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How to boot Windows Installer/WTG through BIOS off GPT partitioned Removable USB Drive ?

gpt mbr bios uefi bootmgr grub4dos wtg

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#1 devdevadev

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Posted 31 December 2015 - 06:49 PM

 

Summing up all these, it seems like the only foolproof way to have a "universal" USB stick would be to *somehow* mix the Rufus UEFI:NTFS driver with *my* (or similar) approach to boot through BIOS off GPT partitioned device, adding additionally Clover (or ReFind or similar).  :dubbio:

This way the device will be "fully" GPT (but still remain bootable on BIOS) allowed to host bigger than 4 Gb images, and if by any chance forced into CSM mode, returned to a "volatile" UEFI environment through Clover.  :unsure:

 

I have used 'GPT partitioned scheme for UEFI' option in Rufus to create UEFI Bootable Removable USB Drive. Now my Removable USB have two partitions. First NTFS partition contains all Windows Setup files and second small FAT12 partition contains UEFI:NTFS driver.

 

After that I have tried to implement Wonko special method described Here

 

C:\GPT\mkhidGPT.cmd

C:\GPT\FAT12grldr.bss
C:\GPT\HidGPT63.mbr
C:\GPT\dsfi.exe
C:\GPT\dsfo.exe
C:\GPT\mformat.exe
C:\GPT\mmd.exe
C:\GPT\mdir.exe
C:\GPT\mcopy.exe

C:\GPT\root-
                    |- grldr
                    |- menu.lst
                    |- BOOTMGR
                    |- boot-
                               |- BCD

 

 

Where 'menu.lst'

map (hd0)63+1985 (fd0)
map --hook
root (fd0)
chainloader /bootmgr
boot

Running 'mkhidGPT.cmd' at Windows 10 with elevated permissions 

C:\GPT>mkhidGPT.cmd myimage.img 1

A proper MBR and sectors 63-2047 are written.
 

Windows booting from BIOS at GPT disk does work. Grub4dos loaded and chainload to superfloppy 'Bootmgr' and  'Bootmgr' finds (fd0)\boot\bcd. But After that I have to face Windows Boot Manager Error Messages ???

Status: 0xc000000f
Info: A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed.

What should be boot sequence after this step ?

 

Am I missing something ?

 

What should I do so that I can transfer boot control from super floppy 'grldr' or 'bootmgr' to Removable USB Drive '\grldr' or '\bootmgr' ?

 

..'cdob' ! Have you tried 'Wonko' approach in USB Drive ? Anyone Please...???

 

Regards....

 

 

 

 



#2 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 31 December 2015 - 07:03 PM

What are the contents of the \boot\BCD?
It seems like an issue with those contents, maybe a typo or a wrong device?
Example:
http://reboot.pro/to...ssues/?p=185546

Or maybe something connected to this?
http://reboot.pro/to...stall/?p=196597

:duff:
Wonko

#3 devdevadev

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Posted 31 December 2015 - 07:06 PM

What are the contents of the \boot\BCD?

 

I have taken it from Windows 10 ISO Setup files. Will I have to edit it ? or also put 'bootmgr.exe' within \boot folder ?

or Win 10 behavior is something different ? 

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#4 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 31 December 2015 - 07:20 PM

What are the contents?
is a different question from:
Where have you taken it from?

Anyway I would try creating a new one, you should be familiar by now with the procedure.

Just in case, read:
http://reboot.pro/to...and-bcd-stores/
http://www.mistyrebo...Edit/index.html

JFYI, and as a side note, the "Tutorials" sections is (was) intended to PUBLISH "Tutorials" not for asking for one or for asking assistance

:duff:
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#5 devdevadev

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Posted 03 January 2016 - 06:50 PM

Will 'grub4dos + ntboot' within super floppy chainload 'bootmgr' in root of GPT Removable USB Drive ? Any Hope ?

map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (fd0)
map --hook
find --set-root --devices=h /boot/ntboot
/boot/ntboot nt6=(hd0,x)
boot 

OR It is must to keep both 'bootmgr' and 'boot/BCD' within superfloppy ?

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#6 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 03 January 2016 - 07:19 PM

Will 'grub4dos + ntboot' within super floppy chainload 'bootmgr' in root of GPT Removable USB Drive ? Any Hope ?



map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (fd0)
map --hook
find --set-root --devices=h /boot/ntboot
/boot/ntboot nt6=(hd0,x)
boot 

OR It is must to keep both 'bootmgr' and 'boot/BCD' within superfloppy ?

 

I have no idea.

WHICH "ntboot" are you talking of?

The thingy by Chenall?

Why don' t you try it?

Though i doubt it will work :unsure:

 

See:

http://reboot.pro/to...sod-0xc00000bb/

 

:duff:

Wonko



#7 cdob

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Posted 03 January 2016 - 10:17 PM

Status: 0xc000000f
Info: A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed.

