72 replies to this topic

[wimb]

First Download VISTA WAIK to make Windows PE 2.0 ISO folder
Add Windows PE 2.0 to root of USB-stick using Make_USB.exe

Copy Vista or Windows 7 to folder on USB-stick.

Boot USB-stick via boot.ini and GRUB4DOS grldr with menu.lst Menu.
Select to boot first with Windows PE 2.0
In Windows PE 2.0 change cmd window to folder of Vista or Windows 7
Select and Run Vista or Windows 7 Setup from folder.

Disconnect USB-stick precisely at First Reboot of Vista Setup

[ilko]

Thanks ilko, but if I copy the Win7 files to the root where Vista resides, will it try to over write any of the files?

Yes. That's the part where 'this' becomes important

@wimb- isn't it possible simply to start Vista setup, enter cmd instead of continuing setup, switch to windows 7 folder and launch setup.exe?

[Christian]

First Download VISTA WAIK to make Windows PE 2.0 ISO folder
Add Windows PE 2.0 to root of USB-stick using Make_USB.exe

Copy Vista or Windows 7 to folder on USB-stick.

Boot USB-stick via boot.ini and GRUB4DOS grldr with menu.lst Menu.
Select to boot first with Windows PE 2.0
In Windows PE 2.0 change cmd window to folder of Vista or Windows 7
Select and Run Vista or Windows 7 Setup from folder.

Disconnect USB-stick precisely at First Reboot of Vista Setup

Thanks Wimb! I did download the latest version of WAIK > Installed > Made the PE ISO > Booted... Problem is that it just brings me to a command console --> "X:\something\yada\ " I was using Windows 7 version... Does an earlier version go into a full GUI with start menu?

Could I just use LiveXP?

[wimb]

Yes. That's the part where 'this' becomes important

@wimb- isn't it possible simply to start Vista setup, enter cmd instead of continuing setup, switch to windows 7 folder and launch setup.exe?

That can be interesting, so that you don't need Windows PE 2.0
Worthwhile to test after booting with Vista setup and then using Shift F10 to get cmd window and then try to launch Windows 7 from folder on USB-stick.

@Christian
After booting with Windows PE 2.0 you end with the command console on drive X: of Windows PE 2.0
At that stage you have to change the directory to the USB-stick Drive and with cd WIN7 to e.g. the WIN7 folder on the stick. Then Enter Setup.exe of Windows 7.
It might be convenient to have U_XP_SET available to find out what is the drive letter of your USB-stick, so that you know how to change directory.
You can in Windows 2.0 use U_XP_SET\PStart.exe e.g. located on known Harddisk Drive, and then use FileBrowser of Edit > AddFile ... Menu or NOTEPAD.EXE to Browse for existing drives and find your USB-stick DriveLetter. For this purpose you may Add NOTEPAD from C:\WINDOWS to your Local HD U_XP_SET\Progs folder.
EDIT:
Convenient is to use ListDosDevices_To_Notepad.cmd of Uwe Sieber from U_XP_SET\USB_XP_Setup\makebt\listdosdevices folder, which you can Add to PStart Menu.
This option works in Windows PE 2.0 environment,
whereas ddlistW.cmd would NOT work in this case.
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After changing to your USB-stick, you can use PStart again, but now to launch Vista Setup.exe
So you have some GUI Support in Windows PE 2.0 environment.
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PE with GUI would be nice for this purpose, but LiveXP will not be accepted, just as in the case of e.g. booting with BartPE and then launch Vista Setup which results in:

Incompatible PE Version

But you can try also the idea given above by ilko

[wimb]

That can be interesting, so that you don't need Windows PE 2.0
Worthwhile to test after booting with Vista setup and then using Shift F10 to get cmd window and then try to launch Windows 7 from folder on USB-stick.
...
But you can try also the idea given above by ilko

Like this , After booting with Vista Setup and using Shift F10 to get cmd window,
and then launch Windows 7 from PStart (instead of Vista)
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Unfortunately I don't have Windows 7 to test ....

