.virtualbox.org/

toja92, on Jul 6 2008, 05:27 PM, said:

jaclaz said:

"POOL_BAD_DRIVER says nothing to me, post the CODE of the BSOD, and any other reference."

Tricky part, the bsod flashses by one second and then my computer restarts. Should I disable "reboot on system errors" when I press F8 before windows tries to boot?

YES, it is VITAL to know which exact error is, it may help in finding what the problem is.
You can change the Registry Entry:
http://www.pctools.c...try/detail/229/
autoreboot to 0
(Offline you will need to access ControlSet001 instead of CurrentControlSet)

toja92, on Jul 6 2008, 05:27 PM, said:

Actually, it works (partially) with your .sif and .in_/.inf files. And no, I can't use the automated way, I don't know which computer I should do these steps on (it changes some system files, right? plus I can't NLite the files also )

No, it does not change system files, only cannot say if it would run under Vista.

toja92, on Jul 6 2008, 05:27 PM, said:

I attached ntbtlog.txt (Or, one "normal" and one in "safe mode")

As expected, (since you get to the logon screen) the initial loading appers to be OK, the error happens later, do check the Event Logs.

jaclaz

[toja92]

Just remembered, have Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Lol,... Will try right away...

EDIT: Seems like it's removed, trying virtual box instead.

EDIT2/update: Virtual Box is better than Virtual PC 2007, I have to admit. Now I can do the "fully automated" way, because I can "insert" my usb drive to the virtual XP. Here's the error message I got by the way:

***stop: 0x000000c2 0x00000007 0x00000CD4 0x00000000 0xE15D0004

I will try the automated way & report back

EDIT3: Oh noes, I managed to write the MBR of the stick to my external drive, so now windows thinks it needs to be formatted and acronis disk director suite only finds a 1.91 gB (exactly the size of my stick) of the drive. Do you know how to recover my data? I'm searching with acronis disk direcor suite now to see if I find a deleted partition, but how should I do if it can't find it?

Nevermind. Will backup necessary files to various mp3's, my stick and my internal drive, so I'll work it out. Besides I will probably buy another 500 gB tomorrow, or in two days

EDIT4: Installed a nlited xp sp 3 in a virtual machine. It runs good. Used USBoot, worked good. Copied the files to my stick. Worked good. Trying to boot. Total failure. I tried replacing the bootsector with bootsect /nt52 <driveletter>, before doing that, it said invalid system disk. Now I only see a black screen, no "_" or something. So I don't know how to continue. Any clues?

This post has been edited by toja92: 06 July 2008 - 04:08 PM

[jaclaz]

You can use testdisk:
http://www.cgsecurit...g/wiki/TestDisk
to recover your partition table.

SP3 is YET ANOTHER variable that you added. WHY?

...and possibly slipstreamed with nlite under Vista, which adds YET ANOTHER variable.

Try with XP SP1 or SP2, NOT SP3.

To make the stick bootable, since for unknown reasons the programs that work for everyone do not work on your hardware/software, you can as you already did, re-use the MBR manually made, then re-format the stick and apply bootsect /nt52, make sure it boots with NTLDR+NTDETECT.COM+BOOT.INI before copying the files to stick.

REMOVE ANY OTHER USB DEVICE (excluded Mouse and Keyboard if USB) when working with bootable USB sticks.

As expected, the error is IRQ/Driver related.

Search for "0x000000c2" with google.

jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: 07 July 2008 - 01:46 AM

[Ponch]

Just to add to the confusion, I once had a bad_pool_driver BSOD, the cause was a bad memory stick. Now maybe this can have other causes too.

[toja92]

"REMOVE ANY OTHER USB DEVICE (excluded Mouse and Keyboard if USB) when working with bootable USB sticks." Actually the only other usb device connected to my computer while trying, is my usb adapter (usb -> PS/2). I will try without SP3 now, and see how it goes. If it works, I'll try installing SP3 in portable XP instead.