[jaclaz]

Well, what you report seems more like I remembered it.

If I were you, I would leave everything "as is", and wait to do further tests when you happen to get another stick that doesn't work as you want it to.

About the "hard way", the link I posted is a direct link to page where actual "Manufacturer Tool" that are (or better should be) appropriate for your stick.
You download one, and you try running it (WITHOUT the stick connected).
You try and see if there is an option (they do have an english interface) that *resembles* what you want to do.
IF there is (not *ALL* controllers or not *ALL* utilities have this feature) you try it.
Now you do understand why the , don't you?

Some utilities are "easy", some are "difficult", it is more a gambling game than anything else.

So, DO NOT do it.

If you are curious, just download them and try running them with NO devices attached, to see how they "feel".

You are now a happy bunny in the basket , don't make things that may make you become a depressed one .
http://www.msfn.org/...ic=128727&st=10

jaclaz

[Andrews]

After the third reboot after having deleted dummy.sys and the corresponding sub key in the registry the hack stopped. Strange it did not happen immediately after the first reboot . I just reinstalled it again. This is just for the record.

I found the USB6690 app because you named it on your post. After investigating, I concluded that it was exactly the one for my stick, but it was also not easy to find the download button . This is why I said I avoid Russian and Chinese sites, annoying, frustrating and most of all an enormous waste of time .

I’ll do as you say , live it as is for the time being. For now it is what I need and was looking for . I am not going to use it on other computers, at least for now. Soon I’ll have more sticks, even because all disks tend to be replaced by chips. Hard drives will still be too expensive for quite some time, but smaller sizes are more affordable and convenient. CDs and DVDs have already started disappearing.

I looked at the USB6690 GUI, but couldn’t find any “All” reference, and the settings have too many things. They are in English, but I don’t understand most of them, and because I’ll need to know much more we better talk about that when the time comes. For now I stick with what I have .

Thank you for everything.

 USB6690.jpg (153.81K)
Number of downloads: 27

[Andrews]

Hello,

I want to announce that I tried the other hack version of online's tutorial at http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=22795, which he mentions as another “alternative way”. This one uses the Hitachi drive in xpfildrvr1224_320.zip, and an hm directory containing the decompressed files with a modified cfadisk.inf file is placed in “system32\drives”. It does not use any registry .REG file as on the Anton Bassov' version.

Before applying this Hitachi drive hack just to try, I had to remove Anton Bossov’s hack (the added registry key and dummy.sys in “system32\drives”), which was working perfectly , and rebooted.

This Hitachi drive hack works as perfectly as the online's Anton Bossov version.

Note: I had already tried to do this, but after having performed the above mentioned removals and rebooting, the PC kept showing the old removed driver even with everything deleted . I can’t explain this, and at the moment I didn't have the time to insist.

Reading through following online's links, I acknowledged the existence of many BIOS-USB related problems when booting from USB . Even if not exactly the same sort of problem, with my present BIOS there is something strange when booting with an USB flash connected (with or without hack): it invariably boots from USB regardless of how I had set the BIOS . Checking up the BIOS settings while booting in these conditions, I see that they have set themselves differently: the hard drives are not shown on the booting options and the booting order is now USB, DVD. Only, nothing else, unchangeable, when I have also three hard disks and a CD .

[jaclaz]

Yep it's BIOS related.

Also, some motherboards have a hot-key to change booting order on-the-fly at boot time that behaves sometimes differently/strangely from what happens if you change the booting order inside "real" BIOS page.

Most probably you can work around the issue by using grub4dos to re-map drives before booting the OS.
Typically:

title boot from internal HD
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

You will need to check in grub4dos command line if it sees the internal hard disks (it should).

To start playing with it start here:
http://diddy.boot-la...os/Grub4dos.htm
You may also want to try using methods #1 or #3 (chainloadeing from windows)
http://diddy.boot-la...all_windows.htm
http://diddy.boot-la...ws.htm#windows1
http://diddy.boot-la...ws.htm#windows3

Read about command line:
http://diddy.boot-la...iles/basics.htm
http://diddy.boot-la...s/files/cli.htm

Then press "c" and type:

find

[TAB]
If you see something like:

Quote

(fd0) (hd0) (hd1) (hd2) (rd) (cd)

it means that the internal drives are seen nonetheless at BIOS level and you can re-map them.


Happy to know that also cfadisk.sys worked.


jaclaz

This post has been edited by jaclaz: 22 May 2010 - 08:25 AM

[Andrews]

Thank you for the links, I’ll read the tutorials.

I have a problem. When Windows 3.0 appeared I moved to Windows because it was funnier, but slowly I forgot the little I already knew about DOS, Linux and other interesting things , and now I am almost completely blank, a 0 .

[3guesses]

jaclaz

I don't know if you're still monitoring this thread, but if so I wonder if you could answer a question for me/point me in the right direction?

