1007 replies to this topic

[wimb]

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*** IMG_XP package ***

Make XP and Win7 Universal Image files booting with Grub4dos Menu on HDD or USB

Download - IMG_XP

In Win7 OS Set User Account Control Off and Reboot

First Prepare XP Setup ISO file with integrated UpdatePack and DriverPacks as described below in section 2.
and Copy XP Setup ISO file to the Target boot drive of your computer.


1. VHD_XP_Create.exe - Make VHD file and Install XP in VHD by using Grub4dos Boot Menu on HDD



0. Run IMG_XP.exe and Extract to simple path on your Local Harddisk - gives folder IMG_XP
1. Use IMX_XPmakebtimdiskinst.exe to Install ImDisk driver (if not present)
- Imdisk is used by USB_XP_Fix.exe to mount VHD and HDD Image files in a virtual drive
2. Run VHD_XP_Create.exe to create XP-1.vhd and Grub4dos Boot Menu for Install of XP in VHD
- Select Local Harddisk as Target drive and select XP Setup ISO file located in root of Target Drive
3. Reboot and in Grub4dos menu select Start XP Setup on XP-1.vhd - WinVBlock driver
- XP-1.vhd has already NTFS compressed format, so you should NOT format at Setup, just keep settings
- Format XP-1.img inside XP Setup cannot be used, it results in corrupt message
4. After Reboot select Continue XP Setup and then Reboot to Start XP from Image XP-1.vhd
5. Reduce size and improve settings as usual and Install missing Drivers and Install Standard Controllers for IDE and USB
- Reduce size to get rid of pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys via:
- right click My Computer > select Properties > Advanced > Change Virtual memory > select No pagefile and Set
- right click on Desktop > Screen Protection > Energy > Uncheck Sleep settings to get rid of hiberfil.sys
- Set System Restore and Windows Update Off and delete 350 MB of dllcache folder via cmd SFC /purgecache (or Run PURGE_DLLCACHE.BAT)
- In Device Manager instead of Hardware specific Controllers you must Install Standard Controllers for IDE and USB
- For Universal XP don't Install the Video driver. You can Uninstall the Video driver so that you still have high resolution on any hardware.
- Set Screen Resolution to 1024 x 768 useful on all monitors (right click on Desktop)
6. USBoot DriveGuard driver is probably unneeded to prevent BSOD 7B since recent USB_XP_Fix.exe will Fix XP and Install waitbt.sys driver.
Skip this step Or Install USBoot DriveGuard driver ubdrvgd.sys to prevent BSOD 7B in booting from USB
- Download USBoot from http://usboot.org/tiki-index.php
- Extract the package, right click on ubdrvgd.inf, click on Install
- the XP boot message - DriveGuard Initialization failed - has No effect, the driver works OK
- More Info http://reboot.pro/98...800#entry160006
- DriveGuard driver ubdrvgd.sys is installed as LowerFilters between the main driver and the hardware
7. Connect USB-HDD where you want to use XP Image, so that USB-HDD settings are known in XP registry, and Reboot
8. Reboot with other OS and copy XP-1.vhd to bootable USB-drive and create entry in Grub4dos menu.lst
- BOOT_USB.exe can be used to make USB-drive bootable with Grub4dos Menu - http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=24424
- BOOT_IMG.exe can be used to make Grub4dos Boot Menu on existing bootable drives
9. Run USB_XP_Fix.exe and Select your XP-1.vhd file on USB-drive and click GO
10. Reboot from USB on the same computer and Select Boot XP Image - XP-1.vhd - WinVBlock FILEDISK
11. Reboot from USB on other computers and Select Boot XP Image - XP-1.vhd - WinVBlock FILEDISK - to make Universal

When booting on other unknown machine, then XP will auto adjust itself in about 3 min and install the required drivers.
In this learning process, the registry gets extra info on how to boot on that machine and will use it next time and so XP becomes Universal.
This process requires that you have the WINDOWSDriverPacks folder of 135 MB available with Chipset + Processor + MassStorage + LAN drivers
and that DevicePath in the registry was properly set by the Keep The Drivers Option KTD (see below and in Picture).

If you have Installed XP on AMD machine and then boot XP Image file first time on Intel machine,
then intelppm Service will have Start=1 value, which will give BSOD 7 E when booting on AMD machine.
This problem can be overcome by running the intelppm_Start3.reg registry tweak from POST_FIX folder.
In that case intelppm Service will get Start=3 and everything will be OK all the time for AMD and Intel.

Thanks to Sha0 for making WinVBlock driver - http://reboot.pro/8168/
Thanks to cdob for making usb_xp_init.cmd - http://www.911cd.net...o...22473&st=37
Thanks to sara - pmedia for her tutorial - http://reboot.pro/13731/

More Info on direct Install of XP by using grub4dos menu and WinVBlock or FiraDisk driver:
cdob - Install XP from a ISO file No RAM disk - http://www.msfn.org/...rom-a-iso-file/
Doodoo - http://reboot.pro/13...385#entry122385
sara - pnedia - http://reboot.pro/13731/
wimb - http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=23553
karyonix - http://reboot.pro/88...737#entry121737
karyonix - http://reboot.pro/13967/

In case of a hidden boot partition containing Boot folder and file bootmgr of Windows 7,
then Grub4dos Boot menu for Install of XP in VHD cannot be made by this means.
However, in most other cases the Grub4dos boot menu is created,
e.g. on partition booting with XP or on partition booting direct with Windows 7 OS or on partition booting simply with Grub4dos.

