[demontager]

Could somebody help me figure out what is my problem. I did all above mentioned steps:
1. installed grub4dos on USB pendrive
2.Edited menu.lst

title Loading XP RAM install - /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN

3. Copied Inst folder with XP_INST.IMA and XP_RAM.ISO to USB pen drive
4. Then booted from pendrive in Virtual Box, chosen XP in menu and here is strange, just shows me that window, freezes, nothing happens, waited 15 minutes same. Also i have tested booting from this pendrive in real environment, no changes, freezes.

[uid0]

maanu, on Sep 15 2009, 07:46 PM, said:

1. HOW the iso image can be sorted to have OEM folder at the end of the iso

You can use mkisofs -sort sort.txt
Cdob's boot-the-loop is an alternative to mapping counted sectors, if you can write the sizes into the cd at build time:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...amp;#entry24379

[ilko_t]

@demontager

1) How large is the ISO file?
2) How much RAM you had in the real and the virtual machine?
3) Not related, but did you put original setup.exe as setuporg.exe in \setup\I386\ in XP_INST.IMA? Mount the image, use ImDisk for example, put setup.exe renamed to setuporg.exe in \setup\I386\ if using 32bit Windows and unmount the virtual disk. Make sure you are not monting it as read-only.

This post has been edited by ilko_t: 16 September 2009 - 05:53 AM

[demontager]

ilko_t :
1. XP_RAM.ISO size is 714MB

2.I set for VB use 1 GB of ram, because when less of 256 it reports-"cannot fit image to ram", and real machine has 4 Gb of ram.

3.Oops, I didn't make these steps. is it mandatory to put original setup.exe to \setup\I386\ in XP_INST.IMA?

[ilko_t]

1) You may have to wait longer for 700MB ISO, perhaps the real hardware was using USB 1.1 at boot. Alternatively try Plop:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=8605

For loading in VirtualBox- same applies, no idea if PLOP could help.

3) Yes, critical for the GUI mode, which you have not reached yet.

This post has been edited by ilko_t: 16 September 2009 - 07:32 AM

[TigerWhite]

cdob, on Sep 7 2009, 04:20 PM, said:

This is not necessary anymore at firadisk 0.0.1.12.
Once is sufficient now

map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)

I tested XP_INST_v02 (which I understand includes firadisk 0.0.1.12) for installing XP SP3 integrated with BTS massstorage driverpack on VirtualBox mapping only once:

map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)

The setup fails in the textmode itself complaining that it could not copy the firadisk files.

However mapping twice with

map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)

installation is successful!

I have confirmed this with wimb's approach given in Post #7 in VirtualBox. I am yet to test this in a real system.

Is the necessity of double mapping limited to VirtualBox only?
Can redundant mapping cause problems in real hardware?

[cdob]

maanu, on Sep 15 2009, 01:46 PM, said:

HOW the iso image can be sorted to have OEM folder at the end of the iso

I'm using mkisofs -sort and investigate some ocassions currently.
Sorry no further hint so far.

Quote

i guess OEM is already the end

IsoBuster Free does list LBA (Logical Block Address) of files. http://www.isobuster...ense-models.php
The LBA show the file location.
Calculate N: LBA of file and add file length
Use this number to load image to RAM.

Quote

2. lets suppose we have 3 xp images to be installed from usb using firadisk method . is it possible to have OEM (BTS packs) at root of usb drive , so that all 3 xp images can use them ?
i mean it SEEMS possible with a batch command which can copy them at the time of need to the target partition but then i guess we ll have to use C:\ only for installing purposes . or am i just dreaming ?

No need for deaming, should work already.

demontager, on Sep 16 2009, 07:06 AM, said:

1. XP_RAM.ISO size is 714MB

The ISO image is loaded at BIOS speed. This maybe solw despite USB2.0 hardware.
A 700 mb imgae is loaded in about a minute at USB2.0 speed. Setup does work.

Try the PLOP Boot Manager. This allows USB2.0 speed at some 1.1 speed BIOS.

@TigerWhite
Thanks for report.
Which BIOS settings do you use?
Does your VirtualBox use a floppy drive? Does exist a floppy controller?