 

I have taken it from Windows 10 ISO Setup files.

.
Crystal Ball:
The generic .\boot\bcd uses a generic [boot] as device entry, this fails at given example:
boot.sdi and boot.wim are not found.

Run bootice and set partiton "letter" for device and osdevice and ramdevice.
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#8 devdevadev

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 05:03 PM

Should I use following BCD within super floppy /boot/BCD so that I can chainload 'bootmgr' of 'Windows Installer' within my GPT Removable USB Drive.

@echo off
setlocal
:: Do not use spaces in paths and do 
:: NOT wrap in quotes

set BCDEDIT=%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\bcdedit.exe
set BCDSTORE="%~dp0BCD"
::___________________________________
%BCDEDIT% /createstore %BCDSTORE%
%BCDEDIT% /store %BCDSTORE% /create {bootmgr}
%BCDEDIT% /store %BCDSTORE% /set {bootmgr} description "Boot Manager"
%BCDEDIT% /store %BCDSTORE% /set {bootmgr} device boot
%BCDEDIT% /store %BCDSTORE% /set {bootmgr} timeout 20
echo.
endlocal
pause


#9 cdob

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 05:15 PM

Should I use following BCD within super floppy /boot/BCD so that I can chainload 'bootmgr' of 'Windows Installer' within my GPT Removable USB Drive.

"Boot Manager" is not the issue, most likely "Boot Manager" device boot dosn't matter.

The issue is windows installation section. Adjust this section.
No, bcdedit dosn't handle a removable device. Use bootice.

#10 devdevadev

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 05:35 PM

I have set [Boot Device] to NTFS partition of my GPT Removable USB Drive by using BOOTICE 'Easy Mode'. But it still not work.

 

Can you please provide me batch file to create a BCD which I should put within Super Floppy which allow me to BIOS boot 'Windows Installer' files of GPT Removable USB Drive. It am a bit confused about which boot entry I should use in BCD. Actually I don't want to boot any Installed OS. I want to just load 'Windows Installer' files within my GPT USB Drive. 

 

http://www.mistyrebo...s/examples3.htm

 

If I add only 'bootmgr' entry then Bootice does not allow me to set Boot Partition to my USB Drive....



#11 cdob

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 06:25 PM

I have set [Boot Device] to NTFS partition of my GPT Removable USB Drive by using BOOTICE 'Easy Mode'. But it still not work.

Use BOOTICE 'Professional Mode', set all references to boot.sdi and boot.wim to the disk partition.
 

Can you please provide me batch file to create a BCD which I should put within Super Floppy which allow me to BIOS boot 'Windows Installer' files of GPT Removable USB Drive.

bcdedit dosn't handle a Removable USB partion.

#12 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 06:33 PM

... and just to simplify make the matter more complex, would the "locate" method work in this setup (Removable USB, GPT, booted from BIOS through the hidden super underfloppy)?  :unsure:

 

:duff:

Wonko



#13 devdevadev

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 07:04 PM

Use BOOTICE 'Professional Mode', set all references to boot.sdi and boot.wim to the disk partition.

 

But what about 'Application Path' and 'Sys Root' ?

 

Should I change something else in attached BCD ?

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  • Attached File  BCD.png   73.69KB   0 downloads


#14 cdob

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 10:58 PM

Should I change something else in attached BCD ?

Use a default bcd file, start again.

ApplicationDevice and OSDevice:
Use Device type RamdDisk still. Do not change Device type to Partition.
Boot disk: select your USB flash disk
Boot part: select your partiton at USB flash disk
Device file: keep the setting
RamDisk: keep the setting
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#15 devdevadev

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Posted 05 January 2016 - 01:19 AM

Thanks for describing each step clearly. Finally I got it working.  But I also have to set 'SdiDevice' to to my USB Partition. 

SdiDevice :
Set Device type to Partition.
Boot disk: selected my USB flash disk
Boot part: selected my partiton at USB flash disk

I have set timeout 0, but still I have to wait 27-30 second before loading WinPE environment ? Is there any other parameter related to timeout which I should change in order to reduce wait time ? 



#16 devdevadev

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 04:10 PM

Does 'Wonko' approach (mkhidGPT001.zip) of installing 'grub4dos' in GPT disk work only for 'grub4dos-0.4.5c-2015-05-18' ? I tried to test it with latest 'grub4dos' but it give error message...WHY ?

 

Can you please provide support for latest 'grldr' of E2B ?



#17 steve6375

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 05:15 PM

What error message exactly?

Did you try latest version of 0.4.5c also?



#18 devdevadev

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 05:28 PM

Where Can I find latest version of 0.4.5c ?

BTW, What is the current grub4dos version of E2B ?