After Install of XP then you need to fix XP-1.vhd for booting from USB-drive by using USB_XP_Fix.exe
The fix will prevent BSOD 7B and will help to allow the XP VHD to boot on various hardware and so become Universal.



menu.lst on USB drive

title XP-2.vhd - WinVBlock FILEDISK - 2000 MB
# Sector-mapped disk
map /XP-2.vhd (hd0)
map --hook
root (hd0,0)
chainloader /ntldr

title XP-2.vhd - WinVBlock RAMDISK - 2000 MB
# Sector-mapped disk
map --mem /XP-2.vhd (hd0)
map --hook
root (hd0,0)
chainloader /ntldr

 

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Wait4UFD driver Enables Direct Install of XP in VHD on USB

Advantage of Direct Install of XP is that one does not need to make changes in the booting of the local harddisk,

where changes might be unwanted or difficult as in the case of a hidden Boot Manager partition e.g. Windows 7

 

First XP Setup ISO file was prepared as described in Section 2 here

http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=23553

DPsBase.exe was used to Integrate DriverPacks Chipset + Processor + MassStorage + LAN + WLAN

(settings Disc - Method 2 - GuiRunOnce - Enable KTD for the DriverPacks I will Select C+P+M+L)

 

http://reboot.pro/to...it/#entry167235

 

1. IntegrateDrv was used to integrate Wait4UFD driver in the XP Setup Source directory containing folder i386

2. ImgBurn was used to make new XP Setup ISO file, that was copied to NTFS formatted active partition of USB-harddisk

3. VHD_XP_Create.exe was used to make 2 GB NTFS VHD on USB and to make Grub4dos Menu for WinVBlock driver

4. Boot with Grub4dos Menu from USB and Install XP in VHD using Start TXT-mode / Continue GUI-mode / Boot Windows XP VHD

5. After Install of XP then Run USB_XP_Fix.exe and Select your XP-1.vhd file on USB-drive and click GO

to make XP Universal for booting from USB connected to any computer.

 

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2. How to prepare XP Setup Source ? - Prepare XP Setup ISO file with integrated UpdatePack and DriverPacks

Take care that your XPSOURCE Folder is located on your Harddisk in a simple Path without SPACES.
Copy the Content of your Windows XP Setup CD to your XPSOURCE Folder on Harddisk

First Integrate ServicePack SP3 in your XP-SP2 Source (don't use here nLite).
http://www.helpwithw...ice_Pack_3.html
Download from - http://www.microsoft...i...ng=en&id=24

In Command Window use for English version and XPSOURCE folder on drive E:

 

WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe /integrate:E:\XPSOURCE

Siginet's RyanVM Integrator 1.6 can then be used to Integrate Windows UpdatePacks in the XP-Source.
http://integrator.si...ex.php?download
Download preferred version RVM Integrator 1.6.1 Beta 2.1 - http://www.mediafire.com/?ynajonymmnz

Windows XP UpdatePacks and Addons:
http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/
http://www.ryanvm.ne...tepack-sp3.html
http://integrator.si...ndex.php?addons
http://www.ryanvm.net/forum/

Work according to Section 2 in - http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=21883

For Install of XP on a modern system with SATA Drives it is needed to use DPsBase.exe
for Integrating in your XPSOURCE DriverPack Massstorage with TXT Mode Enabled.
http://driverpacks.net/downloads
In that case a lot of Extra RAID SCSI and SATA Drivers (about 120 extra) are Integrated which appear in the
XP Setup BootFolder $WIN_NT$.~BT on Install-Drive and can prevent a lot of XP Install Boot Problems.
Use DPsBase.exe to Integrate DriverPacks Chipset + Processor + MassStorage + LAN + WLAN DriverPacks
which will then be located in OEM Folder in your XPSOURCE folder
Always first use RyanVM Integrator and then use DPsBase to Improve your XP-Source
DPsBase makes presetup.cmd in folder I386 and changes the I386winnt.sif file for use of DriverPacks

presetup.cmd in folder I386 will start decompression of DriverPacks located in OEM folder
at the beginning of GUI-mode of XP Setup, which does NOT take to much time for the 5 DriverPacks

You should select to Keep The Drivers for Chipset + Processor + MassStorage + LAN
Then WINDOWSDriverPacks is about 135 MB which is acceptable and provides a lot of extra driver support
which is useful to make XP Universal and adapt easily to very different hardware.
In that case the DevicePath is set accordingly in key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
so that XP can automatically make use of these drivers for adjusting to New Hardware

When you don't use nLite, you can copy the supplied $OEM$ folder to your XP Source folder
Change $OEM$ folder to your needs for UserAccounts and Registry Tweaks and Adding Drivers
CMDLINES.TXT is used for making UserAccounts and install of Registry Tweaks at T-12
Info see: http://unattended.ms.../unattended.xp/