TigerWhite said:

Can redundant mapping cause problems in real hardware?

I've no Idea. Should work without errors.

[demontager]

After putting real setup.exe all works, but speed of loading to RAM about 7 minutes(tested on real hardware) and about 10 mins in Virtual Box.
So I tried to use Plop, creates /boot folder on USB pendrive and put there plpbt.img. Then edited menu.lst:

title Load USB2.0
find --set-root /boot/plpbt.img
map --mem /boot/plpbt.img (fd0)
map --hook
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)
map --floppies=1
boot

When Plop graphical screen started I chosen USB, but also available: hda partition1, hdb partition1, cdrom,floppy( also below setup, about, shutdown in grey colour), then it shows installing IHCI driver and back me to grub4dos menu. Then I've chosen

Loading XP RAM install - /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO

And after 30 sec received error

 
Error 21: Selected disc does not Exist
Press any key to continue...

i pressed and it back to grub4dos menu again. What is the reason, wrong disk? If I not use Plop, setup starts, but as I mentioned need wait ~7 minutes.

This post has been edited by demontager: 16 September 2009 - 02:33 PM

[kDn]

Little bug in TXTSETUP.OEM (XP_INST.IMA)

Need to correct section:

[Files.scsi.VMSCSI]
driver  = VMSCSI, vmscsi.sys, VMSCSI
inf = VMSCSI, vmscsi.inf
catalog = VMSCSI, vmscsi.cat

[TigerWhite]

cdob, on Sep 17 2009, 12:48 AM, said:

@TigerWhite
Thanks for report.
Which BIOS settings do you use?
Does your VirtualBox use a floppy drive? Does exist a floppy controller?

VirtualBox system settings :

System
Base Memory:   1024 MB
Processor(s):	 1
Boot Order:	   CD/DVD-ROM, Hard Disk
VT-x/AMD-V:	 Enabled
Nested Paging:   Disabled

Floppy  :			Not mounted

Though I have not mounted any floppy, a floppy controller exists in the vm.

[cdob]

uid0, on Sep 16 2009, 06:50 AM, said:

Cdob's boot-the-loop is an alternative to mapping counted sectors, if you can write the sizes into the cd at build time:

Thanks for the reminder. That way menu.lst dosn't have to contain sector numbers.
Not integrated yet. Need some time to settle current features, maybe next year.

@demontager
Don't use addional mapping. Try

title Load PLoP boot manager - USB
find --set-root /boot/plpbt.bin
kernel /boot/plpbt.bin

In addition you may configure PLoP plpbt.bin http://www.plop.at/e...r.html#plpcfgbt

plpcfgbt stm=hidden cnt=on cntval=1 dbt=usb plpbt.bin

@kDn
Thanks for VMSCSI report, fixed.

@TigerWhite
Sorry no further idea, don't use I VirtualBox. fd0 and fd1 seems a good work arround.

[doveman]

wimb, on Sep 7 2009, 12:17 PM, said:

Successful tested for Install of XP-SP3 on real hardware (including internal multi-cardreader)

Did not use USB-stick.
AFTER format of Harddisk install partition, I installed grub4dos as boot option in boot.ini menu using BOOT_IMG.exe
Then copied folder Inst with XP_INST.IMA and XP_RAM.ISO to Harddisk.
Made entry in menu.lst without the mapping for USB-stick

title Loading XP RAM install - /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
# map (hd0) (hd1)
# map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN

I tried this and didn't have much luck. I don't use boot.ini, so I just added those lines to my existing menu.lst. My ISO is slightly tweaked with nLite, with the XUpdatePack-SP3, a few individual drivers and some program addons.

The first line "ls || find" didn't seem to work and I had to manually enter root (hd0,0) for the rest of it to be able to find the files.

After mapping XP_RAM.ISO I got:
Autodetect number of heads failed: Use default value 255
Autodetect sectors per track failed: Use default value 63
but perhaps that doesn't matter.

After
map --hook
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN
I got
Error 19: Cannot mount selected partition

and that was the end of that!

