6 replies to this topic

[Kristof]

Hello All,

 

In advance apologize for my English.

I am just about to finding the best solution for my goal which is to build a multiboot ISO toolkit on usb stick.

So far I used Sardu and it does the job but it is little bit complex.

Yesterday I tried to test Xboot  v1.0beta14 and I was very impressed with its easy to use interface.

Unfortunately I have encountered on  few problems and I hope someone from the Xboot experts could help me and deal with these problems very easily.

 

Please see details of my testing with XBoot.

USB stick was formatted as a fat32 and selected bootloader was Syslinux (Recommended)

At the end of creating on my local PC (Win 7 Ultimate 32-bit) Multiboot USB I got the final confirmation that USB was created successfully and I could check my compilation in QEMU emulator. Also checked in real mode on that PC and all worked excellent.

But….

Thereafter I tried to start up my new magic usb stick from my both laptops  (64-bit operating systems (win7 and xp)) and my luck has ended up on  “SYSLINUX 4.04 EDD 2011-04-18  H. Peter Anvin et al”

I found on the internet that formatting usb a as fat instead of fat32 should resolve this problem. So I did it but after booting up usb stick my luck has stopped (frozen) again but this time on the Xboot menu with no options to do anything except power off my laptop. Exactly the same happen on my second laptop.

I thought that the problem is related to 32 or 64-bit platform, so I did the same procedure on my 64bit laptop but unfortunately the same problem persists.

 

So, if someone kind had experienced similar issues or know how to fix these problems and joy the power of Xboot I would be very grateful for help.

 

Regards,

Kristof

[Robgzz]

I had a similar experience, try this,  format in fat32, install syslinux bootlader, then edit the syslinux menufile in xboot 3rd tab.

 

You will notice that it says MANU START, instead of MENU START, just change it each time you do a new stick. some old bios doesnt boot just says something horrible about the noble and gentle Peter Anvin, or just freeze or halt on any errors.

 

My magic usb stick worked...then i Changed to Easy2boot and rmprepusb ...ugly interface but 200% better.

 

NOTE: xboot is my first choice to multiboot, but as people know the prgrammer passed away, it continues having bugs and pending configs that easy2boot has solved.

Edited by Robgzz, 15 May 2013 - 06:27 AM.

[Kristof]

Hello Robgzz,

 

Id like to thank you so much for your help and instructions. I did as you suggested and its working ) Although there is one little think I mean on one of my laptop when I loading Drive Copy 11 in the normal mode it just hangs up on the black screen and I wonder what could be the cause of this bizarre situation. 

 

Also if you would not mind I would like to take advantage of your knowledge  

 

Perhaps would you know what would be the best way (application) if I would like to convert some executable programs into bootable iso image in order to add them to my magic  usb stick?  I tried to use imgburn but no success  

 

ONCE AGAIN REALLY APPRECIATE FOR YOUR HELP !

[Robgzz]

Well Kristof thanks for your comments, but I'm just a regular guy using tools that experts have created and shared, I don't know how to program, coding, hacking, syntax whatever... I dont even know exactly what the GRUB is, I know Grub4Dos is a magic thing that plays with Master Peter Anvin's stuff and ignores the host computer to make all these possible...

 

 

I had never been in a situation that makes me search for a software like "Drive Copy 11" its the first time I read of it, now that you tell me of it I have thought where I can use it...  but don't worry, that doesn't mean I don't know what to try with your usb stick.

 

My Recomendation is: Download Easy2boot and rmprepusb, format your usb as a fat32, with the instructions in www.rmprepusb.com, I have only 3 days making test with it, (I'm a new easy2boot user) and has worked very good because if the standar iso loading doesn't works you can change the ".iso" extension to other similar and load the iso in a different way, take a look:

 

for example

.iso - works for most linux live ISOs and some others

.isowinvH - use for Hirens ISOs (does not swap hd0/hd1)

 

Some other file extensions you could try if the normal extension does not work are:

.isomem - loads the iso file into memory before booting from it

.isofira - loads a firadisk floppy image and direct maps the ISO - use for XP/PE/BartPE based ISOs

.isomemfira - loads the ISO into memory and loads a firadisk floppy disk image - use for BartPE/WinPE based ISOs

.isowinv - loads WinVblock floppy disk image as well as the ISO and loads setupldr.bin- swaps hd0&hd1 - use for WinPE XP BartPE based ISOs like ERDCommander

.isoe0 - use if you have a Windows ISO that gives you a blank screen when Windows loads (buggy BIOS!)

 

 

Yeah I did copy/paste to the instructions in the original site and all of you thought I wrote it, isn't that evil??

 

I hope you make it work and share with me and other users how you did it.

 

About executables in iso (I dont know if I understood you)... I think not all executables are able to boot without Operative system environment, you can try a PE (preinstalled Environment) like BartPE, MiniXP, Live XP CD or something like that, I use Hirens Boot CD miniXP, some others hav a Mini Win 7 version. those are windows platforms that may help you run your exe's.

 

... and NO, I dont work in easy2boot, or know the guy who made it, I'm just glad it exists!!

 

Greeting from Mexico.

[Kristof]

Hi Robgzz,

 

Cheers again for your help and suggestions, really appreciate !

 

Definitely I am going to practice Easy2boot and rmprebusb and share with my experience with you and other user.

 

When it comes about executables I meant that for example I have recovery bootable usb with various of files and folders on it (not iso img) and I would like to convert these all files into one bootable iso image. ( I am wonder if that is ever possible)

 

Anyway, I am glad that I found this forum.

 

asta la vista baby

 

Regards

Kris

[Robgzz]

Oh, ok, I understand, yes is possible but I dont know how your USB boots, with Grub4dos or syslinux or what makes it bootable... what I would do is try a different software to specifically make a bootable ISO and add all USB programs in it, but I think you already did this...

 

you will need to verify which kind is the usb bootable interface of your usb and star from theer, grub or syslinux or otherone

[Kristof]

Thanks for that Robgzz!

 

All the best and greetings from Poland.