Use DriverForge.v4.5.4.exe to Install from C:Drivers at T-9 of GUI XP Setup (just for the last Reboot).
DriverForge.v4.5.4.exe was made by kickarse http://www.msfn.org/...howtopic=110783
At end of TXT-mode XP Setup the folder $OEM$$1Drivers is copied to C:Drivers
and $OEM$$1InstallDriverForge.v4.5.4.exe is copied to C:Install
For Auto Use of DriverForge at T-9 add uncompressed driver folders in $OEM$$1Drivers
and Uncomment two rules by removing ; in winnt.sif file copied from winnt_sif to your I386 folder
This is very useful for Install of your well known Audio and Video driver during GUI-mode of XP Setup.

 

[SetupParams]
UserExecute = "%SystemDrive%\INSTALL\SetupPar.cmd"

PnP Drivers specified in winnt.sif can be added to $OEM$$1Drivers
http://unattended.ms...xp/view/web/34/
TEXTMODE Drivers defined in winnt.sif and located in $OEM$TEXTMODE folder of the XP Source
can be used instead of using F6 floppy for MassStorage Drivers.
The content of the $OEM$TEXTMODE folder is copied to XP Setup BootFolder $WIN_NT$.~BT$OEM$
See cdob and allanf in http://www.boot-land...?...5306&st=180

Smart Driver Backup 2.12 of Jaque is very useful to Backup your drivers before install of XP
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=20555

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How to make XP Setup ISO File ?

- Use BBIE (see below) or Isobuster to Extract Boot Image bootsect.bin from Original bootable XP Setup CD
bbie will make image1.bin that you can copy as bootsect.bin to XP Setup source folder
- Reduce Size of XP Setup Source folder (if needed to fit on CD then remove folders LANG WIN9XMIG WIN9XUPG)
- Use ImgBurn and bootsect.bin to make Bootable CD

In detail:
1. Remove 3 folders LANG WIN9XMIG WIN9XUPG - reduction in size = 135 MB
2. Run ImgBurn - Portable Tool in PStart Menu - IMG_XPMULTIPStartProgsImgBurn
- Select Write files/folders to disc
- Output - Select Image File
- Browse Source folder and Select your XP Setup Source folder
- Browse Destination file - Give Name e.g. XP-Setup.iso
- Labels ISO 9660 - Give Name e.g. XP-Setup
- Advanced Restrictions - ISO9660 - Select Level X and DOS CharSet with 4x Checkbox On (allow ...)
- Bootable Disc - Make Image bootable - Checkbox On - Browse Boot Image - Select bootsect.bin file
- Bootable Disc - Emulation Type = None
Load Segment = 07C0
Sectors to Load = 4

BOOT_USBmakebt>bbie M:XP3_1201.iso
BBIE - Bart's Boot Image Extractor v1.0, © 2001, Bart Lagerweij
http://www.nu2.nu
will make BOOT_USBmakebtimage1.bin that you can rename as bootsect.bin

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POST_FIX Tools - Readme

You can use DriverForge.v4.5.4.exe to Install any missing driver (e.g. video audio or WLAN)
by selecting Path to Uncompressed Driver Files e.g. S:D
In that case DevicePath in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
is set to what DriverForge needs.
It means that any previous settings are lost e.g. for making use of the KTP C:WINDOWSDriverPacks store.
If you have selected in DPsBase.exe to Keep The Drivers by using KTP Option,
then after using DriverForge you need to run DevicePath_Reset_KTP.reg to Reset DevicePath to the KTD settings.

If you have Installed XP on AMD machine and then boot XP Image file on Intel machine,
then intelppm Service will have Start=1 value, which will give BSOD 7 E when booting on AMD machine.
This problem can be overcome by running the intelppm_Start3.reg registry tweak.
In that case intelppm Service will get Start=3 and everything will be OK for AMD and Intel.

Post Install Add DriverPacks:
1. Boot with Universal XP Image file
2. Extract 3 DriverPacks to C: e.g. Chipset + CPU + MassStorage - will give C:D folder
3. Use R-mouse to Open command prompt at C:POST_FIX and run command

 

DevPath.exe %SystemDrive%\D

DevicePath in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
is set to subfolders of C:D

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Portable Windows HD Image files booting from USB

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The Apps IMG_XP_Compact.exe and VHD_W7_Compact.exe of IMG_XP package
can be used to make Portable Windows HD Image files booting with Grub4dos Menu on HDD or USB

These Virtual Harddisk files are of type IMG or VHD and require WinVBlock or FiraDisk driver to boot them as FILEDISK or as RAMDISK
The Ultimate Windows 7 VHD files make use of Microsoft VHD HBA driver which allows to boot them as FILEDISK
Additinally Installed Programs and Drivers and Settings are remembered in FILEDISK just like in normal Windows OS

Source can be drive where Windows is installed or full XP Image file Or Windows 7 VHD file
In case of using existing Installed XP as source, it is handy to first create a NEW user in XP,
so that this NEW user folder is small in size e.g. only contains very few Documents and Pictures.

