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Clone\Restore your installed XP to usb-hd


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#1 blackbalfur

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Posted 06 September 2010 - 01:45 PM

First things first, your computer must be able to boot from usb, you need an empty usb hd for this (or else it will be empty!)

You need to format the usb hd to NTFS.

This is build for XP so your installed os needs to be XP.

Lets say you want to try windows 7 but can't leave XP.

This technique will give you this change without the need for dual boot.

We all have our own backup/restore software.

Restore or Clone the XP os you are using on your comp to your usb-hd with your disered backup software.

I use HDClone 3.9 (not freeware) to clone my XP os to usb-hd (i mean while running XP!) but other freeware software can be used to backup and restore to your usb-hd.

This will take most time, depending on the size of your XP install.

Now you have an exact copy of your internal (xp) hd on your usb-hd.

To make XP work on usb-hd we have to manipulate the registry:


Run "regedit" on the running internal hd XP os with the usb-hd XP os attached to it.

Mark entry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
In file menu, click "Load Hive". Navigate to your USB-drive,
open file "Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM" (the file without extender)
(In XP PRO it´s "WINXP\System32\config\SYSTEM")

Regedit asks for a name, call it "USB-XP" or such.
Now you will have a new folder in regedit called USB-XP. Open it.

DELETE subfolder "Mounted Devices".
This will enable, when you boot your USB-drive later, drive letter "C:" for
USB-drive.

Click on folder "Select", look at REG_DWORD of "Current".
If its "(1)", open folder "ControlSet001", if its "(2)" open "ControlSet002".

Open subfolder "Control", click on "CrashControl". Set REG_DWORD "AutoReboot" to "0"
This enables BlueScreen (for diagnostics).
Close folder "Control".

Open subfolder "Services".
Find 4 or 5 subfolders starting with "usb"
In XP Home Edition i found 4: usbehci, usbhub, USBSTOR, usbuhci
In XP Pro you can also find usbccgp.

(If you find something like "usbaudio" or "usbscan", leave it alone. No editing needed)

Click on each folder and look for keys "Group" and "Start".
CHANGE all keys "Group" from "Base" to "System Reserved"
CHANGE all keys "Start" from "(3)" to "(0)"
(To change entry double-click on key, editor opens, change entry, click OK)

These new settings will enable XP to load its USB-drivers first thing
at bootup.

Now click on folder "USB-XP" and in file menu click "Unload Hive"
Your new settings will be saved now.

Close regedit.


OK, DONE. Last thing to do:

REBOOT, enter BIOS, find "Boot Priority", set USB-drive to boot first, leave BIOS saving changes.

That is it, an exact copy of your installed XP version with all it's applications running on usb hd!

Yes this even has the pagefile on it so it is selfsupporting and can run totally on its own.

This will not touch your internal hd or mbr, but there is full read/write acces to the installed internal hd os!

Great to have as a backup when the internal hd crashes, you only have to reboot your comp with this usb hd attached and you are running your own os again!

Or when you installed windows 7 to your internal HD you will have this usb-hd XP as a independed os.

No dual boot but really seperate, usable when you desire!

#2 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 06 September 2010 - 02:34 PM

Just for the record, that's what the service by marv does:
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=22473
("System Reserved" isn't the *best* choice - already disccussed here: http://www.boot-land...?...c=9693&st=0 )
and already widely used, also for 7, see the "other" stickies here:
http://www.boot-land...hp?showforum=77


Another program that may come handy is this one :D:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=9830


:D
Wonko

#3 Holmes.Sherlock

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 05:45 AM

Followed all the instructions with the following variations -

1) Used Teracopy to copy all the files instead of HDClone
2) Couldn't find USBSTOR or USBCCGP as an installed service in the image
3) Created a Physicaldisk image using hddimage, mounted it with VSS & simulated using VMware. (This musn't be a problem as I followed the same approach while experimenting with Firadisk)
4) Used Grub4DOS to chainload NTLDR

But ended up with BSOD(0x7B). Any ideas?

#4 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 02:57 PM

Followed all the instructions with the following variations -

WHY? :D

But ended up with BSOD(0x7B).

As expected.... :D

Any ideas?

At least one :D:
NEVER, and when I say NEVER I mean NEVER, introduce ANY variation of ANY kind to a given set of instructions, when you are attempting to follow a tutorial first time, unless you are positive you know ALL the consequences of EACH of the variations you introduce AND the combined effects of the set of variations you introduced. (since you still need several hours/days/weeks of experience in the specific field before understanding the consequences of each single variation and you will probably NEVER - like 99.99% of the people - be able to understand ALL the consequences of a combined effect of several variations, this equate to NEVER introduce any variation and, if you really really want/need to, NEVER more than one at the time)

:)
Wonko

#5 blackbalfur

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 11:51 PM

Followed all the instructions with the following variations -

1) Used Teracopy to copy all the files instead of HDClone
2) Couldn't find USBSTOR or USBCCGP as an installed service in the image
3) Created a Physicaldisk image using hddimage, mounted it with VSS & simulated using VMware. (This musn't be a problem as I followed the same approach while experimenting with Firadisk)
4) Used Grub4DOS to chainload NTLDR

But ended up with BSOD(0x7B). Any ideas?


I have an idea you changed everything i discribed:

Run "regedit" on the running internal hd XP os with the usb-hd XP os attached to it.

that's the first thing and secondly:

i really doubt you took this step:

Mark entry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
In file menu, click "Load Hive". Navigate to your USB-drive,
open file "Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM" (the file without extender)
(In XP PRO it´s "WINXP\System32\config\SYSTEM")

Please try to follow it just as i discribed and you will see it works that way!

