[latteslave]

Great app and thanks! A couple of roadblocks for me:

At first I could not get the graphical install to go... Then I realized I had a 30MB partition stopping the whol thing.

Next issue - got the full install done, but could not boot without the USB key in the laptop. After reading the help, I realized that the binifix4.cmd file did not run (I even got an error telling me so during the first desktop launch.) I looked for the file but could not find it. Finally, I went back to the install of the WinSetupFromUSB and found the file in the install.

Is this the normal process? Did I do something wrong during the setup of the USB that caused the file not to be copied over?

Any help would be appreciated... I want to create a new USB - just in case, but want it to run the first time.

Thanks,

B

[ilko_t]

Was your XP source on a CD?
Can you copy it to a hard disk, use that as a source and report if that resolved the problem. I guess TXTSETUP.SIF editing fails when source is on a CD, because of the read-only attributes.

Thanks for the feedback.

edit: Couldn't understand this part, can you explain further?

Quote

At first I could not get the graphical install to go... Then I realized I had a 30MB partition stopping the whol thing.

This post has been edited by ilko_t: 29 September 2008 - 12:57 AM

[jkey]

Thanks for this wonderful tool!

[latteslave]

ilko_t, on Sep 28 2008, 11:56 PM, said:

Was your XP source on a CD?
Can you copy it to a hard disk, use that as a source and report if that resolved the problem. I guess TXTSETUP.SIF editing fails when source is on a CD, because of the read-only attributes.

Thanks for the feedback.

edit: Couldn't understand this part, can you explain further?

Quote

At first I could not get the graphical install to go... Then I realized I had a 30MB partition stopping the whol thing.

I should have been more clear. I got through the text setup the first time, but could not get the GUI to run on reboot. After several bad attempts, I actually paid attention when I got to the partitioning screen. Since I set up the USB for Disk 0 Parition 1, it was trying to boot from a little 30MB partition that was built into the MINI 9. I deleted that partition, reformatted and low and behold it booted the GUI no problem...

Thanks again!

[lieblingsbesuch]

When will 0.2 be released?

[ilko_t]

@lieblingsbesuch- Working on that, but real life also has it's own opinion how time should be distributed, actively negotiating with it

@latteslave- does that mean you succeeded when source was used from a HD?

[loopux]

Gparted is not working well for me...it loads ..take a lot of time...lot of verbose comments..then ask for my keyboards..ask for my language and then finally finish into a terminal type shell...i thought gparted had a graphic GUI (well i am sure it has one because i have it on ubuntu)..i tried all the various options (load in mem, safe etc)
why so? any ideas? it is probably possible to use it like this too but too complicate for me...

only thing i myabe should add i also have ubuntu live in the same partition (and bartpe, and winxp install), but in a different folder off course (casper)

matteo

[ilko_t]

loopux, on Oct 2 2008, 10:32 AM, said:

Gparted is not working well for me...it loads ..take a lot of time...lot of verbose comments..then ask for my keyboards..ask for my language and then finally finish into a terminal type shell...i thought gparted had a graphic GUI (well i am sure it has one because i have it on ubuntu)..i tried all the various options (load in mem, safe etc)
why so? any ideas? it is probably possible to use it like this too but too complicate for me...

only thing i myabe should add i also have ubuntu live in the same partition (and bartpe, and winxp install), but in a different folder off course (casper)

matteo

What version of GParted you tried? Both 0.3.6-7 and 0.3.4-8 worked right away in my tests on 3 different computers.
For 0.3.6-7 if it doesn't start GUI try waiting a few seconds, it should auto start depending on the options you choose, [0] beginner etc.
Try "sudo startx" too.
Ubuntu most likely will be included in the next version, matter of a few weeks.

[loopux]

i tried with the latest available version 0.3.9.4
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.p...ckage_id=271779

i will maybe try wi8th the older versions you suggest and let you know...

thanks for quick answer...
matteo

i did add ubuntu but it was not easy...(see my post)

[loopux]

yes i tried with gparted 0.3.6-7 and its working...strange because it wasnt with the newer version...

matteo

[devictoria]

There is a dangerous error. I had my USB disk connected as Disk 11. It did write the GRUB for DOS boot code to the MBR of the Disk 1 (not 11, but 1).