Also Install either WinVBlock or FiraDisk driver:
- Install WinVBlock driver see - IMG_XPHelp_InfoWinVBlock_Install.txt
- Install FiraDisk driver with R-mouse on firadisk.inf in IMG_XPmakebtfiradisk-driver- folder

Reduce size and connect USB-harddisk as described in point 5 and 6 given above
to get rid of pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys and to get USB-HDD settings are known in XP registry

After booting with other OS e.g. Portable 7 PE, then you can run IMG_XP_Compact.exe and Select the NEW user
to make XP Image file that can boot from grub4dos menu on HDD or USB

Mini XP = OS Size 400 MB - including IE8 + WLAN + Audio + Printer + 7-Zip + ImDisk and all installed drivers
Port XP = OS Size 600 MB - extra system32 complete + Windows Media Player - Multimedia support

In case of Mini XP then external VLC portable player can be used for MultiMedia support

Advised size of XP Image file is 1.0 GB and for Windows 7 VHD file is 1.6 GB

 IMG_XP_Compact.png   24.35K   144 downloads ==  VHD_W7_Compact.png   34.35K   154 downloads

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Boot Win7 VHD Image file from USB

- Direct Install Windows 7 in a VHD file on local harddisk created by WinNTSetup2_x86.exe with Ctrl + Shift + V
- Copy Win7 VHD file to USB and use USB_W7_Fix.exe to fix for booting from USB-drive
- Make Boot Manager menu on USB for Win7 VHD Image file

Thanks to JFX for creating the very handy WinNTSetup2 tool to Install Windows 2k/XP/2003/Vista/7 x86/x64

Info in folder IMG_XPWinNTSetup2_x86_x64 and here http://www.msfn.org/...-winntsetup-v2/


WARNING: Boot menu of your computer and your USB-drive will change needed for booting with Win7 VHD file.
WinNTSetup2_x86.exe will create or change Boot Manager menu (folder Boot and file bootmgr)


Details of Procedure to create Win7 VHD file for booting from USB-drive
1. Boot with Windows 7 or 7PE
2. Use R-mouse menu to Mount Windows 7 Setup ISO file in ImDisk virtual drive (if needed first Install imdiskinst.exe)
3. Run WinNTSetup2_x86.exe and use Ctrl + Shift + V to create Win7 VHD file on local Harddisk (or use Disk Management)
4. In WinNTSetup2_x86.exe adjust Windows 7 Tweaks and Select install.wim and Bootdrive and your attached Win7 VHD
Select all System-Only Tweaks except Turn OFF USB and select other tweaks that you like
Select Checkbox to Mount Installation drive as C:
5. Use Setup to prepare Win7 VHD file and Boot drive menu and Reboot to Start Install of Windows 7
6. Reboot 2x with Win7 VHD to finish Install of Windows 7 in VHD
7. Check that System Protection and UserAccount Control are set Off and Reduce Size
If needed e.g. Change settings to get rid of pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys
No pagefile.sys - Run as Administrator in cmd window: sysdm.cpl
and Change Advanced Performance Virtual memory Settings - Set to use No paging file
No hiberfil.sys - Run as Administrator in cmd window: powercfg.exe -H off
- Install Missing Drivers and Install Standard Controllers for IDE and USB and VGA
- In Device Manager instead of Hardware specific Controllers you must Install Standard Controllers for IDE and USB and Install Standard VGA Adapter
Install anything you need like ImDisk and 7Zip and connect your USB-harddisk to Update registry
Use Computer Properties and Set System Protection for Win7 VHD drive Off and Reboot Win7 VHD
8. Reboot with Windows 7 or 7 PE
9. Copy Win7 VHD to bootable USB-drive and use Disk Management to Attach Win 7 VHD located on USB
10. Open cmd prompt and create Boot Manager menu on USB-drive by running

 

bcdboot N:\Windows /s P:

where N: is your attached Win7 VHD and P: is your USB-drive

11. In Disk Management Detach Win7 VHD
12. If your USB-drive was NOT formatted in Windows 7 OS, then you need to fix the Bootsector of USB-drive P: with

 

bootsect.exe /nt60 P: /force

13. Run USB_W7_Fix.exe of IMG_XP package to fix the registry of Win7 VHD file on USB
14. Reboot with Win7 VHD from USB

Instead of points 9-13 you can make use of VHD_W7_Compact.exe to make Portable Windows 7 VHD file of 2 GB booting from USB-harddisk.

Procedure for booting with 1.6 GB Portable Windows 7 VHD file on USB-harddisk
Step 1. - Direct Install Windows 7 in a 10 GB VHD file on local harddisk and created by WinNTSetup2_x86.exe with Ctrl + Shift + V
Step 2. - Run VHD_W7_Compact.exe to Copy Win7 VHD content in 10 min to New VHD file of Reduced Size on USB-harddisk
Step 3. - Reboot with 1.6 GB Win7 VHD file from USB

On Running VHD_W7_Compact.exe you need to Select your User Folder in folder Users of the Win7 VHD Source file
The program takes care of Attach and Detach of VHD files by using diskpart.exe of your Windows 7 or 7 PE Operating System.