I came across this thread after buying an 8GB USB memory stick, with the intention of partitioning it off and making it bootable so that I could perform O/S installations from it instead of having to carry around a load of discs. However, after reading this thread I was wondering if there was a tidier solution: make the USB stick bootable and install a boot loader on it that had the ability to mount and boot an ISO image as a virtual CD/DVD (a bit like DAEMON Tools does for Windows). Then it would just be a matter of copying ISO images of the operating system installation disks onto the memory stick. Do you know if this idea is possible? I had a read of the GRUB wiki (I am more familiar with LILO), but I was none the wiser about whether or not it could boot an ISO image as a virtual CD/DVD and at the moment I can't afford to spend hours and hours trying things out unless I know that they will work.

Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

BTW your English seems very good for an Italian?

Cheers,

3g

[jaclaz]

3guesses, on 07 September 2010 - 10:42 AM, said:

BTW your English seems very good for an Italian?

Interesting question, maybe you had some experience with a few "less fluent in English" Italians?
I presume that the "average internet English" (written by non-British people) sounds a lot like "pidgin English" to the British (well actually a lot of American English probably does the same ), but don't think that average "Italianish" is in any way worse than "Portuglish", "Spanglish" or "Germanish" ....

I simply try to do my best in writing in English as it was taught to me (more years ago than I like to recall... ) by an English mother-tongue teacher, I am sure she would be happy to know that all the time she spent with me wasn't entirely wasted.

3guesses, on 07 September 2010 - 10:42 AM, said:

However, after reading this thread I was wondering if there was a tidier solution: make the USB stick bootable and install a boot loader on it that had the ability to mount and boot an ISO image as a virtual CD/DVD (a bit like DAEMON Tools does for Windows). Then it would just be a matter of copying ISO images of the operating system installation disks onto the memory stick. Do you know if this idea is possible?

Sure it is possible , only you are making it much easier (or rather too "one-size-fits-all") than it really is.
Take your time reading these TWO threads:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=8944
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=5041

3guesses, on 07 September 2010 - 10:42 AM, said:

I had a read of the GRUB wiki (I am more familiar with LILO), but I was none the wiser about whether or not it could boot an ISO image as a virtual CD/DVD and at the moment I can't afford to spend hours and hours trying things out unless I know that they will work.

Here we have a problem, disambiguation needed:

• GRUB is "GRUB Legacy", discontinued, has NOT ANY "special" provision for DOS, NT or .ISO mapping/booting
  
• grub4dos is an evolution of #1, which ADDS "special" provisions for DOS, NT, .ISO mappping and many more
  
• GRUB2 is now "GRUB" it is a COMPLETELY REWRITTEN bootmanager, with same features of #1, AND added .ISO mapping BUT NOT any "special" provisions for DOS, NT, and a number of other features grub4dos has.

What you want is NOT "GRUB", NOT "GRUB legacy", NOT "GRUB 2" but grub4dos:
http://www.boot-land...hp?showforum=66

Read AT LEAST (besides the two already given threads) the other "stickies", i.e. the WHERETO:
http://www.boot-land...hp?showtopic=14
AND the GUIDE (linked to here):
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=5187

jaclaz

[sk8nfool]

Nice tutorial. Unfortunately the link to xpefiles (http://www.xpefiles....wtopic.php?t=92) is broken. What was this pointing at?

Thanks

[jaclaz]

sk8nfool, on 31 March 2011 - 11:45 AM, said:

Unfortunately the link to xpefiles (http://www.xpefiles....wtopic.php?t=92) is broken. What was this pointing at?

Maybe had you spent a few minutes actually READING this thread before posting, you might have found yourself the answer, please READ these two (and possibly the WHOLE thread):
http://www.msfn.org/...os/page__st__48
http://www.msfn.org/...os/page__st__49

jaclaz

[zopfan]

I wish the topic was updated with latest scenario. I.e. Win7 and 4gb pen drive and other latest things. 2006 is rather too old to follow.

Alas!!

[jaclaz]

zopfan, on 09 April 2011 - 01:37 AM, said:

I wish the topic was updated with latest scenario. I.e. Win7 and 4gb pen drive and other latest things. 2006 is rather too old to follow.

Alas!!

Well, you can still READ the thread and maybe you will find liks to OTHER more modern ways/approaches, like, you know:
http://www.msfn.org/...os/page__st__40

jaclaz

[TheSeeker]

I would like to try to modify the RMB.

But where can I find the right tool?

I have the following sticks available



PnP Device ID: VID = 0409 PID = 0058
Revision: 1100

Product Vendor: JetFlash
Product Model: Transcend 16GB


PnP Device ID: VID = 0409 PID = 0058
Revision: 1100

Product Vendor: OCZ
Product Model: RALLY2


PnP Device ID: VID = 090C PID = 1000
Revision: 1100

Chip Vendor: SMI(??)
Chip Part-Number: SM321~SM325

Product Vendor: Corsair
Product Model: Flash Voyager

[jaclaz]

TheSeeker, on 04 September 2011 - 12:29 AM, said:

I would like to try to modify the RMB.

