[infiniti25]

Hi,

I have recently been interested in installing windows xp to either an SD card or a USB flash drive.
Over the last week I have been researching how to install windows xp FROM a usb stick following this guide (http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installin...-usb-thumb.html) and how to make a removable USB device fixed using Hitachi Microdrive filter drivers (download http://xpefiles.com/...e/entry616.aspx).
But ultimately I want to follow this guide(http://www.3eportal.com/index.php?option=c...14&Itemid=9) but without having to do the clone operation.

My question is based on the above background reading :- How can I integrate the hitachi microdrive filter drivers so I can install directly to a SD card or usb flash/hard drive?

I suspect the driver integration will be the easiest part, with your help of course, but the tuning of the string I need to use with the modified filter driver will be the hard part, if it is at all possible to get a usb device recognised at the start of a xp installation for use as the primary drive.

I have both a computer that will boot from usb flash drives and a flash drive that can be booted from using the following guide (http://dmoisan.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns...A!281.entry)

Thanks for taking a look.

MATT

EDIT
I have seen that I can integrate drivers using nlite after installing it just now, but I would like to know if this caters for text mode (f6 driver floppy) situation that I now think is needed to get a usb drive to be the primary install target device.
END EDIT

This post has been edited by infiniti25: 03 December 2008 - 11:01 AM

[Ponch]

From what I understood, the first link you provide is a rip off the work done by some members here.
Search for the "Install XP from USB" sub forum. And yes, nLite allows "text mode" drivers integration.

[infiniti25]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I think someone mentions in the comments that it is a rip from another site, so you are right about that.

As for the txt mode setup driver integration, thanks for the confirmation as I was about to plan on using this guide http://www.msfn.org/...showtopic=19792 to see if it would get me anywhere.

My next problem is that the drivers are not for any of my usb drives, rather the guide at http://www.3eportal.com/index.php?option=c...14&Itemid=9 states :

Quote

9.You need to then Hit Start go to run, and type regedit. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR\
Inside that you should find a directory called something like Disk&Ven_USB2.0&Prod_CardReader_SD0&Rev_0100. Open it. Inside that you should find another directory wich is just a bunch of numbers. Open it. In the right pane you should see a key called “Hardware ID” Right click on it, and select modify. It should list about 7 lines of text. Copy ONLY the first line to the clipboard. Hit cancel, close regedit.
10.Open cfadisk.inf in the directory you unzipped the microdrive filter to. Edit the section called [cfadisk_device] so that rather than containing 11 lines, just have one line. The line begins with: %MicroDrive_devdesc% = cfadisk_install,
After the comma, hit ctrl V to paste what you coppied from the registry into the file then save the file.

Does anyone know what I can place inside the cfadisk.inf to cater for *ANY* usb/sd drive? Are there any generic strings I can replace the guides example of Disk&Ven_USB2.0&Prod_CardReader_SD0&Rev_0100 with?
EDIT
I think I meant "Does anyone know what I can place inside the cfadisk.inf to cater for *ANY* HardwareID?"
END EDIT

This post has been edited by infiniti25: 03 December 2008 - 11:55 AM

[cdob]

infiniti25, on Dec 3 2008, 12:52 PM, said:

"Does anyone know what I can place inside the cfadisk.inf to cater for *ANY* HardwareID?"

Get devcon.exe. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311272

Run

devcon hwids *
or 
devcon hwids *usb*

Select a appropiate HardwareID.

A generic USB storage HardwareID:

Quote

USBSTOR\GenDisk

Cfadisk does work with this HardwareID.

[infiniti25]

cdob, on Dec 3 2008, 06:52 PM, said:

A generic USB storage HardwareID:

Quote

USBSTOR\GenDisk

Cfadisk does work with this HardwareID.

EXCELLENT!!! thanks for that I will test this over the next few days to see how far I get.

I will not be requiring devcon as I would have to devcon all my existing flash drives / sd card readers and then add them to the list which is no good if I am wanting to have it work generically for any removable drive.

Will report back when I have done some testing.

Thanks again.