The program is suitable for 32-bits Windows 7 and was tested with en-US Ultimate version,
but may work with other distributions as well.


VHD_W7_Compact.exe - makes 2.0 GB Win7 VHD file for booting from USB-harddisk

=




================================================================================

 

More Info see http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=23553

4. Universal Image Compact and Restore - Details
 

5. Solutions to prevent BSOD 7B - Run USB_XP_Fix.exe

 

6. Universal XP - Support in boot.ini menu for Multiple Hal and Kernel
 

================================================================================

Summary

Universal XP is reality now:

- The same VHD Image File made with VHD_XP_Create.exe can be used for booting XP
from FILEDISK on HDD or USB or from RAMDISK, on computers having quite different Hardware architecture.

- IMG_XP_Restore.exe can be used to Install on HDD partition in 3 min XP including Office + PRGS + Updates
using 1.6 GB Universal XP HDD Image as source.

- BOOT_IMG copies Universal VHD Image File to Target Drive and makes GRUB4DOS Boot Menu.
Use this e.g. on a laptop running Vista or Windows 7 to make a boot option in BOOTMGR menu for Grub4dos.
Without the need to make new partition for XP, one can now simply use BOOT_IMG.exe
to install 1.6 GB Universal XP Image file booting in 1 min from WinVBlock or FiraDisk RAMDISK.

- IMG_XP_Update.exe is used after booting with XP Image file from RAMDISK, to Update the Image file that you just booted from.
Boot with full XP Image file in RAMDISK and Update Drivers using DriverForge with Drivers folder that you supply.
Then run IMG_XP_Update.exe to improve full XP Image file in 1 minute with drivers for New Hardware.

- Most computers nowadays are ACPI Multiprocessor PC and we can use the corresponding HAL.
If you need for XP to support computers using a different HAL then you can use Add Hal and Kernel files and
let modify by IMG_XP programs your boot.ini as described in Section 6.
http://www.vernalex....sprep/hal.shtml
http://www.etherboot...t_winnt_sanboot

- IMG_XP_Compact.exe and IMG_XP_Restore.exe have been tested running in 32-bits XP and Windows 7
and can also be used from LiveXP PE Environment.
In all cases ImDisk must be installed in XP or Win7 by using previously the provided imdiskinst.exe file.
ImDisk is used to mount the full XP HDD Image file in a virtual drive.

To Install ImDisk driver on Vista and Windows 7 you need to turn off UAC, User Account Control
http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html

The 64-bit ImDisk driver files included in the install package will not load on 64-bit Vista or 64-bit Windows 7
unless the machine is running with testsigning switched on.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

 

bcdedit /set testsigning on

Reboot to activate this.
http://msdn.microsof...y/dd419910.aspx

Thanks to karyonix, more Info see:
FiraDisk - http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=8804
Install FiraDisk driver in XP with R-mouse on firadisk.inf in IMG_XPmakebtfiradisk-driver- folder
Forum FiraDisk - http://www.boot-land...hp?showforum=94
Windows 7 - http://www.boot-land...hp?showforum=77
Windows 7 on USB-HDD - http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=9196

Thanks to jaclaz for pointing me to strarc.exe of Olof Lagerkvist ,
which is used in IMG_XP_Update.exe to Update the XP Image File on HDD after booting from RAMDISK.
Updating Registry and Drivers in Image file is done in only 5 sec, a Total Update of the Image requires 1 min.



Development and historical thread here:
Thanks to joakim for starting the subject
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=9227

[Lancelot]

Thanks a looooooot wimb

[Ariom]

Waaaa.. I'll try this!
Hope it works....

THANKS Wimb

Ariom

[Galapo]

Just a suggestion: you may also need to set AMDk7 and agp440 services to either 3 or 4 as well.

Regards,
Galapo.

[wimb]

Just a suggestion: you may also need to set AMDk7 and agp440 services to either 3 or 4 as well.

You mean this is necessary to make XP Image Universal,
or did you find this to be important to prevent BSOD 7B in booting from USB-HDD ?

Until now I did not have troubles with AMDK8 settings on Intel machines,
and for AGP I think Suppressing New Hardware found Wizard has helped to overcome boot problems.

Can you give more details on what issues we can encounter regarding those Services.

Thanks for your reply.

[Galapo]

The suggestion primarily arose out of my background with coding OfflineSysPrep. I had added the option of disabling the Intelppm service, but at the request of users added these other two as well. Booting on Intel hardware with amd processor service running can cause bsod in some cases. As for agp440, it's too long ago and I can't remember the details.

Regards,
Galapo.

[oriensol]

Hi Wimb,

Thanks for the great tool!

Perhaps the help/tutorial can be updated with the following two suggestions:

1. Install dummy.sys before imaging.
2. Inclusion of Paraglider's setpagefile commands for use with lower memory systems

Regards,
oriensol

[wimb]

PROGRAM UPDATE - IMG_XP.exe Package

In IMG_XP_Restore.exe the Source can be now a Drive (select your Windows folder) or the Source can be a HDD Image File.
This allows to direct Restore Windows on your USB-HDD drive,
without the need to make intermediate HDD Image file.