[ilko_t]

Dangerous indeed, can you attach your WinSetupFromUSB.log file? If not present in program directory look in BACKUPS folder, there are also backups of the MBRs and bootsectors in case you need to revert the original one.

Did you have a card reader, how did you get 12 hard disks?
Thanks for reporting

[Volatus]

I'd kinda like to add a little feature request... a tiny one, but a feature request

I use WinSetupFromUSB GUI to prepare "solo flight" installations on hard drives. I've found it an incredible and groundbreaking new way to get installations done FAST - by first preparing the drive (and boot sector) with Windows' Disk Manager, then use WSFU to "prepare" the drive to install. The drive boots to Windows setup, and happily installs right to itself at blazing speed. I can then delete the source files and enjoy Windows.

There's a small problem though, with bypassing the USB part. The Windows install is tweaked to run an extra "post-setup" routine of changing the boot.ini file, that, on the first boot, hangs at a window saying "do you really want me to set it to -1?" or something like that (it appears behind the welcome screen until it times out, or you Ctrl+Alt+Del it out of the way). I can press a key and it continues OK with no problems, but it's annoying none the less. Also, a second entry gets added to boot.ini, because a boot.ini file (unnecessary with the Grub4DOS loader) already existed in the root of C:.

So, the solution is simply to make an option that skips certain preparations, like the boot.ini in the root, and adding that first-login boot.ini changer. Those two changes would make WSFU even more useful for more than just USB!

[devictoria]

ilko_t, on Oct 4 2008, 11:34 PM, said:

Can you attach your WinSetupFromUSB.log file?

 
2008/10/04 22:12:36- Getting USB drives information
2008/10/04 22:12:36- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic		   MMC/SD USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE7
2008/10/04 22:12:36- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic			   CF USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE5
2008/10/04 22:12:36- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic			   MS USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE6
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: Generic			   SM USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE8
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: MCBOE32G 8APR USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE11
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Disk Partition: Disk #11, Partition #0
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Logical Disk: L:  File system: FAT32 Bootable: -1
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: MXI PRIVATE USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE9
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Found USB Physical Disk: MXI READ ONLY USB Device -- \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE10
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Target drive selected- L:
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Drive letter of the active partition in selected disk- L:
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Total target size avialable- 31217 MB
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Checking sizes...
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Total source size- 0 MB
2008/10/04 22:12:37- Target space available- 31217 MB
2008/10/04 22:13:40- Checking sizes...
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Total source size- 533.3 MB
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Target space available- 31217 MB
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Section SetupParams was not found
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Windows source selected- G:
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Source version- Syst‚m Windows XP Professional
2008/10/04 22:13:41- Service Pack- Disk  aktualizace Service Pack 3 syst‚mu Windows XP Professional
2008/10/04 22:13:41- AMD64 flag- 0
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Removing TEMP folder
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backing up MBR of disk #1
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backed up MBR of disk #1
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backing up BootSector of disk #1 partition #0
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Backed up BootSector of disk #1 partition #0
2008/10/04 22:17:45- Installing grub4dos bootsector to (hd1,0)
2008/10/04 22:17:45- C:\WinSetupFromUSB\files\grub4dos\grubinst.exe (hd1,0)
2008/10/04 22:17:49- grub4dos installed 

This post has been edited by jaclaz: 11 October 2008 - 07:37 AM

[ilko_t]

Volatus, on Oct 5 2008, 03:40 AM, said:

I'd kinda like to add a little feature request... a tiny one, but a feature request ...

