================================================================================
*** IMG_XP package ***
Make XP and Win7 Universal Image files booting with Grub4dos Menu on HDD or USB
Download - IMG_XP - mirror
First Prepare XP Setup ISO file with integrated UpdatePack and DriverPacks as described below
and Copy XP Setup ISO file to the Target boot drive of your computer.
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 the Root of your Local Harddisk - gives folder IMG_XP
1. Use IMX_XP\makebt\imdiskinst.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
SELECT
2. in Win 7 OS - 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
2. in Win XP OS - Run IMG_XP_Create.exe to create XP-1.img and Grub4dos Menu for Install of XP in IMG
- Select Local Harddisk as Target drive and select XP Setup ISO file in root of Target Drive
- and Select checkbox to make grub4dos XP Setup Boot Menu in menu.lst on local bootable 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 and VGA
- Reduce Size e.g. Change Virtual memory and Sleep settings to get rid of pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys
- Set System Restore and Windows Update Off and Run PURGE_DLLCACHE.BAT to delete 350 MB of dllcache folder
- In Device Manager instead of Hardware specific Controllers you must Install Standard Controllers for IDE and USB and Install Standard VGA Adapter
6. Connect USB-HDD where you want to use XP Image, so that USB-HDD settings are known in XP registry, and Reboot
7. 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
8. Run USB_XP_Fix.exe and Select your XP-1.vhd file on USB-drive and click GO
9. Reboot from USB on the same computer and Select Boot XP Image - XP-1.vhd - WinVBlock FILEDISK
10. 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 WINDOWS\DriverPacks 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/
VHD_XP_Create.exe is preferred but requires Win 7 PE or Win 7 OS with User Account Control = OFF
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
================================================================================
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:
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 I386\winnt.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 WINDOWS\DriverPacks 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_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
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 $OEM$\$1\Drivers is copied to C:\Drivers
and $OEM$\$1\Install\DriverForge.v4.5.4.exe is copied to C:\Install
For Auto Use of DriverForge at T-9 add uncompressed driver folders in $OEM$\$1\Drivers
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.
PnP Drivers specified in winnt.sif can be added to $OEM$\$1\Drivers
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
================================================================================
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_XP\MULTI\PStart\Progs\ImgBurn
- 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_USB\makebt>bbie M:\XP3_1201.iso
BBIE - Bart's Boot Image Extractor v1.0, © 2001, Bart Lagerweij
http://www.nu2.nu
will make BOOT_USB\makebt\image1.bin that you can rename as bootsect.bin
================================================================================
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_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
is set to what DriverForge needs.
It means that any previous settings are lost e.g. for making use of the KTP C:\WINDOWS\DriverPacks 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
DevicePath in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
is set to subfolders of C:\D
================================================================================
Portable Windows HD Image files booting from USB
================================================================================
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_XP\Help_Info\WinVBlock_Install.txt
- Install FiraDisk driver with R-mouse on firadisk.inf in IMG_XP\makebt\firadisk-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
==
================================================================================
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_XP\WinNTSetup2_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
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
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
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
=
================================================================================
================================================================================
Historical part but left here as reference
Universal HDD Image files for XP and Windows 7
Create, Update and Restore of Windows HDD Image files using IMG_XP.exe package
================================================================================
0. Introduction
Download - - IMG_XP
Run the SFX SelfExtractor IMG_XP.exe and use Extract to the Root of your Workstation Harddisk.
In this way you will get on your Local Harddisk the folder IMG_XP from which you can launch 4 Programs:
IMG_XP_Create.exe to make NTFS compressed HDD Image File of Drive with non-running XP or Windows 7
IMG_XP_Update.exe to Update the registry and drivers in the FiraDisk RAMBOOT Image file that you just used for booting
IMG_XP_Restore.exe to Restore XP or Windows 7 on HDD or USB using HDD Image file as Source
BOOT_IMG allows to Install on TargetDrive a Universal HDD Image File of XP loaded by GRUB4DOS into FiraDisk RAMDISK
The programs 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 HDD Image file in a virtual drive.
Universal XP is reality now:
The same HDD Image File of XP can be used for booting XP from FiraDisk RAMDISK or from HDD, USB-HDD or from USB-stick,
on computers having quite different Hardware architecture.