For booting XP from USB on different systems it is needed to first Create a FiraDisk RAMBOOT Image File and boot from RAMDISK,
which was found for XP to be made quite easily Universal for BIOS with AHCI and IDE SATA controller setting.
Then the Universal XP HDD Image file is installed on USB-HDD by using IMG_XP_Restore.exe

Booting Windows 7 from USB-HDD on different machines needs additional msahci tweak to make it really Universal for BIOS with AHCI and IDE SATA controller setting.

To enable booting with Windows 7 from USB-HDD on a computer with BIOS SATA = AHCI controller setting,
it will be important to add to IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks\HKLM_systemdst_iaStor.reg
the following tweak for the msahci service:

 

http://support.micro...kb/922976/en-us
After Install of Windows 7 on system with BIOS SATA = IDE Controller, then the msahci Service has Start = 3.
Subsequent booting from USB-HD with msahci Start=3 on system with BIOS SATA = AHCI controller results in BSOD 7B.

User can add extra registry tweaks to HKLM_systemdst_Add.reg or HKLM_softwaredst_Add.reg in IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks folder,
which will be added in Restore to the WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM and the SOFTWARE registry files on Target drive.

FiraDisk driver is Updated to version 0.0.1.16


@oriensol
Thanks for your reply.
I will add your suggestions to the help/tutorial.

[wimb]

PROGRAM UPDATE - IMG_XP.exe Package

IMG_XP_Restore.exe

The msahci tweak has been added to HKLM_systemdst_iaStor.reg used by Add iaStor - AHCI CheckBox.
This is needed in Restore of Windows 7 for support of BIOS with SATA = AHCI controller setting.

Restore on FAT32 drive is now available using regular FileCopy.
In the previous version strarc.exe failed for restore from NTFS compressed Image File to FAT32 Target Drive.

Thanks to oriensol for making me aware of the problem with FAT32 format.

[wimb]

PROGRAM UPDATE - IMG_XP.exe Package

All programs of IMG_XP.exe package were updated for support of 64-bit versions of XP and Windows 7
Thanks to Olof Lagerkvist for making 64-bit version strarc64.exe

Install of Windows 7 on USB-HDD was realized as follows:

• Install Windows 7 as usual on local harddisk and Reduce Size (see Tutorial = post #1 of this thread)
  
• Connect USB-HDD on which you plan to Install Windows 7, so that USB-HDD settings are known in Windows 7 registry.
  Wait until all USB-HDD partitions are visible as drives in Windows Explorer
  
• Reboot with Windows 7 and USB-HDD connected to Update the registry
  
• Reboot with other OS e.g XP or PE, in anyway so that Windows 7 is not running
  
• IMG_XP_Restore.exe can then be used to direct Restore in about 30 min Windows 7 on your USB-HDD
  
• Reboot from USB-HDD with Windows 7 and wait about 3 min to let drivers for new hardware found to be installed

IMG_XP_Restore.exe takes care of everything and creates Universal Windows 7 booting from USB-HDD

For making the USB-HDD BOOTMGR menu in BCD it is essential that Windows 7 is (as usual) the default option.

[was_jaclaz]

• Install Windows 7 as usual on harddisk and Reduce Size (see Tutorial)

Which one?

jaclaz

[wimb]

Which one?

My post #1 of this thread will be updated to be the Tutorial

http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=9830

[was_jaclaz]

My post #1 of this thread will be updated to be the Tutorial

Good , we are unknowingly living in the future!

The Future Is Now.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189539/




jaclaz

[davlak]

really a BIG tool!
I'll try the new version as soon, thanks

[wimb]

PROGRAM UPDATE - IMG_XP.exe Package

BOOT_IMG allows to Install on TargetDrive a Universal HDD Image File loaded by GRUB4DOS into FiraDisk RAMDISK.
Use this e.g. on a laptop running Vista or Windows 7 to make a boot option in BOOTMGR menu for Windows XP.
Without the need to make new partition for XP,
one can now simply use BOOT_IMG.exe to install 1.4 GB Universal XP Image file booting in 1 min from FiraDisk RAMDISK.



The Add Driver option is now available in Creating and in Restore of Universal Image files of XP and Windows 7

Besides the already existing option to Add iaStor Driver, there is now additional possibility to add other drivers
by dropping them previously in the corresponding IMG_XP\makebt\drivers folder.

================================================================================

To Install ImDisk driver on Vista and Windows 7 you need to turn off UAC, User Account Control

http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html

The 64-bit ImDisk driver files included in the install package will not load on 64-bit Vista or 64-bit Windows 7
unless the machine is running with testsigning switched on.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

bcdedit /set testsigning on

Reboot to activate this.

http://msdn.microsof...y/dd419910.aspx

[wimb]

PROGRAM UPDATE - IMG_XP.exe Package

Universal XP - Support in boot.ini menu for Multiple Hal and Kernel

The boot.ini menu of XP can be used to select on the fly which hal and kernel file will be used for booting.
In this way one can support booting with the same Universal Image file on computers having quite different hardware.