[jaclaz]

...and of course the "rip off":
http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installin...-usb-thumb.html
which appears to be a rip-off of a rip-off :
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...1384&st=476
http://www.digwin.com/view/installing-wind...usb-flash-drive

uses an OLDish version of the files, a few bugs have been fixed and some new features added, besides two different ways, one to use a PE to install and another which is a GUI version, you'd better start with latest files:
http://www.msfn.org/...howtopic=111406
http://www.msfn.org/...howtopic=121446
http://www.msfn.org/...howtopic=120444

The other howto:
http://www.3eportal.com/index.php?option=c...14&Itemid=9
uses a different utility: XP3eSD, which is meant to INSTALL TO SDCARD, not FROM, and it's based on this:
http://forum.eeeuser...pic.php?id=1433
which is based on this:
http://www.ngine.de/...jsp?pageid=4176
which derives from the original thread by Dietmar (with minor contributions from yours truly ):
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=14181

If you want to install XP TO a USB drive or stick, you may want to try the mentioned tutorials or the automated way:
http://www.usboot.org/tiki-index.php

jaclaz

[infiniti25]

hi jaclaz!

I have seen your name around here on many of the good reading topics and see you are well respected. I dont mean any disrespect quoting the other guides, those are just some that I found looking for eeepc related material as this has stemmed from my dad wanting windowsxp as an option for his eeepc. I am only testing in VirtualBox at the moment.

One thing I am still wondering after reading all these guides is why we still have to install to a hard drive first and then copy to a usb stick?

I thought it would be possible to create some hacked drivers for use in the txtsetup portion of the installer which would allow the usb device to be seen and used as the target for installation.
Could you please give me a technical description of why this is not possible.

Thanks.

[jaclaz]

infiniti25, on Dec 3 2008, 08:56 PM, said:

Could you please give me a technical description of why this is not possible.

NO.

Not because I'm particularly unhelpful but because there is no "need" to install on hard disk first and then copy to USB stick.

Still I have not clear what you are attempting to do.

Choose one:
1) Install FROM USB stick
2) Install TO USB stick
3) Install TO "Generic" SDCard
4) Install TO eeePC internal drive

1) and 4) can be made with the linked apps in the Install XP from USB
http://www.msfn.org/...p?showforum=157

2) and 3) can be made with the referenced guides or with the usboot.org program (for USB sticks)

None of this need an install on hard disk - only SOME of Dietmar's Tutorials needed installing and copying the system, whilst some install directly to USB,check them in Dietmar's signature:
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=14181

jaclaz

[infiniti25]

I am wanting to install TO a USB/SD, the other information was just background reading.

The tutorials in dietmar's signature all point to the same first post and none of the posts below it are expanded, that will take years to read
I hope to get there one day, thanks again.

tutorial 5 is what I am looking for by the looks of the tutorial 5 PDF available for download from his website(http://www.winusb.de/tutorial_en.html)

I had already looked at tutorial 3 and thought why do i have to install it to hard drive first.

This helps alot, thanks!!

This post has been edited by infiniti25: 03 December 2008 - 03:45 PM

[jaclaz]

infiniti25, on Dec 3 2008, 10:30 PM, said:

The tutorials in dietmar's signature all point to the same first post and none of the posts below it are expanded, that will take years to read
I hope to get there one day, thanks again.

Hint:
On the top right, when viewing the board, press the "Oprtions" button and choose ( Switch to: ) "Standard":

Quote

Options
Track this topic
Email this topic
Print this topic
Download this topic
Subscribe to this forum
Display Modes
Switch to: Outline
Standard
Switch to: Linear+

jaclaz

[cdob]

@infiniti25
At testing cfadisk.sys I got a BSOD DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL at usbuhci.sys.
That's at VMware USB1.1.

Cfadisk.sys does work fine at usbehci.sys USB2.0.

Do you get similar results?

[infiniti25]

Being honest, I never got around to trying this and have since had no other thoughts about doing this.

I am interested in doing Citrix XenSource XenServer and running a few virtual machines from my main computer and accessing them from my laptop and the other computers in the house.
Especially since my dad will be using an early model eeepc which has poor hardware specifications for windows usage really. I figure creating a virtual machine on my computer will yield better results because my hardware is far superior to the eeepc.

If I do get around to making the disc as per one of the tutorials jaclaz pointed out I will report back.

[cdob]

I integrated "fixed drive" USB driver.
Cfadisk is active at textmode setup, first boot to gui setup and following bootings.

Cfadisk is added to drives with HardwareID "USBSTOR\GenDisk".