[wimb]

PE with GUI would be nice for this purpose, but LiveXP will not be accepted, just as in the case of e.g. booting with BartPE and then launch Vista Setup which results in:

Incompatible PE Version

Another idea:

Can we boot with Windows PE 2.0 RAM Boot Image e.g. BootWPE2.img file loaded from Harddisk and then fast boooting from RAMDISK (say 30 seconds), just in the same way as booting with LiveXP BootSDI.img file installed on Harddisk as Boot Option in boot.ini Menu ?

It would be interesting since then we can overcome the above found limitation
Incompatible PE Version for launching Vista setup as occurs for LiveXP.

Moreover, booting with Windows PE 2.0 from RAMDISK would be be very fast and allow to format the bootdrive of the Harddisk and then launch Vista or Windows 7 Setup from folder on USB-stick.

I did some attempts, but was not yet successful in booting with Windows PE 2.0 from RAMDISK. The Image is loaded, but booting stops with Message INF file TXTSETUP.SIF damaged or missing (Status 18 for ISO or 14 for IMG file).

Has anyone experience with booting of Windows PE 2.0 from RAMDISK ?

Thanks for your help.

[was_jaclaz]

I did some attempts, but was not yet successful in booting with Windows PE 2.0 from RAMDISK. The Image is loaded, but booting stops with Message INF file TXTSETUP.SIF damaged or missing (Status 18 for ISO or 14 for IMG file).

You sure that PE 2.x has TXTSETUP.SIF?

Or are you trying to RAMDISK loading it like you would with a PE 1.x through SETUPLDR.BIN and WINNT.SIF?

VistaPE and Vista Recovery which is basically PE2.x can be loaded as a .iso from grub4dos with (hd32) mapping:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=5041
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=7139

How did you build your PE 2.x?

Did you try the .scripts by allanf?
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=4431
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=7053

jaclaz

[wimb]

You sure that PE 2.x has TXTSETUP.SIF?

I don't know what is in boot.wim exactly and was NOT able to view its content yet, but most likely TXTSETUP.SIF is not there and I will have a wrong approach.

Or are you trying to RAMDISK loading it like you would with a PE 1.x through SETUPLDR.BIN and WINNT.SIF?

I just tried to use BOOT_IMG.exe and to use booting through SETUPLDR.BIN and WINNT.SIF

How did you build your PE 2.x?

I have made the Windows PE 2.0 ISO with:

oscdimg c:\winpe_x86\ISO c:\winpe_x86\winpe_x86_cd.iso -n -bc:\winpe_x86\etfsboot.com

booting from HDD with boot.ini Menu and GRUB4DOS grldr with menu.lst Menu gives:
Error 13 Invalid or Unsupported Executable Format
where I used in menu.lst

title Windows PE 2.0 ISO

map (hd0,0)/winpe.iso (hd32)

map --hook

chainloader (hd32)

The Windows PE 2.0 IMG BootWPE2.img file was made in Virtual Drive made with VDK.exe and using fsutil to create 200 MB NTFS Compressed Image, and then filled with the Windows PE 2.0 ISO folder contents.
The Image has BOOTMGR type BootSector.
Install as boot option on HDD using BOOT_IMG.exe

Did you try the .scripts by allanf?

Thanks for your links.
A first try did NOT make ANY ISO and Target\pe21 remains empty. The empty ISO folder is there.

[was_jaclaz]

I just tried to use BOOT_IMG.exe and to use booting through SETUPLDR.BIN and WINNT.SIF

Yep, that won't work, PE 2.x has a different booting mechanism.

The Windows PE 2.0 IMG was made in Virtual Drive made with VDK.exe and using fsutil to create 200 MB NTFS Compressed Image, and then filled with the Windows PE 2.0 ISO folder contents.

Are you trying the .iso as generated by oscdimg or anything else?

Generally speaking you should try from command line (one by one) and with the .iso generated by oscdimg:

map (hd0,0)/winpe.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)

or:

map (hd0,0)/winpe.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader /bootmgr

and see if there is any error reported by grub4dos, and find out which line causes it.

