9 replies to this topic

[zedox]

I used DISKPART to prepare my USB stick to install Windows Vista from.
It works, but no message asking if I want to boot from the USB stick comes up. How do I make this happen?

Thanks

[pscEx]

I used DISKPART to prepare my USB stick to install Windows Vista from.
It works, but no message asking if I want to boot from the USB stick comes up. How do I make this happen?

Thanks

FileCopy,"%SourceDir%\I386\BOOTFIX.BIN","%TargetDir%\I386"

But I'm not sure whether it works for CD only!

Peter

[MedEvil]

But I'm not sure whether it works for CD only!

As long as setupldr is used, Bootfic.bin is used.

[zedox]

psc
Thanks for the reply, but this is for Win Vista. I386 directory no longer exists.

MedEvil
setupldr? How do I know if this is being used? I can't see this file on the Vista DVD?

[MedEvil]

MedEvil
setupldr? How do I know if this is being used? I can't see this file on the Vista DVD?

Sorry made the same mistake as psc. Assumed Xp/2k3.

Does your Vista DVD ask you?
If so, check the DVD against your stick some small file, probably in the root should be missing.

But i'm just guessing. Have no Vista, use no Vista.

[zedox]

Exact copy on the Stick as whats on the DVD...
The DVD does ask "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD..."

[MedEvil]

Exact copy on the Stick as whats on the DVD...
The DVD does ask "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD..."

If Your stick is an exact copy of the DVD, i guess that some program detects if the install is running from a DVD or not and only displays the message when it's a DVD.
You could still try to write protect your stick, maybe that fools the program into presenting the dialog.

[zedox]

hmmm, I have a feeling the bootmgr file does this...

I don't know how to make my USB stick protected! :| I'll have a looksey...

[was_jaclaz]

VISTA DVD's work much in the same way of NT/2K/XP/2003 ones.

On NT/2K/XP/2003 the CD bootsector (sometimes referred to MicrosoftCorporation.img, sometimes as "Arnes Boot Record") invokes TWO files (in \I386\ directory):
1) bootfix.bin
2) SETUPLDR.BIN

Vista DVD looks for a bootfix.bin file in \ISO\boot before loading it's loader.

See these for some reference:
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=19987
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=19025

Unless someone comes out with a modified partition bootsector (actually three of them, FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS) capable of invoking a bootfix.bin file before the loader, there is no way to replicate the behaviours of CD/DVD's.

Theoretically this is possible, as there is enough space that can be re-used in the boosector, but it involves a deep knowledge of Assembly (and bootsectors are a REALLY tricky thing to write, even for an expert).

jaclaz

[MedEvil]

hmmm, I have a feeling the bootmgr file does this...

I don't know how to make my USB stick protected! :| I'll have a looksey...

USB-Sticks usually have a very very tiny switch to write protect them.



edit:
But as you can see from jaclaz post, it wont help you with your problem.