[jaclaz]

Sergo, on Apr 29 2009, 11:46 PM, said:

Fixmbr,fixboot from recovery console does not help.

Sure they don't work.

A blinking cursor means something is wrong in either the MBR or the bootsector DATA.

Both Fixmbr and Fixboot "fix" the MBR or bootsector CODE.

Save the MBR (one sector) first sector of Physicaldrive
Save the bootsector (one sector if FAT16, 6 sectors if FAT32 and 16 sectors in NTFS) first sector(s) of logicaldrive

With HDhacker:
http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/

Compress them together in a .zip file and attach it to your next post.

BEFORE that, check that the Partition has been set as Active in the MBR, by using Beeblebrox:
http://students.cs.byu.edu/~codyb/
or a similar utility, or directly grub4dos command line.

http://diddy.boot-la...iles/basics.htm
http://diddy.boot-la...s/files/cli.htm
http://diddy.boot-la...es/commands.htm
http://diddy.boot-land.net/grub4dos/files/....htm#makeactive

Typically when booted grub4dos from USB stick and no drive re-mappings hooked:

Quote

makeactive (hd1,0)

(hd0,0) is first partition of the booted device (the USB stick)
(hd1,0) is first partition of the second device (the internal hard disk)

jaclaz

[ilko_t]

Sergo, on Apr 29 2009, 01:46 PM, said:

...I changed
%systemdrive%\Program Files\

to %programfiles%\

seems working.

Nice catch, thanks.

[Sergo]

Sergo, on Apr 29 2009, 03:46 PM, said:

Seems ok, but for some reason,
windows doesn't boot from hard drive

I tried to reinstall from a usb key again today on the same machine (X61)
works ok.
Hopefully it was a random glitch

[JustSeanV67]

I used this software to install XP on brand new AMD/MSI combo. This was a HUGE timesaver and I really appreciate it!

No more burning CDs/DVDs ever again!

This was done right... The first time!

Anybody ever say if this was a "Green" alternative, as this helps not to have to use energy to burn the platters? I'd say so!

Sean

[zZolaa]

Hi thanks for this great project.

I have 4 questions.


1)

My USB stick just has 1 partition... can I safely store Backup files on this same same partition as WinSetupFromUSB setup files are?
For example, I put them there in \Backup\ onto same partition as \$WIN_NT$.~BT\ etc?
The setup procedure will not delete it?


2)

How can I keep setup from deleting some files so I have to "fix" the Key every time I use it?
I want to use this key to install computers at a Lab I administer... I would like to just go from computer to computer and install each one from USB, without having to run WinSetupFromUSB 30 times, which ruins it, then I might as well use a CD...


3)

Is this program "portable" ?
Does WinSetupFromUSB have to be in C:\WinSetupFromUSB\ ?
Can I just make copy of folder then uninstall it and delete uninstall.exe?
And then can I use it from E:\Apps\ ?


4)

I use nLite, will my final C:\Windows\ install be larger,
because I had to keep "Operating System Options -> Manual Install and Upgrade" support?

This post has been edited by zZolaa: 06 May 2009 - 02:03 PM

[ilko_t]

JustSeanV67, on May 4 2009, 10:58 AM, said:

I used this software to install XP on brand new AMD/MSI combo. This was a HUGE timesaver and I really appreciate it!

No more burning CDs/DVDs ever again!

This was done right... The first time!

Anybody ever say if this was a "Green" alternative, as this helps not to have to use energy to burn the platters? I'd say so!

Sean

Thanks for the kind words

zZolaa, on May 6 2009, 11:16 AM, said:

Hi thanks for this great project.

I have 4 questions...

1) You should be safe to do so, just do it AFTER formatting the USB stick and praparing it with WSFUSB. The reason is that some BIOSes won't find the boot files if they are placed beyond certain boundary.

2) If you will be installing XP 32 bits SP2 or SP3 then there should be no files deleted. If it's XP x64, 2003 or 2000 then there is a quick workaround since you have 30 similar machines or all they have 1 internal hard disk and no card readers attached, just say if you need details.