http://www.vernalex....sprep/hal.shtml
http://www.etherboot...t_winnt_sanboot

The method described above is improved and used in IMG_XP_Create.exe and IMG_XP_Restore.exe

Default XP boots by boot.ini entry LAST CONFIG with the files hal.dll and ntoskrnl.exe and ntkrnlpa.exe
The boot.ini switches /hal and /kernel will copy the in boot.ini named switchfiles and on the fly overwrite hal.dll and ntoskrnl.exe
At the same time the kernel name (max=6 letters) plus pa .exe file is used to overwrite ntkrnlpa.exe

A set of 7 hal files and 4 kernel files in folder halkern is generated from the XP Setup Source provided by user.
The hal and kernel files are extracted in priority from sp3.cab or sp2.cab or driver.cab (used by RVM Integrator) e.g. as

 

D:\XPSOURCE\I386>expand driver.cab -f:hal*.dll D:\IMG_XP\makebt\halkern\
D:\XPSOURCE\I386>expand driver.cab -f:nt*.exe D:\IMG_XP\makebt\halkern\

 

In folder halkern we rename:

D:\IMG_XP\makebt\halkern>ren hal.dll halstan.dll
D:\IMG_XP\makebt\halkern>ren ntoskrnl.exe ntkrup.exe
D:\IMG_XP\makebt\halkern>ren ntkrnlpa.exe ntkruppa.exe

D:\IMG_XP\makebt\halkern>ren ntkrnlmp.exe ntkrmp.exe
D:\IMG_XP\makebt\halkern>ren ntkrpamp.exe ntkrmppa.exe

 

In this way folder halkern contains 7 hal and 4 kernel files:

 

halmacpi.dll
halaacpi.dll
halacpi.dll
halmps.dll
halapic.dll
halstan.dll
halsp.dll

ntkrmp.exe
ntkrmppa.exe
ntkrup.exe
ntkruppa.exe

IMG_XP_Create.exe and IMG_XP_Restore.exe will copy the files of the halkern folder to Image folder WINDOWS\system32
and create a boot.ini file as given below.

Multiprocessor = MP and Uniprocessor = UP

boot.ini file with Multiple Hal and Kernel for making Universal XP

 

 

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="LAST CONFIG - XP Pro (Last Configuration)" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="MP HALMACPI - XP Pro (ACPI Multiprocessor PC) for multi-core, hyperthreading"   /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /kernel=ntkrmp.exe /hal=halmacpi.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="UP HALAACPI - XP Pro (ACPI Uniprocessor PC) for single-core, no hyperthreading" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /kernel=ntkrup.exe /hal=halaacpi.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="UP HALACPI  - XP Pro (ACPI PC) for most compatability on ACPI computers"        /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /kernel=ntkrup.exe /hal=halacpi.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="MP HALMPS   - XP Pro (MPS Multiprocessor PC) for multi-core Xeons"              /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /kernel=ntkrmp.exe /hal=halmps.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="UP HALAPIC  - XP Pro (MPS Uniprocessor PC)  for single-core Xeons"              /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /kernel=ntkrup.exe /hal=halapic.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="UP HALSTAN  - XP Pro (Standard PC) for old non-ACPI computers"                  /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /kernel=ntkrup.exe /hal=halstan.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="MP HALSP    - XP Pro (Compaq SystemPro Multiprocessor PC)"                      /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /kernel=ntkrmp.exe /hal=halsp.dll

[wimb]

Please redownload IMG_XP.exe

There was a small bug in IMG_XP_Restore.exe so that Multiple hal entries in boot.ini were missing for Restore on Partition 1

Download - IMG_XP - mirror

[agni]

Keyboard and Mouse not working!!

I did a clean install of Windows Xp Sp3 in VMware.Removed all unnecessary files and NTFS compressed the entire drive.Then I installed Firadisk and Imdisk.
Then in my host i mounted the vmdk using vmware-mount to drive m:

Then I used your IMG_XP_Create.exe to create 1.4GB img file.

I manually added the grldr and menu.lst
When I restarted my computer Windows XP loaded from the RAM image ,but my keyboard and mouse were not working.

Any ideas?

[karyonix]

USB keyboard and mouse ?
You have to install USB keyboard and mouse drivers in windows.
And add its hardware IDs or compatible IDs to CriticalDevicesDatabase.

[agni]

No
I don't use USB keyboard or mouse.
I have normal keyboard and mouse.

Does the mouse and keyboard driver in VMware work with normal mouse and keyboard?

[wimb]

No
I don't use USB keyboard or mouse.
I have normal keyboard and mouse.

Does the mouse and keyboard driver in VMware work with normal mouse and keyboard?

Recognizing and Install of New Hardware (in this case your normal keyboard and mouse) is silent and will take a few minutes.

If after a few minutes you don't have mouse control, then I would advice to connect other type of mouse and try to have a look in XP Device Management what is going on (are there still question marks visible ?).

If no solution, then you have got to install XP in the regular way on other partition or other harddisk.

EDIT: Jan 20 2010
When the VMware Virtual machine is powered off, you can use VMware > File > Map Virtual Disks ...
to mount the vmdk file as a Virtual drive in your running host OS.