.wim files can be browsed using 7-zip, latest versions should support ALL .wim's formats:
http://www.boot-land...?...ic=5308&hl=

jaclaz

[wimb]

Thanks jaclaz, making some progress in doing and understanding.

Yep, that won't work, PE 2.x has a different booting mechanism.

OK, I understand now that I used wrong approach.

Are you trying the .iso as generated by oscdimg or anything else?

For making IMG I used direct the content of the Win PE 2.0 ISO folder made from WAIK.

Results for GRUB4DOS booting Windows PE 2.0 ISO made with oscdimg

map (hd0,0)/winpe.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)

Error 13 Invalid or Unsupported Executable Format

map (hd0,0)/winpe.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader /bootmgr

Error 15 File NOT found

.wim files can be browsed using 7-zip, latest versions should support

Updated 7-Zip 4.65 (2009-02-03) Supports .wim format
OK, this works, Interesting, I can browse now boot.wim


Found Interesting Site that can be usefull:
http://technet.micro...les(en-us).aspx

[was_jaclaz]

Error 15 File NOT found

Use command line and [TAB] autocompletion, it may be BOOTMGR, Bootmgr, bootMGR or whatever:
http://diddy.boot-la...s/files/cli.htm

jaclaz

[allanf]

Thanks for your links.
A first try did NOT make ANY ISO and Target\pe21 remains empty. The empty ISO folder is there.

I can try to troubleshoot if you like. Your oscdimg method for creating base WinPE works and may be all that's required for your purposes.

If you need a customized WinPE in the form of the pe21 project, I may need to see your log. The Target\pe21 should empty out when the image unmounts at the end of the build... so that is correct.

The empty ISO folder...? The location of oscdimg in the installed WAIK directories changed after WAIK V.1.0, so I had to update the project from pe2 to pe21 for WAIK v.1.1; and the newer project creates an osdcimg.cmd on the fly in the script directory. Problems here can not really be troubleshooted with the Winbuilder log, because the shellexecute of oscdimg.cmd is an off-log process. However, it is possible to open and hold open the cmd window executing oscdimg to see what's going on. There is some hashed-out script in project.script to do that... just unhash it, and hash the line above.

ShellExecute,Open,"%ScriptDir%\oscdimg.cmd","#$q%SourceDir%\Tools\PETools\#$q"
#ShellExecute,Open,"cmd.exe","/k %ScriptDir%\oscdimg.cmd #$q%SourceDir%\Tools\PETools\#$q"

Please don't let this be a distraction from your primary goal. My history started with WAIK 1.0 as source, so I an totally bamboozled by what you are doing. Good Luck though.

[wimb]

@allanf
Thanks for your help.
I will try again the pe21 project, using your information.

@jaclaz
Thanks, it is BOOTMGR that works for loading winpe.iso with GRUB4DOS grldr and menu.lst Menu.
oscdimg makes CAPITALS of bootmgr in ISO folder

menu.lst

title Windows PE 2.0 ISO

map (hd0,0)/winpe.iso (hd32)

map --hook

root (hd32)

chainloader /BOOTMGR

However, on second thought,
there is no image booting or loading into RAMDISK needed for Windows PE 2.0
since it loads and boots by itself already from RAMDISK (Drive X:)

That means we can also simply copy the Windows PE 2.0 ISO folder Content to the Harddisk Bootdrive C:\
and use GRUB4DOS by chainloading bootmgr using menu.lst Entry as:

menu.lst

title Boot Windows PE 2.0

root (hd0,0)

chainloader (hd0,0)/bootmgr

Copy and Install Boot option for Windows PE 2.0 can be realised by small GUI Program running from PStart.

For Install of Vista (or Windows 7) from USB we have now an easy and fast solution.