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
IMG_XP_Restore.exe is found to be useful for Install of XP on USB-HDD drive:
Boot with Universal XP Image file from FiraDisk Ramdisk
Connect USB-HDD on which you plan to Install XP, so that USB-HDD settings are known in XP registry
Run IMG_XP_Update.exe to Update the registry and drivers in the Image file that you just used for booting
Use IMG_XP_Restore.exe to Restore XP on your USB-HDD using Updated HDD Image file
Reboot from USB-HDD with Windows XP
Install of Windows 7 on USB-HDD was realized as follows:
Install Windows 7 as usual on local harddisk and Reduce Size
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 drives are visible in Windows Explorer
Reboot with other OS e.g XP or PE, anyway so that Windows 7 is not running
IMG_XP_Restore.exe can then be used to direct Restore in about 20 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
================================================================================
1. Booting with XP HDD Image file loaded in FiraDisk RAMDISK
- BOOT_IMG allows to Install on TargetDrive a Universal HDD Image File of XP 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 next section describes how such Universal HDD Image files of XP can be made and also can be used for Install of XP on USB-HDD.
================================================================================
2. Install of XP on USB-HDD
Install Windows XP on local Harddisk as usual using XP Setup Source with integrated MassStorage DriverPack.
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=21883 - Prepare XP Setup Source as described in Section 2.
For Install of XP on a modern system with SATA Drives it is needed to use DPsBase.exe
for Integrating in your XPSOURCE BTS DriverPack Massstorage with TXT Mode Enabled.
http://driverpacks.net/downloads
Set System Restore Off and Run PURGE_DLLCACHE.BAT to delete 350 MB of dllcache folder
Reduce Size e.g. Change Virtual memory and Sleep settings to get rid of pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys
For booting from RAMDISK Install FiraDisk driver with R-mouse on firadisk.inf in IMG_XP\makebt\firadisk-driver-0.0.1.18 folder
Install ImDisk driver using C:\IMG_XP\makebt\imdiskinst.exe allows later to update Image file using IMG_XP_Update.exe
Connect USB-HDD on which you plan to Install XP, so that USB-HDD settings are known in XP registry
Reboot with your installed Windows XP and USB-HDD connected to Update the registry
Boot then with other OS e.g make Active other primary partition with XP or Windows 7 or use RAMBOOT image LiveXP PE
Run IMG_XP_Create.exe to make NTFS compressed HDD Image File of Drive with the non-running Windows XP
Make Universal by booting with XP Image file from FiraDisk Ramdisk on computers having quite different Hardware architecture
Use BOOT_IMG.exe to Install XP Image file as GRUB4DOS boot option on local harddisk.
Update Drivers using DriverForge with Drivers folder that you supply, e.g. use DriverPacks from http://driverpacks.net/downloads
IMG_XP_Update.exe is then used to Update in 1 minute the Image file that you just booted from.
This learning process improves the XP Image file and creates Universal XP.
Use IMG_XP_Restore.exe to Restore XP on your USB-HDD using the just made HDD Image file
Reboot from USB-HDD with Windows XP
================================================================================
3. Install of Windows 7 on USB-HDD
Install Windows 7 on local Harddisk as usual from DVD or from USB-stick or use existing installed Windows 7
For Install from USB-stick:
Preboot HDD with pe21.iso into Windows PE 2.1 with GUI and launch Windows 7 from folder on USB-stick.
See Section 5 in http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=21883
Set System Restore and UserAccount Control Off and Reduce Size 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 ImDisk driver using C:\IMG_XP\makebt\imdiskinst.exe allows later to update Image file using IMG_XP_Update.exe
Connect USB-HDD on which you plan to Install Windows 7, so that USB-HDD settings are known in Windows 7 registry
Reboot with Windows 7 and USB-HDD connected to Update the registry
Reboot then with other OS e.g Select in BIOS to boot from other harddisk with XP or make Active other primary partition with XP
or use RAMBOOT image LiveXP PE from GRUB4DOS Menu installed by BOOT_IMG.exe
Run IMG_XP_Create.exe to make 7.0 GB NTFS compressed HDD Image File of Drive with non-running Windows 7 - Or
Use IMG_XP_Restore.exe to Restore Windows 7 on your USB-HDD using HDD Image file
Or Select Windows 7 drive to clone direct in 20 min
Reboot from USB-HDD with Windows 7
Windows 7 boots perfect from USB-HDD on machine (ASUS MoBo with AMD Athlon 64 X2) where Windows 7 was previously installed,
but booting with Windows 7 from USB-HDD if connected to laptop (Intel Pentium DualCore, IASTOR needed for HDD),
then BSOD 7B occurred due to missing IASTOR driver and missing IASTOR registry settings for Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase and Services\iaStor
Adding to running Windows 7 the given HKLM_SYSTEM_iaStor.reg registry tweak and adding the files for iaStor driver solved the problem.
Then Windows 7 was booting from USB-HDD on both machines and can be seen as Universal Windows 7.
All other needed drivers for the laptop were automatically installed by Windows 7 after booting and running from USB-HDD.