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#19 devdevadev

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 06:06 PM

Finally I have successfully MBR booted to WinPE, Windows Installer and WTG by using following menu entries in my GPT partitioned E2B Removable USB Drive.....Lots of thanks to Wonko, Steve and 'cdob' ....

title boot Install Win 8.1
set ISOC=/sources/boot.wim
/%grub%/NTBOOT NT6=%ISOC% NTLDR=/_ISO/e2b/grub/DPMS/NTBOOT.MOD/bootmgr
boot

title boot Win8.1PESE
set ISOC=/sources/Win8.1SEPE.wim
/%grub%/NTBOOT NT6=%ISOC% NTLDR=/_ISO/e2b/grub/DPMS/NTBOOT.MOD/bootmgr
boot

title boot Win8.1toGO
set ISOC=/sources/WTG.vhd
/%grub%/NTBOOT NT6=%ISOC% NTLDR=/_ISO/e2b/grub/DPMS/NTBOOT.MOD/bootmgr
boot

title Boot From HardDisk(auto detect exist systems)
/%grub%/_ISO/e2b/grub/DPMS/NTBOOT.LST/detect.lst
boot

BTW, Is there any Tool/Trick/Way to access 2nd partition of GPT partitioned Removable USB Drive in Windows ?

BOOTICE does not help. Is there any tool which deal with GPT partitioned Removable USB Drive ?



#20 steve6375

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 06:34 PM

re. 0.4.6a not working with GPT - can you try previous versions of 0.4.6a grldr to see when problem started?

Then report to chenall about issue.

grub4dos downloads from here http://grub4dos.chen...ries/downloads/

grub4dos issues reported here https://github.com/c...grub4dos/issues



#21 cdob

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 07:17 PM

Finally I have successfully MBR booted to WinPE, Windows Installer

Can you make a test installation? Does windows installs fully?

Setup fails at target disk selection here, wihtout ntboot.
The FirmwareBootDevice is set to floppy, the BIOS boot is missing.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"FirmwareBootDevice"="multi(0)disk(0)fdisk(0)"

How does ntboot mount the partiton?

 

BTW, Is there any Tool/Trick/Way to access 2nd partition of GPT partitioned Removable USB Drive in Windows ?

http://reboot.pro/to...le/#entry194168

imdisk -a -f \\.\PhysicalDrive0 -b 13216K -s 2048000K -o par,shared -m Z:
imdisk -a -f \\.\PhysicalDrive0 -b 2061216K -s 2048000K -o par,shared -m Y:



#22 devdevadev

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 07:36 PM

Can you make a test installation? Does windows installs fully?

 

I have reached at disk selection screen but I have not tested full Installation till now. I will test it tomorrow. If you are right then NTBOOT method also should not work for MBR E2B USB Drive ? Have you ever tried NTBOOT Windows Installation from MBR E2B ?

If NTBOOT Windows Installation work for MBR E2B USB Drive then why it should not work for GPT E2B USB Drive ? 



#23 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 07:48 PM

I am probably too old for this kind of nonsense :( the guys building the Tower of Babel (AFTER God's intervention) were kids when compared to this thread :frusty:.

 

:duff:

Wonko


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#24 steve6375

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Posted 08 January 2016 - 07:51 PM

How does ntboot mount the partiton?

 
http://reboot.pro/to...le/#entry194168

 

ntboot forms a floppy disk in ram using grub4dos from a floppy image file which already contains a BCD and boot.sdi.

Since it is booting from a virtual floppy, I guess it will have the same problem ??



#25 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 14 January 2016 - 11:32 AM

Setup fails at target disk selection here, wihtout ntboot.
The FirmwareBootDevice is set to floppy, the BIOS boot is missing.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"FirmwareBootDevice"="multi(0)disk(0)fdisk(0)"



@cdob
The use in this thread is not exactly the same as the one we discussed on the original thread:
http://reboot.pro/to...-in-bios-to-gpt
there the scope/final goal was to make an existing GPT disk (and installed OS) bootable in BIOS without modifying it *at all* (or rather having it modified in ways to not change anything noticeable from the "UEFI side" or affecting it).
 
Here it is slightly different, the device is specifically partitioned/created for the scope, so nothing prevents from having the range 63-2047 from being a "real" partition in the GPT partition tables.
 
A few posts before:
 
 
 

But - since grub4dos in it's latest releases "understands" EFI partitioning (seemingly fine :)) - it would be smarter (for a "permanent" BIOS boot GPT disk) to create an actual GPT partition "covering" the range 63-2047, something that can be easily done with GPT gdisk.
This would avoid the need for a grldr with a  "modified" embedded menu.lst.
To make it "standard" we could use the gdisk partition type EF01 (which would allow to distinguish it from a EF02 or "GRUB2 BIOS boot partition" ;)).

gdisk32 \\.\PhysicaldriveN
x
l
1
m
n
1
63
2047
EF01
p
v
w

 
:duff:
Wonko
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