Install Vista from USB Procedure

• Copy Windows PE 2.0 ISO folder Content to Harddisk Bootdrive C:\
  and make Boot Entry in GRUB4DOS menu.lst
• Reboot with Windows PE 2.0 loaded in few seconds from Harddisk
  and booting from RAMDISK in less than 1 min
• Use PStart of U_XP_SET folder on known Harddisk Drive e.g. C:\
  and Edit > Add file Vista Setup.exe in folder on USB-stick to PStart Menu
• Run Vista Setup from PStart Menu
• Select and Format your Install Drive e.g. C:\
• Proceed with Install of Vista from USB (Copy + Extract)
• On first Reboot precisely remove USB-stick
  Without Removal there is 10 min Extra Install time.
• Proceed with Install of Vista
• Ready

Total Install time of Vista from USB-stick amounts to 18 minutes

The gain is in booting with Windows PE 2.0 loaded in few seconds from Harddisk C:\
and booting from RAMDISK X: in less then 1 min
This allows then to Select and launch Vista (or Windows 7) Setup.exe from folder on USB-stick and to format Harddisk drive C:

Install of Windows 7 from USB-stick was not yet tested,
but can most likely be applied in the same way.

The present approach allows even to use a folder on Logical Drive of Extended Partition as Vista Install Source, so that Copy to USB-stick is not needed (case of local computer).
In this respect Vista is behaving more friendly than XP where the XP Setup Source must be on first partition.

There is NO BIOS Change of Settings needed, you just boot all the time as normal from your Internal Harddisk.
Procedure can be used when BIOS does NOT support booting from USB.

When you cannot boot from your Harddisk e.g. in the case of brand new empty harddisk, then you can boot once from USB-stick (or CD/DVD) with Windows PE 2.0 and use the same method as described above.

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[was_jaclaz]

That means we can also simply copy the Windows PE 2.0 ISO folder Content to the Harddisk Bootdrive C:\
and use GRUB4DOS by chainloading bootmgr using menu.lst Entry as:

Yep.

But I wanted you to find out by yourself.

Nonetheless, direct ISO booting is nice, and transition from .iso burned to CD, or CD to USB stick is immediate.

I find it a more elegant solution

jaclaz

[wimb]

I find it a more elegant solution

Copy of the ISO file to harddisk is more Boot Error sensitive
e.g. when the ISO copy is not contiguous ....

Copy of Windows PE 2.0 CD or USB Content to Harddisk is Direct,
no need to make an ISO file ....

Anyway it is nice to have fast booting with Windows PE 2.0 available

[was_jaclaz]

Copy of the ISO file to harddisk is more Boot Error sensitive
e.g. when the ISO copy is not contiguous ....

...but of course having contiguous files is anyway a "good practice", and it's recommended always.
Besides, it wil give error 60, which can be solved by using contig or wincontig :
http://diddy.boot-la...s/files/map.htm

BTW, and just for the record, a winbuilder .script for wincontig has just been published:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=7160

Copy of Windows PE 2.0 CD or USB Content to Harddisk is Direct,
no need to make an ISO file ....

Yep, but on the other hand, if you already have a .iso you don't need to extract files from it.

And it would be MUCH easier if you have SEVERAL .iso's....

Or are you going to start anew the "renaming" game...

I would say, in this case, let's offer choices, and let user choose which one he likes best.



jaclaz

[wimb]

I would say, in this case, let's offer choices, and let user choose which one he likes best.

That is always the best test and it is good to have free choice.

I like ISO's too for making directories less complicated.

Copying contiguous ISO to NTFS formatted USB-stick
easily results in a non-contiguous ISO,
because of the Sectors with the MFT table in the middle of the drive.
This occurs especially for large ISO's like VistaPE ISO.

Thanks for the link on WinContig Script

[wimb]

The empty ISO folder...? The location of oscdimg in the installed WAIK directories changed after WAIK V.1.0, so I had to update the project from pe2 to pe21 for WAIK v.1.1;

Thanks allanf

After Updating my WAIK to version 1.1 everything worked fine.

Then I have installed pe21.iso as boot option on Harddisk.
It boots very fast in about 40 seconds with a very nice and comfortable GUI interface.
Then I used FreeCommander to launch Vista Setup.exe from USB-stick and could Format the Bootdrive and Install Vista from USB-stick in about 18 min, where I disconnected the USB-stick precisely at the First Reboot (just at the BIOS Beep when the screen is black).