Thanks to karyonix, more Info see:
FiraDisk - http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=8804
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
================================================================================
4. Universal Image Create and Restore - Details
- IMG_XP_Restore.exe for Restore on USB drive takes care of:
USB Services get "Group"="Boot Bus Extender" and Start=0 to prevent BSOD 7B
UsbBootWatcher.exe and UsbBootWatcher.conf are copied to USB-HDD\WINDOWS\system32 directory.
Thanks to marv and cdob for describing effect of Driver Group and Start value to prevent BSOD 7B in booting XP from USB.
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=22473
IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks\HKLM_systemdst_USB_XP.reg - Added to SYSTEM registry for Restore on USB drive
IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks\HKLM_systemdst_BOOT_HDD.reg - Added to SYSTEM registry for Restore on HDD drive
In all cases of Restore the DiskSignature 4 bytes in MBR at hex offset 1B8 must be taken into account:
Value of \DosDevices\C: in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices on Target Drive is set according to DiskSignature.
All other values in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices on Target Drive are deleted.
More Info on DiskSignature http://thestarman.pc.../mbr/index.html
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.
IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks\HKLM_systemdst_Add_XP.reg - used by HKLM System CheckBox
IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks\HKLM_softwaredst_Add.reg - used by HKLM Software CheckBox
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.
The msahci tweak has been added to HKLM_systemdst_iaStor.reg used by Add iaStor - AHCI CheckBox.
This is needed to prevent BSOD 7B in Restore of Windows 7 for support of BIOS with SATA = AHCI controller setting.
http://support.micro...kb/922976/en-us
Adding iaStor driver prevents BSOD 7B on booting from USB-HDD on other computer systems.
Copy iaStor.sys to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers and iaStor.inf + iaAHCI.inf to C:\WINDOWS\inf
Copy iaStor.cat + iaAHCI.cat to your CatRoot folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}
download the latest version of the Intel Matrix Storage Manager from http://downloadcente...i...01&lang=eng
More Info on adding iaStor driver to SYSTEM registry - http://forums.pcper....ad.php?t=444831
http://www.msfn.org/...xp-t109450.html
IMG_XP_Restore.exe has Add iaStor - AHCI CheckBox to take care of the above and
IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks\HKLM_systemdst_iaStor.reg registry tweak is added to the WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM registry file on Target drive
so that HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase contains the required PCI device values.
IMG_XP\makebt\registry_tweaks\HKLM_systemdst_iaStor.reg - used by Add iaStor - AHCI CheckBox
Besides the already existing option to Add iaStor Driver, there is additional possibility to add other drivers
by dropping them previously in the corresponding IMG_XP\makebt\drivers folder.
Registry Tweaks used for Win7 instead of those for XP are
HKLM_systemdst_Add_W7.reg and HKLM_systemdst_USB_W7.reg
Additionally for Install of Windows 7 on USB-HDD primary partition with DriveLetter U:
On booting from USB this USB-HDD partition will automatically get drive letter C:
http://www.multiboot...uk/cloning.html
For making correct Windows 7 entry in BCD store of BOOTMGR menu it is essential that Windows 7 was set as the default option.
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5. 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
In folder halkern we rename:
In this way folder halkern contains 7 hal and 4 kernel files:
IMG_XP_Create.exe and IMG_XP_Restore.exe will copy the files of the halkern folder to Image folder WINDOWS\system32
Multiprocessor = MP and Uniprocessor = UP
boot.ini file with Multiple Hal and Kernel for making Universal XP
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Summary
Universal XP is reality now:
- The same HDD Image File made with IMG_XP_Create.exe can be used for booting XP from FiraDisk RAMDISK
or from HDD, USB-HDD or from USB-stick, 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 1.4 GB Universal XP HDD Image as source.
- 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.
- IMG_XP_Update.exe is used after booting with full XP RAMBOOT Image file, to Update the Image file that you just booted from.
Boot with full XP RAMBOOT Image file 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.
This learning process creates Universal XP.
- 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 5.
http://www.vernalex....sprep/hal.shtml
http://www.etherboot...t_winnt_sanboot
- IMG_XP_Create.exe - IMG_XP_Update.exe and IMG_XP_Restore.exe are now for general use.
Allthough originally developed to make and Update 32-bits full XP FiraDisk RAMBOOT Image Files,
these programs can probably be used also to Create, Update and Restore Images of Windows 2000/XP/2003 and for x64 XP.
Update and Restore of Windows 7 VHD Files may work as well, but was not yet tested by me.
Please give feedback about any problems so that they can be fixed.
- IMG_XP_Create.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:
Reboot to activate this.
http://msdn.microsof...y/dd419910.aspx
Thanks to jaclaz for pointing me to strarc.exe of Olof Lagerkvist ,
which is used in IMG_XP_Update.exe to Update the full XP FiraDisk RAMBOOT Image File, from which you just booted.
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