3) You should be safe to move it elsewhere as well as you can initially install it elsewhere, preferably in path without spaces in it, although this should be already fixed but not thoroughly tested.

4) No, this would not grow your resulting Windows folder.

[cochabambinito]

Is there a version supporting Windows 7 RC?
When I Browse for providing the path of setup files (the DVD) it says "could not find DOSNET.INF".... no valid source, etc...

[ilko_t]

Are you selecting I386 folder itself? Do not, select its parent folder, which contains I386.

[cochabambinito]

Of course.. I've tried everything! the root folder, the ither folders... THERE IS NOT a I386 folder in Win7 installer...

ilko_t, on May 7 2009, 03:33 PM, said:

Are you selecting I386 folder itself? Do not, select its parent folder, which contains I386.

[ilko_t]

Wait a second, you need to put Windows 7 on the USB stick, right? Then use the appropriate field, I guess you are using the one for 2000/XP/2003, do NOT. Use the appropriate field and select the root of the DVD:


Initially I thought you run the program on Windows 7, not that you need to put 7 on USB stick.

[sleepingvolcanno.org]

Im Vibhu im new to ur forums but brousing them fro last 1 year

I must thank u all fo dooing such a nice work of research of installing ap from usb i simply dont have words to thank the developers and helpers

but as a student i want to know that how ur software works and thae tools used in it like grub for dos etc.
can any one write an tutorial about manually dooing the entire thing so that ones who dont really unerstand the prodcess may understand its complexity and its details of ur labour in developing the methord
i lll be realy obeliged if some one woulld werite an tutoral abt it . .
bye and trhanks againto all the helpers may god bless u all.

[cochabambinito]

I did that too... But it only copies a small part of the boot sector, not all the DVD. So, I tried to copy my self all the files, but then it didn't boot (I didn't replace any of the created files)... So, that part is just for recovery options or for testing the boot capability...

ilko_t, on May 8 2009, 10:31 AM, said:

Wait a second, you need to put Windows 7 on the USB stick, right? Then use the appropriate field, I guess you are using the one for 2000/XP/2003, do NOT. Use the appropriate field and select the root of the DVD:


Initially I thought you run the program on Windows 7, not that you need to put 7 on USB stick.

[ilko_t]

sleepingvolcanno.org, on May 8 2009, 12:06 PM, said:

Im Vibhu im new to ur forums but brousing them fro last 1 year

I must thank u all fo dooing such a nice work of research of installing ap from usb i simply dont have words to thank the developers and helpers

but as a student i want to know that how ur software works and thae tools used in it like grub for dos etc.
can any one write an tutorial about manually dooing the entire thing so that ones who dont really unerstand the prodcess may understand its complexity and its details of ur labour in developing the methord
i lll be realy obeliged if some one woulld werite an tutoral abt it . .
bye and trhanks againto all the helpers may god bless u all.

Have a look here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...st&p=797585
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...st&p=815048
And the "historical" thread, which covers all basics:
http://www.msfn.org/...showtopic=61384

I guess the first two links should be pretty close to a tutorial.

cochabambinito, on May 8 2009, 12:28 PM, said:

I did that too... But it only copies a small part of the boot sector, not all the DVD. So, I tried to copy my self all the files, but then it didn't boot (I didn't replace any of the created files)... So, that part is just for recovery options or for testing the boot capability...

Nope, there is something else wrong going on. This part is NOT just for testing boot or recovery options. Why it didn't boot and separate problem, you need to provide more details what you performed, what files system was used on the USB stick etc.

Bootsector is something different, it's not copied from the DVD anyway.

Please run the following command in CMD window, replacing G with the drive letter of the DVD drive:
dir /a /s G: > c:\windows7.txt

Put in a zip archive your WinSetupFromUSB.log, found in program's directory, all date-time-log.cab files, found in \backups\ directory and c:\windows7.txt. Upload the zip file here, or on datafilehost.com or similar hosting site.

The option which does not work for you has been used on number of machines to prepare Vista and 7 for installation and never gave a glitch.

Did you format the USB in FAT16 by any chance?