You do know that it is RISKY business?
You do know that it may make the stick inaccessible (if you do the wrong things with such a powerful tool)?

You are "TheSeeker", I am "The Finder", there must be a reason .

Try with the SMI only first:
http://flashboot.ru/...es&op=cat&id=10

You'd better go there through google translate:
http://translate.goo...D10&sl=ru&tl=en

In this particular case the answer is not 42 but rather 320.

The 0409:0058 doesn't sound "right". (it is a Vid/Pid for a USB hub)
Is what you posted the output of chipgenius?
http://reboot.pro/4661/
If not try again with it.

jaclaz

[TheSeeker]

Thanks for the links. I will work through it.

And yes I know it's risky.
Recently I have moved to USB 3.0 and replaced all my everyday USB sticks with faster ones.
So if the old ones get corrupt so be it.

Yes the data is from chipgenius.
Ah the devices are listed twice. Once with their assigned drive letter and once without it.

This are the correct values.

PnP Device ID: VID = 8564 PID = 1000

and

PnP Device ID: VID = 0324 PID = BC08

[jaclaz]

TheSeeker, on 04 September 2011 - 02:31 AM, said:

This are the correct values.

PnP Device ID: VID = 8564 PID = 1000

and

PnP Device ID: VID = 0324 PID = BC08

This:

Quote

PnP Device ID: VID = 8564 PID = 1000

can be *almost anything*
See the results of searching here:
http://flashboot.ru/...php?name=iflash
most probably it is a "valid" VID/PID from TRANSCEND that can have "under the bonnet" *any* controller

This:

Quote

PnP Device ID: VID = 0324 PID = BC08

is *unknown*, the 0324 is OCZ, just like the 8564 above is Transcend, it is probable that it is an SMI chip as well (like the 090C/1000), but cannot say.

jaclaz

[TheSeeker]

It's an OCZ Rally2 - looks like there is a tool for it.

SMI SM32x H0328 v.1.17.24
Utility to restore the flash on the controllers Silicon Motion SM32x. Utility to restore the flash on the controllers Silicon Motion SM32x.
Language English. Language English. INI files Immersed Immersed INI files
to restore the flash drive OCZ ATVTURBORally2, 1GB-32GB to restore the flash drive OCZ ATVTURBORally2, 1GB-32GB
VID 0325, VID 0324, VID 0321, VID 090c. VID 0325, VID 0324, VID 0321, VID 090c.

If I start the tool it finds the stick with all it's data. And I can select the correct ini file.
Am I correct that the option Disktype - USB-ZIP -> USB-HDD will change the RMB?

[jaclaz]

TheSeeker, on 04 September 2011 - 03:19 AM, said:

Am I correct that the option Disktype - USB-ZIP -> USB-HDD will change the RMB?

Yep.

jaclaz

[TheSeeker]

Thanks for your great support and pointing to the flash site.
Everything went well. The two sticks now act as hdds.

[jaclaz]

TheSeeker, on 04 September 2011 - 10:29 AM, said:

Thanks for your great support and pointing to the flash site.
Everything went well. The two sticks now act as hdds.

Good.
Glad to know I contributed to another happy bunny :
http://www.msfn.org/...up/page__st__10

jaclaz

[JRM75]

I know this thread is a little old, but it has some useful info. and I can share my useful info. if anyone is interested.




I would like to know something: There are already ways to partition a usb drive with multiple partitions with various tools, and it's possible to show the drives in windows with a tool/glitch I know w/o any filters,etc. BUT MY QUESTION IS: will making the 1st partition of the usb to be DOS-bootable allow the usb to be fixed in all versions of windows? Or simply, will it be shown as a fixed drive if the usb is loaded onto a new computer w/o the microdrive filters?



BTW, if u want to know how I manage to partition my usb drives, I used MiniTool Partition Wizard to resize and set all partitions as Primary and one Active, then I safely remove the usb drive and run the showdrive.exe command found in %systemroot%\system32\showdrives.exe, which shows all the drives. It works for me, however, it wont work on certain XP Live CD's. I find that in Safe Mode it works flawlessly, so it could be a windows service sometimes.

For the "showdrives" trick, in certain scenarios it will only work if you unplug the drive 1st before executing showdrive.exe, any further ejects can cause the USB not to show until you reboot your system.



Heres a tool i like messing with, BOOTICE.EXE (Latest 0.9 build). My favorite MBR is Wee63.mbr, you can easily customize which loaders and where the loaders are located on the drive, so if you have a multiboot USB with one partition, you can use different loaders in different directories, and just customize your menu.lst or .ini file to direct each bootable img or installation DIR. It's even better with multiple paritions, because all you have to do is just direct the loaders in wee63.mbr w/o any further file editing. Also, you can direct boot manager loaders, like plpbt.bin, which allows you to chose which media device and partition to load from during boot (i highly discourage plpbt.bin because it has some rediculous bugs when loading a usb with multiple partitions, that contain a loader that is the same as the 1st partition on the drive).

This post has been edited by JRM75: 24 October 2011 - 12:08 PM