I only said you can use another programm to clone/backup/restore your running xp version with.

#6 Holmes.Sherlock

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Posted 09 September 2010 - 12:18 AM

I have an idea you changed everything i discribed:

Actually, I tried to simulate the entire workflow.

Run "regedit" on the running internal hd XP os with the usb-hd XP os attached to it.


that's the first thing and secondly:

i really doubt you took this step:

Mark entry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
In file menu, click "Load Hive". Navigate to your USB-drive,
open file "Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM" (the file without extender)
(In XP PRO it´s "WINXP\System32\config\SYSTEM")


I've already done that.

I only said you can use another programm to clone/backup/restore your running xp version with.


Instead of sector by sector cloning, can't I use Teracopy to copy the contents?

Please try to follow it just as i discribed and you will see it works that way!

http://www.thefreedi...ry.com/discribe
http://www.thefreedi...ry.com/describe

#7 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 09 September 2010 - 12:29 AM

I only said you can use another programm to clone/backup/restore your running xp version with.

Right. :D

Besides the "wrong approach", I strongly suspect that a HUGE part of Holmes.Sherlock's problems is related to the fact that HDclone is an app aimed to clone a drive, Teracopy is an app aimed to copy files. :D

Like using one of my carpenter's comparisons, blackbalfur's statement becomes:

If you don't have a hammer, you can use any heavy, solid, hard object you have handy to drive a nail into a wooden plank by hitting it's head with some force.


which was evidently interpreted by Holmes.Sherlock as:

If you don't have a hammer, you can use any heavy, solid, hard object you have handy, including your bare hand, or any furry little creature that is passing by and that you are fast enough to catch such as a cat or a weasel, or actually whatever pleases your eye, like one of the extremely rare coffe cups your mother likes to collect, to drive a nail into a wooden plank by hitting it on it's head with some force.


:)

Instead of sector by sector cloning, can't I use Teracopy to copy the contents?

NO.


:)
Wonko

#8 Holmes.Sherlock

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Posted 09 September 2010 - 01:10 AM

NO.


Then can u suggest any idea to simulate the instruction set? Because, I've only one installation of XP which is large enough to go beyond the highest, permissible storage capacity that THE USB drive which I own can offer me in this sunny, bright morning in India? So, it eventually boils down to the fact that using HDClone to copy sector n of the internal HD to sector n of external HD (where n=0 to some integral value), which, in turn, is known as sector-by-sector cloning, is not possible for me right @ this moment.

#9 blackbalfur

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Posted 09 September 2010 - 06:23 AM

Then can u suggest any idea to simulate the instruction set? Because, I've only one installation of XP which is large enough to go beyond the highest, permissible storage capacity that THE USB drive which I own can offer me in this sunny, bright morning in India? So, it eventually boils down to the fact that using HDClone to copy sector n of the internal HD to sector n of external HD (where n=0 to some integral value), which, in turn, is known as sector-by-sector cloning, is not possible for me right @ this moment.


You will have to figure it out yourself :D .

Like i "DESCRIBED".

#10 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 09 September 2010 - 09:11 AM

Then can u suggest any idea to simulate the instruction set? Because, I've only one installation of XP which is large enough to go beyond the highest, permissible storage capacity that THE USB drive which I own can offer me in this sunny, bright morning in India?

Then take off your d@mn sun glasses :D and READ post #2, FORGET (temporarily) about the present tutorial, and follow the given link:
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=9830

If you cannot follow a given Tutorial, because you either don't have the knowledge or the tools or the source files or whatever, go looking for ANOTHER one (that may suite your limited possibilities better).

There is more than one way to skin a cat. (cat won't like ANY of them, nonetheless :D)

Let's get this clear, do not confuse the methods with the result.

What is your scope?

Having an XP booting from USB HD? :D

If YES, the means through which you get this result are NOT importanrt (the result is).

Replicate the steps in blackbalfur's tutorial? :)

If YES, you need to do EXACTLY and ACCURATELY each of them EXACTLY as blackbalfur "REPRESENTED" ;) them.

Lose some of your time and wasting some of blackbalfur's and mine pointlessly?

If YES, you managed it! :)

:)

:D
Wonko

#11 Holmes.Sherlock

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Posted 11 September 2010 - 05:04 PM

You need to format the usb hd to NTFS.


Can I use any partition on the USB HD which is capable of holding the image or do I need to use the entire USB HD capacity?

#12 MEstes

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Posted 11 September 2010 - 05:21 PM

[quote][quote name='blackbalfur' date='Sep 6 2010, 09:45 AM' post='108642']

Yes this even has the pagefile on it so it is selfsupporting and can run totally on its own.



How was this managed without Karyonix diskmod?

#13 Holmes.Sherlock

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Posted 02 November 2010 - 05:58 AM

Restore or Clone the XP os you are using on your comp to your usb-hd with your disered backup software.


The above is what blackbulfur stated in Post#1. But, I've an XP installed on the second primary partition of the HD. Naturally, the XP installer dropped the NTLDR & NTDETECT.COM in the first primary partition where Windows 7 is sitting. If I clone the XP partiton, then it's not going to work.(I guess, I'm right). Then is it possible to clone theXP on my internal HD to an external one & then manually copying the missing files?


Can anybody explain me, why, according to the tutorial & the previous discussion, ONLY CLONING works but not COPYING? I mean, how are they FUNCTIONALLY different from the perspective of the booting of an OS?




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