[cdob]

doveman, on Sep 27 2009, 11:56 AM, said:

I just added those lines to my existing menu.lst.

Which menu.lst sections does work at existing menu.lst? Do you use find already?
Which boot configuration do you use?
Do you boot from USB? Do you boot from internal hard disk?
How do you start grub4dos?
Which directory and files did you add?
Which hardware: motherboard and BIOS do you use?

Quote

chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN
I got
Error 19: Cannot mount selected partition

Which grub4dos do you use? Try a current version http://nufans.net/grub4dos/
How do you build the ISO image?

In addition: /I386/SETUPLDR.BIN is case sensitive. Does exist a file \I386\SETUPLDR.BIN ?

[doveman]

Hi

Which menu.lst sections does work at existing menu.lst? Do you use find already?
Which boot configuration do you use?
Do you boot from USB? Do you boot from internal hard disk?
How do you start grub4dos?

I have grub installed on my HD MBR and the menu.lst on (hd0,0), which is normally just used to allow me to dual-boot between two different XPs.
I don't normally use find and just boot from internal HD.

Which directory and files did you add?

I expanded setup.exe from my nLited I386 folder to setupORG.exe and put that in the IMA. Then I made a folder Inst on my (hd0,0) and put the IMA and ISO in there.

Which hardware: motherboard and BIOS do you use?

Motherboard is Gigabyte GA-8I848PM. BIOS F5

How do you build the ISO image?

With nLite.

In addition: /I386/SETUPLDR.BIN is case sensitive. Does exist a file \I386\SETUPLDR.BIN ?

Yes

I'll try a newer grub4dos and see if that helps. Shows v0.9.7 at the moment

[ilko_t]

You seem to be using GNU GRUB, which is NOT the needed Grub4DOS. Install and use the latter:
http://diddy.boot-la...os/Grub4dos.htm

[doveman]

OK. I replaced grldr with 0.4.4 dated 20-06-09 and it does work better now, although the XP setup only shows "Setup is checking your hardware config" at the top of the screen before going to a blank screen and giving up.

Actually, trying to install from CD/DVD doesn't work any better but I put that down to a dodgy drive/IDE port. The only way I've got to work so far is from a USB stick using USB_MultiBoot_10 (using the same files as I burnt to DVD and used to make XP_RAM.iso).

[cdob]

Boot different XP ISO images from one USB stick or hard disk.

Edit txtsetup.oem, uncomment the line

dll = setup, ISOimage.txt

There are two approaches:

One add different XP ISO files but one floppy image

Example:
/Inst/XP_PRO.ISO and /Inst/XP_HOME.ISO

title Loading XP PRO install - write /Inst/XP_PRO.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_PRO.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_PRO.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#optional, (fd1) required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_PRO.ISO (0xFF)
map --hook
write --offset=0 (fd0)/setup/ISOimage.ini \\Inst\\XP_PRO.ISO\n;\n;\n;
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN

title Loading XP HOME install - write /Inst/XP_HOME.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_HOME.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_HOME.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#optional, (fd1) required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_HOME.ISO (0xFF)
map --hook
write --offset=0 (fd0)/setup/ISOimage.ini \\Inst\\XP_HOME.ISO\n;\n;\n;
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN

Or use a multi boot ISO Image, that's one ISO file, one floppy image
To create a ISO Image compare Multi-Boot CD/DVDs http://www.msfn.org/...hp?showforum=82

title Loading XP PRO install - write /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#optional, (fd1) required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
map --hook
write --offset=0 (fd0)/setup/ISOimage.ini \\Inst\\XP_RAM.ISO\n;\n;\n;
chainloader (0xFF)/XPPR/SETUPLDR.BIN

title Loading XP HOME install - write /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#optional, (fd1) required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
map --hook
write --offset=0 (fd0)/setup/ISOimage.ini \\Inst\\XP_RAM.ISO\n;\n;\n;
chainloader (0xFF)/XPHM/SETUPLDR.BIN

doveman, on Sep 27 2009, 06:25 PM, said:

I replaced grldr with 0.4.4 dated 20-06-09 and it does work better now

Yes, grub4dos support ISO files, ancient grub dosn't do this.