[jaclaz]

sleepingvolcanno.org, on May 8 2009, 09:06 PM, said:

but as a student i want to know that how ur software works and thae tools used in it like grub for dos etc.

Start from here:
http://www.msfn.org/...howtopic=133309

jaclaz

[TeenTin]

@ilko_t

I have successfully made the bootable USB stick. How can I duplicate this stick (without repeating the steps again) ? Any easy way ? Thanks !

P.S. I know it does not work by simply copying all the files, of course.

This post has been edited by TeenTin: 08 May 2009 - 11:06 PM

[ilko_t]

Assuming you put XP setup on it:
1. Format it using HP USB format tool, use the one which comes with WSFUSB.
2. Use grubinst_gui.exe to install grub4dos bootsector on it
3. Copy grldr and menu.lst first
4. Copy the rest of the files in root next
5. Copy ~BT folder
6. Copy ~LS folder last

This will take longer than if you just run WSFUSB again and prepare the new stick with it.

Or are both stick 100% similar? You may try to create an image and put it back on the other stick:
http://www.roadkil.n...hp?ProgramID=12
http://dubaron.com/diskimage/

http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=1299

[TeenTin]

ilko_t, on May 9 2009, 04:16 PM, said:

Assuming you put XP setup on it:
1. Format it using HP USB format tool, use the one which comes with WSFUSB.
2. Use grubinst_gui.exe to install grub4dos bootsector on it
3. Copy grldr and menu.lst first
4. Copy the rest of the files in root next
5. Copy ~BT folder
6. Copy ~LS folder last

This will take longer than if you just run WSFUSB again and prepare the new stick with it.

Or are both stick 100% similar? You may try to create an image and put it back on the other stick:
http://www.roadkil.n...hp?ProgramID=12
http://dubaron.com/diskimage/

http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=1299

So, there are no easy ways. Thank you.

[deeksmooth]

edie209, on Aug 7 2008, 10:36 AM, said:

I have been following this project and decided to give it a go, but I have run into a problem.

The install to Flash Drive seems to work fine I have opted to have XP, BartPE, and Vista. XP boots and starts to install but blue screens on "Starting Windows" (text section) the error is

Stop 0x0000007b (0xf7c80524, 0x00000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Vista works fine I have yet to try BartPE

The PC is a Dell 755 with sata hard drive

I am getting the same thing when trying XP for a Dell Optiplex 745, or a Dell GX280. Have we found a solution for this yet?

[ilko_t]

deeksmooth, on May 12 2009, 04:43 PM, said:

edie209, on Aug 7 2008, 10:36 AM, said:

I have been following this project and decided to give it a go, but I have run into a problem.

The install to Flash Drive seems to work fine I have opted to have XP, BartPE, and Vista. XP boots and starts to install but blue screens on "Starting Windows" (text section) the error is

Stop 0x0000007b (0xf7c80524, 0x00000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Vista works fine I have yet to try BartPE

The PC is a Dell 755 with sata hard drive

I am getting the same thing when trying XP for a Dell Optiplex 745, or a Dell GX280. Have we found a solution for this yet?

The answer is just a couple of posts below the one you quoted, it's also in the FAQs thread:
http://www.msfn.org/...howtopic=116766
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...st&p=786908

[bartgrefte]

Just ran into this topic, that I bookmarked right away

Got 2 questions, before I start trying...

- If this is possible:
Would like XP Prof x86 SP3**, XP x64** and both x86 and x64 of Windows 7 (RC) installers on my Voyager GT USB stick.

4 OS installers, do I have to do anything special for that if it's even possible?
There's more than enough room on my Voyager GT, that won't be a problem...

- And what if... I want to add a linux distribution to those 4, kubuntu for example, what then?

** Both XP x86 and XP x64 are unattended, except the part where to select the harddrive, and both have a cmd running during 1st boot. The cmd is already prepared if the source of the installers is different somehow: The cmd looks for a storage device with dvd.txt in the root and then runs the installers of some programs from that storage device.

This post has been edited by bartgrefte: 16 May 2009 - 10:02 AM