Change windows source files. Prepare Text mode setup:

Copy file CFADISK.SYS to directory \I386

edit file \I386\txtsetup.sif:

[SourceDisksFiles]
cfadisk.sys = 1,,,,,,3_,4,0,0,,1,4

[BusExtenders.Load]
cfadisk = cfadisk.sys

[HardwareIdsDatabase]
USBSTOR\GenDisk="Disk",{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10319}

[BusExtenders]
cfadisk   = "CompactFlash Filter Driver",files.none,cfadisk

edit file \I386\setupreg.hiv, import file cfadisk_textmode.reg:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\loaded_SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10319}]
"Class"="DiskDrive"
@="cfadisk filter 'fixed drive'"
"Installer32"="StorProp.Dll,DiskClassInstaller"
"SilentInstall"="1"
"NoInstallClass"="1"
"Icon"="-53"
"LowerFilters"=hex(7):63,66,61,64,69,73,6b,00,00
"UpperFilters"=hex(7):50,61,72,74,4d,67,72,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\loaded_SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\cfadisk]
"group"="System Bus Extender"
"tag"=dword:0000000f

Import settings

copy setupreg.hiv setupreg.hiv.bak
copy setupreg.hiv setupreg.hiv.bak.%date%

reg load HKLM\loaded_SYSTEM setupreg.hiv
regedit /s cfadisk_textmode.reg
reg unload HKLM\loaded_SYSTEM

prepare GUI mode setup:

Edit hivesys.inf, add three lines to section [AddReg]

[AddReg]
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usbstor#gendisk",Service,0x00000000,disk
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usbstor#gendisk",ClassGUID,0x00000000,{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usbstor#gendisk","LowerFilters",0x00010002,"cfadisk"

Expand disk.inf, edit disk.inf.

Edit [disk_device] section and add sections:

[disk_device]
%disk_devdesc% = disk_install, GenDisk
"'Fixed Disk' Filter Driver" = cfadisk_install, USBSTOR\GenDisk

[cfadisk_install.NT]
;Section is importand for ranking

[cfadisk_install.NT.HW]
AddReg=cfadisk_addreg
DelReg=cfadisk_delreg

[cfadisk_addreg]
HKR,,"LowerFilters",0x00010008,"cfadisk"

[cfadisk_DelReg]
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10319}"

[cfadisk_install.NT.Services]
AddService=disk,2,disk_ServiceInstallSection
AddService=cfadisk,,cfadisk_ServiceInstallSection

[cfadisk_ServiceInstallSection]
DisplayName	= "CompactFlash Filter Driver"
ServiceType	= 1
StartType	  = 0
ErrorControl   = 1
ServiceBinary  = %12%\cfadisk.sys
LoadOrderGroup = SCSI miniport

Compress file: makecab disk.inf

At VMware USB drive is not possible as target. Remember there is no BIOS USB boot support.
No idea about system with USB BIOS support.

[jaclaz]

Great work, cdob!

Since you "attached" cfadisk to gendisk this should be "hardware VID/PID agnostic", right?

jaclaz

[cdob]

jaclaz, on Dec 12 2008, 01:24 PM, said:

Since you "attached" cfadisk to gendisk

No, I didn't "attached" cfadisk to gendisk.

Gendisk is not changed: GenDisk is attached to disk_install still. That's the windows default setting.
USBSTOR\GenDisk is attached to cfadisk_install.
That way cfadisk is loaded at USB disks only, not at internal hard disk.
Unfortunately "CompactFlash Filter Driver" is not loaded at CompactFlash card at IDE or pcmcia connector.

Quote

this should be "hardware VID/PID agnostic", right?

Solution should work at all USB removable hardware, turning to a "fixed drive". Yes, that's a generic solution.

BTW: textmode part if from http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...mp;#entry142544

[jaclaz]

Yep, I meant \USBSTOR\gendisk.

I guess that IDE connected card readers are nowadays a thing of the past, and PCMCIA CARDbus are already (or will soon become) outdated by USB "stick-card readers", so not a big problem.

jaclaz

[SSPP]

Quite old topic, but I am stuck here. I followed the steps from cdob but when the setup checks the disk for error - it says that the drive U: is corrupted and setup can not continue. Any idea?

I am trying to install XP Pro from an usb stick (second partition, so integrated cfadisk driver) to hard didk partition. U: is the drive letter of the usb stick through migrate.inf.

Master Jaclaz, where are you? Thanks in advance.

[jaclaz]

SSPP, on 26 February 2012 - 04:09 PM, said:

Master Jaclaz, where are you? Thanks in advance.

Here, right after you .

SSPP, on 26 February 2012 - 04:09 PM, said:

I am trying to install XP Pro from an usb stick (second partition, so integrated cfadisk driver) to hard didk partition. U: is the drive letter of the usb stick through migrate.inf.