Then you can use IMG_XP_Create.exe to make HDD Image file from vmdk file mounted in Virtual drive.
In this way I don't have any errors.
Booting with the XP HDD Image File from FiraDisk Ramdisk gives working mouse and keyboard for me.

But it has advantage to Install XP on a real partition and
after reboot use IMG_XP_Create.exe to make HDD Image file of the non-running XP, which can be any drive.

[agni]

Finally working.
I installed Xp on real partition and ran img_xp_create from within xp.I got a few error messages from erunt.
Everything is working fine now.

Thanks a lot wimb.

However mounting a Vmware Virtual Disk having XP ,and then using img_xp_create still gives me unresponsive mouse and keyboard.

EDIT: Jan 20 2010
When the VMware Virtual machine is powered off, you can use VMware > File > Map Virtual Disks ...
to mount the vmdk file as a Virtual drive in your running host OS.

Then you can use IMG_XP_Create.exe to make HDD Image file from vmdk file mounted in Virtual drive.
In this way I don't have any errors.
Booting with the XP HDD Image File from FiraDisk Ramdisk gives working mouse and keyboard for me.

But it has advantage to Install XP on a real partition and
after reboot use IMG_XP_Create.exe to make HDD Image file of the non-running XP, which can be any drive.

[wimb]

The ERDNT messages are well known and can be prevented by making Image of sleeping XP

http://www.boot-land...?...=9227&st=77

IMG_XP_Create.exe can also be used running from the same XP that you are going to image.
However, in that case you have to confirm 6 times that ERDNT.exe is creating the User Registry files in the Virtual drive.
No problem, ERDNT.exe just wishes to know that allthough there is no NTUSER.DAT file yet in the Virtual drive, that it is OK to create one.
But in general I would advise to create the Image from a sleeping XP, e.g. that is by booting from other OS as described above.

[jamiesykes]

This is what I did (sorry for it being so rough, but I'm kinda in a hurry)

1. I installed Win 7 Ultimate x86 on to my internal laptop hard drive [can and should work with desktop as I followed your imp_xp method to get it working as the 2nd partition on my USB HDD].

2. After installation, I proceeded to reduce the size of windows; disabled page file, hibernation, UAC, switched to classic theme.

3. When installing, make sure that your UFD is installed correctly. This is very important. To do this, we use the Hitachi Filter Driver to see the UFD as a "Fixed drive."

4. Either use usbbootfix/watcher.bat or the other various "boot helpers". I made sure that my device had (start=0) in regedit to make sure it would start.

5. I also took note of the signatures of the partitions, which is also important.

6. Restart the computer and let it stand for a few mins to make sure that all devices/drivers are recognized and installed properly, with the hitachi filter.

7. Shutdown and load into another os, preferably another installation of Windows, XP or 7 does not matter.

8. I then formatted my UFD with HP Format Utitility. Doesn't matter which type, Fat or NTFS as it will be deleted in the next step.

9. Using EASEUS Partition Master Home Edition, I shrank the Win 7 partition, deleted the partition off of the UFD, and then COPIED the partition over to the UFD.

10. Once completed, I copied over the IASTOR driver files to their respective directories.

11. I then formatted my Laptop's internal hd. This is important as if you dont, you will have two Windows installations on 2 different disks, but they will have the same disk signature. That's why I took note of it earlier on

12. I installed another os on my internal hd, but thats not necessary.

13. Use good old regedit to load the sleeping windows hive. Most importantly is the Control dir. Delete all "DosDeviceX:" [or something similar] where "X" is the drive letter.

I first tried renaming them, which will work, but its easier to just let windows map them then use disk management to rename them later. Just make sure to leave all recorded disk signatures. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF WHICH IS THE UFD.

14. Mark the partition as active, and expand it if you wish.

15. Restart and boot from your ufd. If you moved or deleted the old installation with the signature you should have no problems loading the before and after the bootmgr.

I know its scattered and all but like I said I am in a rush. I can try to help later on if you have any questions. I'm not that experienced with usb booting but I can be glad to say that I'm the only person I know to have a full windows 7 installation on my 8gb sandisk cruser =]

[supaJ]

Hi all. Good job Wimb! I tried your Universal XP method and I was able to boot a 2.9GB image to RAM. The same image was restored to USB and that also worked fine. The only issue is that the USB-HDD fails to boot off my 2 laptops. I get 0x07B immediately after the XP splash screen, around the time mup.sys is loaded. I have tried the modified NTLDR found elsewhere in this forum but I still get a blue screen. The machine on which XP was originally install is an Intel Quad Core, Q6600. The Laptops are both carrying AMD Athlon CPUs. Why am I getting a BSOD?

Here's my procedure:
1) Update XP Pro installation with Mass Storage drivers from DriverPack.net
2)Install XP on quadcore CPU and install Firadisk and ImDisk.
3) Boot into Windows 7.
4) Create and attach VHD in Windows 7 using DiskMgt.
5) Transfer XP installation files to VHD(had to do this because my HD contains several other files other than the XP installation)
6) Install ImDisk in Win 7 and Create image using IMG_XP_Create
7) Use IMG_XP_Restore.exe to Restore XP on USB-HDD