Disconnecting too early e.g. when the 10 seconds are running results in Error and you need to Launch Vista Setup again.
Keeping the USB-stick connected results in 10 min extra Install time, where Vista Setup is all the time verifying on USB-stick (USB-stick flashlight).

Everything is fine now and in my opinion your version of Windows PE 2.0 with GUI interface is most suitable for my purpose of Fast Booting in 40 seconds with Windows PE from RAMDISK and then Launching Vista or Windows 7 Setup.exe from USB-stick and then format the Harddisk Boot Partition and Proceed with Install of Vista or Windows 7 from USB-stick.

I have tested also VistaPE ISO for this purpose.
Vista PE launched from Harddisk and Booting from RAMDISK and proceed with Launching Vista Setup from USB is possible.
But booting with VistaPE is NOT so fast and it will take several minutes.

[allanf]

Thanks allanf

After Updating my WAIK to version 1.1 everything worked fine.

My pleasure, wimb ... ...

That is good news. I plan to make it lighter and faster... one day!

Regards

[Christian]

@Christian
After booting with Windows PE 2.0 you end with the command console on drive X: of Windows PE 2.0
At that stage you have to change the directory to the USB-stick Drive and with cd WIN7 to e.g. the WIN7 folder on the stick. Then Enter Setup.exe of Windows 7.
It might be convenient to have U_XP_SET available to find out what is the drive letter of your USB-stick, so that you know how to change directory.
You can in Windows 2.0 use U_XP_SET\PStart.exe e.g. located on known Harddisk Drive, and then use FileBrowser of Edit > AddFile ... Menu or NOTEPAD.EXE to Browse for existing drives and find your USB-stick DriveLetter. For this purpose you may Add NOTEPAD from C:\WINDOWS to your Local HD U_XP_SET\Progs folder.
EDIT:
Convenient is to use ListDosDevices_To_Notepad.cmd of Uwe Sieber from U_XP_SET\USB_XP_Setup\makebt\listdosdevices folder, which you can Add to PStart Menu.
This option works in Windows PE 2.0 environment,
whereas ddlistW.cmd would NOT work in this case.

Thanks Wimb! I'd given up on having both Vista & Win7 on the same drive but I'll give it another shot after reading all these posts. Thanks for the tip on removing the drive to speed up the install

[allanf]

...

I would say, in this case, let's offer choices, and let user choose which one he likes best.

Today I obtained a copy of Win7 beta from an MS Partner. Now reading through the information and this time trying to understand.

My current setup: one c: drive, one usb hard-drive, one usb flash drive containing Win7Beta.iso and the Key txt file; dual-booting from bootmgr - XP and WinPE (boot.wim) from the same partition.

The bcd, as seen from WinPE 2.1:

Notes: One description says 'Windows PE 3.0', which was the initial reason for setting it up. But it is, this time, Windows PE 2.1 (pe21 Project)... I swap the c:\sources\boot.wim around quite frequently. And, AFAIK, all the 'Resume from Hibernate' entries were created the first time I booted Windows PE 3.0.

I may only get one crack at doing this properly - so looking for advice.

I believe I can boot to WinPE 2.1 and use DISKPART to shrink the c:\ drive (or USB Hard-drive - is 80GB enough?) and create a new partition for Win7 beta. The next step would be to configure the quickest, easiest way to switch between my main OS, XP and the experimental OS, Win7 beta.

As I write, I recall that there may be a thread related to booting Win7 from a Virtual Hard Drive. That may be the best option to try out first.

Otherwise, what are the real-hard-drive choices on offer?

Thanks

[sasch]

heelo.
please, where i can find soft which can: make boot flash on Win7 and can setup win 7 from usb.
thank.

[maanu]

heelo.
please, where i can find soft which can: make boot flash on Win7 and can setup win 7 from usb.
thank.

can you rephrase your question please ?

what i could understand is , you want to make your usb bootable and then install windows 7 from your usb drive ?

[patsch]

a tool like this?
http://store.microso...m/Help/ISO-Tool

[sasch]

what i could understand is , you want to make your usb bootable

yes

and then install windows 7 from your usb drive ?

if necessary.

The most important thing is to make a bootable usb win 7.