And this thread is about installing TO an USB stick, not really a surprise that your mileage may vary.

I have NO idea WHat is happening/WHY it is happening, so all I can do is provide some "generic" advice.

You should check the available methods and become VERY familiar with them before attempting to introduce variations/complications, expecially if mainly UNneeded (in the sense of NOT really-really needed):
http://www.msfn.org/...ndows-from-usb/

A much easier approach would be, if you really-really *need* to have the source in second partition to (temporarily) switch partitions and make it first one:
http://www.911cd.net...c=24392&start=0

On the other hand why some of the known methods to install XP from USB do use, in case of "Fixed device" (i.e. USB hard disk) a "reversed dummydisk.sys" to make it become "removable"?

jaclaz

[SSPP]

First of all, thank you very much for replying. I hope I am not hijacking the topic - if so, can you please move my topic to a new thread?

Allow me to clear up my view when I create an universal usb boot stick. My points are:

1) FAT32 is really slow in WinXP installation. So, FAT16 is the source partition (NTFS is not my option ).

2) FAT16 is limited to 2GB(64kb cluster is simply wastage of space and limited to 4gb) and I need a lot of recovery/repairing tool on the usb stick. Hence the second partition.

3) Some tools are used from windows, so the partition holding such tools must be visible from installed windows to be able to repair a devective installation/ recovering lost files. Of course this partition must be the first one.

4) The above implies that the WinXP source must be the second partition with the benefit that in case of infected system, at least always you have a virus free source in hand as the second partition is not seen by the infected system for infection.

5) You can of course, toggle something to fool XP setup and revert back; but consider the case of incomplete installation - where you toggled something and final command for revering back is not executed. Next time you try to install XP you need to repair your disk first. what a controversy!! By the way, I don't use the batch files for renaming the source folders during text mode setup for the same reason - I use write protection for the first copying portion and a tool DriveEject.exe which ejects the drive just before the setup completes, from winnt.sif. So, no file deletion during the setup from usb stick and no flipping of folder name.

6) I also use Win98 DOS on usb stick - you people know it's invaluable still now for quick repairing/access utitlities like undelete. So, XP setup is also accessable from DOS using winnt.exe - in case any system betray booting from usb. I can always dump the source on hard disk and run the setup from there by copying relevant files like io.sys...etc and transferring GRUB to mbr from still existing Windows.

Hence, I propose creating an USB stick with two partitions:

1) A big FAT32 partition holding all windows tools visible from existing Windows in first position

2) A 2gb active FAT16 partition holding XP source and DOS system/tools protected from infection for emergencies.

3) GRUB in 2nd partition boot sector thus somewhat protected from sudden overwrite of mbr and non bootability from any kind of mistake/infection. Simple recover of mbr boot code from any machine would revive your stick back.

4) Optional SysLinux in 1st partition boot sector for backup/additional operations like linux booting.

5) Optional ISO/linux files in 1st partition/3rd partition for linux rescue or special cases like NT password reset, Acronis bootdisk, KAV rescue cd etc.

Thus creating an all round usb stick for perfect system administrator who has to manage various odd sitiations at various locations. Carring such a portable utility stick as his weapon is obvious need.

Finally, this is all possible only when I can integrate cfadisk in XP setup source and make it bootable from 2nd partition. While it is perfectly doable using the current thread, the only bar is the setup is scanning the disks just before the file copy process and stuck saying the partition holding the source is corrupted and setup can not continue. Without cfadisk from 1st partition it is running properly. I used nlite to optimize the setup and integrated the mass storage drivers from driverpack.

Can the presetup scan be bypassed? Any other idea?

Quote

I have NO idea WHat is happening/WHY it is happening, so all I can do is provide some "generic" advice

What does it mean? Why the Lord of WinXP is so negative? Any other taker?

Regards.

[jaclaz]

SSPP, on 28 February 2012 - 12:01 AM, said:

:

Quote

I have NO idea WHat is happening/WHY it is happening, so all I can do is provide some "generic" advice

What does it mean? Why the Lord of WinXP is so negative?

Not at all "negative", a simple, plain, statement.

Would you prefer that I lie and EITHER:

• tell you (falsely) that I know a perfect solution for that issue but I am not going to tell you exactly how to do it
  OR
  
• tell you (falsely) that I know a perfect solution for that issue then send you on some wild goose chase

jaclaz