As I got it you are not installing from USB, right? You just use the program as replacement of WINNT32.EXE.
Is there any reason you don't want to use the latter?

winnt32.exe /noreboot /makelocalsource /syspart:X: /tempdrive:X:

You may want to use /makelocalsource:all and /unattend:winnt.sif (/unattend:unattend.txt) in case you do MCE/tablet and use answer file.
It will prepare drive X: with the installation files, boot.ini will be prepared at end of TXT part, having one entry only.

If you want to use WSFU, you may just delete boot.ini in root folder and comment out or delete in \$WIN_NT$.~BT\WINNT.SIF GuiRunOnce section
"binifix4.cmd c:"
to
;"binifix4.cmd c:"

If you want ~BT and ~LS folders to be deleted at the end of GUI part (T -1) comment out or delete in SetupParams section
UserExecute = ren_fold.cmd
to
;UserExecute = ren_fold.cmd


@devictoria
Thanks, it's fixed in the program now.
In addition grubinst.exe, which installs the grub4dos bootsector, refuses to work with hd10, hd11 etc. Reported to the authors:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=5897
Will include a fixed version of it as soon as they fix it.
Thanks again for reporting.

[Volatus]

ilko_t, on Oct 5 2008, 12:20 PM, said:

As I got it you are not installing from USB, right? You just use the program as replacement of WINNT32.EXE.
Is there any reason you don't want to use the latter?

winnt32.exe /noreboot /makelocalsource /syspart:X: /tempdrive:X:

You may want to use /makelocalsource:all and /unattend:winnt.sif (/unattend:unattend.txt) in case you do MCE/tablet and use answer file.
It will prepare drive X: with the installation files, boot.ini will be prepared at end of TXT part, having one entry only.

Huh. Could be that I had no idea that was even possible...

I always avoided the WINNT*.exe files like the plague because they did a horrible job of botching up a Windows install. Do it from DOS and you end up having to start the install as FAT32 and later convert to NTFS (end up with a non-native file system). Do it from Windows and you end up with a migrate.inf file that screws up your drive letters. Plus, I didn't even know about those switches

[ForRubbish]

ilko_t, on Jul 11 2008, 09:31 PM, said:

Here comes the first GUI for our little project.

What it can be used for adding to your USB stick/disk:
<snipped>

I like to express my Thank you to the author and many other contributors for this awesome utility tool. I have successfully tested this tool on an Asus Eee PC 901 (without CD/DVD Rom drive) using SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro (3920MB), and it installed wonderfully.

This tool is an administrator's best friend. I'm looking forward to your future updates!

Once again, Thank you very much. Cheers!

Best regards,
FR (SG)

[thegr8anand]

Hey guys. I just found about this and this is a wonderful tool. KUTGW...

Just one question. I have vista on my laptop's drive and have recently added an external hard drive. On vista it shows as 2 partitions, G and H (i split it into 2 from G to G and H). Now i am planning to install XP customized version on H drive, the external drive partition. So when I run the program, in Boot.Ini adjustments: do i put Disk Nr = 1 and Patition Nr = 2 ???? And how should the Boot.ini look if i use those settings. I tried those settings and it looks like this on USB:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup + Start Windows from hd 1 part 2" /FASTDETECT

Is this allright? I will be using a 4gb USB drive for this and this is XP Pro with SP3 and extra drivers inculded like the SATA ones for my external HD.

Thanks.

This post has been edited by thegr8anand: 10 October 2008 - 10:07 PM

[ilko_t]

@thegr8anand- I guess the external hard disk is USB, right?
In this case you'd need other approach:

http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=14181
http://www.winusb.de/index_en.html
http://ngine.de/article/id/8

This subforum as about installing Windows from USB.

@ForRubbish- thanks, appreciate it : )

@Volatus- glad if it helped : )

[thegr8anand]

No the HD is SATA, it is actually an internal HD in a an external enclosure connected using sata. My internal laptop drive has 3 partitions C,D,E and the new HD has G & H.

That is what i want to to do. I want to install XP from the 4GB USB i have on this 2nd drive i have as my laptop's cd-drive is not working.

This post has been edited by thegr8anand: 10 October 2008 - 10:39 PM