Quote

the XP setup only shows "Setup is checking your hardware config" at the top of the screen before going to a blank screen and giving up.

a dodgy drive/IDE port.

Setup require stable hardware, this includes the ports.
A i848 support SATA ports too. Can you disable broken port at BIOS?

[doveman]

cdob, on Sep 28 2009, 08:54 AM, said:

Setup require stable hardware, this includes the ports.
A i848 support SATA ports too. Can you disable broken port at BIOS?

I've got one SATA HD and one IDE DVD drive.

After extensive testing I've found the following:

XP setup (whether on CD, HD or USB) get's stuck at the "Setup is detecting your hardware configuration" unless I disable my SATA HD. If I disable it, it works fine (but of course then I've got nothing to install XP on!)

My USB keyboard doesn't work in XP setup or in grub4dos 0.4.4 booted from USB stick. It does work in grub4dos 0.4.4 booted from HD. USB Keyboard support is enabled in BIOS. I tried all 4 ports on the backplate. Also, booting grub4dos from USB stick requires me to send a break at the grub4dos menu by pressing the power button momentarily, as it won't even respond to the PS/2 keyboard otherwise. This is not necessary when booting grub4dos from HD.

So basically, my motherboard sucks!

XP_RAM.ISO still won't work from SATA HD even with the IDE DVD drive disabled. It does work from USB stick with SATA HD disabled (but takes too long to load even a cut-down 170MB SP2). The only XP setup that's worked with the SATA drive enabled is the USB_Multiboot_10 created one on the USB stick, so I'm wondering what's different about this that allows it to work.

[kDn]

Need to correct some lines to more right work:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&...st&p=881387

Quote

And activate this file, uncomment the line
dll = setup, ISOimage.txt

need to read:

Quote

And activate this file, uncomment the line
dll = setup, ISOimage.ini

In XP_INSTF.IMA\SETUP\ISOimage.ini change strings:

;directory and name of ISO image to mount
\Inst\XP_RAM.ISO

to

\Inst\XP_RAM.ISO
;directory and name of ISO image to mount

becouse menu entry like

write --offset=0 (fd0)/setup/ISOimage.ini \\Test\\XP_123.ISO\n;\n;\n;

give something like:

\Test\XP_123.ISO
;
;
;of ISO image to mount
\Inst\XP_RAM.ISO

and wrong work setup.cmd script...

[Siginet]

I'm having trouble getting a multiboot iso to work.

I have created a multiboot ISO with XPPC and XOHO. which represent XP Pro Corp with DriverPacks and XP Home OEM without DriverPacks.

Neither of them seem to be working.

I get to the point where it mounts the ISO which seems like it is successful because it takes about a minute to do it.

but then the computer just restarts and never goes into txtmode setup.

Here is what I have done:
I placed the floppy image on the USB stick: \Inst\XP_INST.IMA
I placed my ISO here on the USB Stick: \Inst\XP_RAM.iso

I uncommented this in the txtsetup.oem inside of \Inst\XP_INST.IMA:
dll = setup, ISOimage.ini

Here is my menu.lst:

title Windows XP Multiboot ISO Setup
root (hd0,0)
configfile /XP_RAM.lst
savedefault

And here is my XP_RAM.lst:

title XP PRO install - write /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#optional, (fd1) required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
map --hook
write --offset=0 (fd0)/setup/ISOimage.ini \\Inst\\XP_RAM.ISO\n;\n;\n;
chainloader (0xFF)/XPPC/SETUPLDR.BIN

title XP HOME install - write /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#optional, (fd1) required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
map --hook
write --offset=0 (fd0)/setup/ISOimage.ini \\Inst\\XP_RAM.ISO\n;\n;\n;
chainloader (0xFF)/XOHO/SETUPLDR.BIN

The ISO itself is only 680 MB.



Any ideas?

Edit:
Further info... I created the multiboot structure using Windows XP PowerPacker. Which isn't much different in how it creates a multiboot disk then unattended.msfn.org

This post has been edited by Siginet: 04 October 2009 - 08:52 PM