ilko_t

Should be fine, although you can do that from XP as well by EasyBCD. Vista DVD has an option Startup repair, I've seen cases when it fails to rewrite the bootsector. If this happens use any of the other ways above, or as stated here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933179 Just do not use Drive:\boot\Bootsect.exe –NT60 All, replace All with the drive letter in question. MS really don't care if people are using other OS, the command with all switch will replace bootsectors on ALL partitions: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749177.aspx Do all these procedures with USB disk removed. edit: boot.ini and winnt.sif are not related. What unattended settings do you have? Some of the settings in [unattended] section will not be applied, depends. Anything else is fine. If you have something in [unattended] please post that part only. Do not replace winnt.sif in ~BT folder, it has some critical entries added by the program. Edit it instead, but keep the changes the program made.

Ok, good there is no misunderstanding. Assuming G amd H are primary partition syntax is right, you did it properly. Mind you, Windows XP most likely will place boot files (BOOT.INI, NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM) on C:, where Vista is. The issue is that it will also rewrite the bootsector of C: with XP one, invoking NTLDR. From there you have number of options: 1. Run from Vista bootsect.exe /nt60 C:This will place Vista bootsector on C:. Next you have to use tool such as EasyBCD to add XP to VIsta boot menu. 2. Run EasyBCD from XP and let it repair Vista bootsector. 3. Use Vista DVD for the purpose, Startup repair may fail, try bootsect instead. 4. Use grub4dos to start Vista: http://diddy.boot-land.net/grub4dos/Grub4dos.htm

@thegr8anand- I guess the external hard disk is USB, right? In this case you'd need other approach: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181 http://www.winusb.de/index_en.html http://ngine.de/article/id/8 This subforum as about installing Windows from USB. @ForRubbish- thanks, appreciate it : ) @Volatus- glad if it helped : )

Happy end The "no disk" error- most likely it's because of a card reader(s) you have attached. About the BSOD you got- is the system overclocked? Have you run some memory tests or stability such as Prime or similar? You shouldn't have BSODs, the USB setup shouldn't cause any.

Is SATA controller in BIOS on AHCI/SATA mode or in IDE compatible? Try switching between them. I should have bolded COMPRESS too Use WinZIP, WinRAR, 7zip or similar program, especially with text files compression ratio is huge.

There is dedicated subforum: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=157

Please post your TXTSETUP.SIF too:

As I got it you are not installing from USB, right? You just use the program as replacement of WINNT32.EXE. Is there any reason you don't want to use the latter? winnt32.exe /noreboot /makelocalsource /syspart:X: /tempdrive:X: You may want to use /makelocalsource:all and /unattend:winnt.sif (/unattend:unattend.txt) in case you do MCE/tablet and use answer file. It will prepare drive X: with the installation files, boot.ini will be prepared at end of TXT part, having one entry only. If you want to use WSFU, you may just delete boot.ini in root folder and comment out or delete in \$WIN_NT$.~BT\WINNT.SIF GuiRunOnce section "binifix4.cmd c:" to ;"binifix4.cmd c:" If you want ~BT and ~LS folders to be deleted at the end of GUI part (T -1) comment out or delete in SetupParams section UserExecute = ren_fold.cmd to ;UserExecute = ren_fold.cmd @devictoria Thanks, it's fixed in the program now. In addition grubinst.exe, which installs the grub4dos bootsector, refuses to work with hd10, hd11 etc. Reported to the authors: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5897 Will include a fixed version of it as soon as they fix it. Thanks again for reporting.

Hi, 1. USB install should not differ form such from CD regarding the SATA drivers. Once Windows is installed on that machine, please run this tool: http://www.driverpacks.net/Downloads/save_hwids.exe Compress the output file it will give you, along with TXTSETUP.SIF in USB root folder and attach it in your next post. 2. About GParted- use 0.3.6-7 or 0.3.4-8 if you didn't. Will include support for the newest versions in the next version. 3. Just a few threads below http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=124169

Dangerous indeed, can you attach your WinSetupFromUSB.log file? If not present in program directory look in BACKUPS folder, there are also backups of the MBRs and bootsectors in case you need to revert the original one. Did you have a card reader, how did you get 12 hard disks? Thanks for reporting

Just fix initrd=/casper/initrd.gz, t must be: initrd /casper/initrd.gz The part after kernel and initrd is the path to vmlinuz and initrd.gz, according to GRUB(grub4dos) syntax, thus no "=" is allowed. "file=/preseed/ubuntu.seed" is part of the kernel parameters passed, so we leave the syntax as it is, as Ubuntu expects is. Lets make another example: LABEL check menu label ^Check CD for defects kernel /casper/vmlinuz append boot=casper integrity-check initrd=/casper/initrd.gz quiet splash -- label-->title menu label is the writing showing up if we select that item, so we may include part of it in our title. initrd=/casper/initrd.gz -->initrd /casper/initrd.gz rest goes as a kernel parameters, removing initrd part: kernel /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper integrity-check quiet splash -- As a result we have: menu Check CD for defects kernel /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper integrity-check quiet splash -- initrd /casper/initrd.gz If booting it from other partition, root (hdX,Y) should be added, or find --set-root /casper/initrd.gz. An excellent grub4dos guide: http://diddy.boot-land.net/grub4dos/Grub4dos.htm

Use windows disk manager, or windows explorer. Make sure you set active partition. No need to use HP USB format tool or PEtoUSB.

Here is a nice thread, although in bulgarian, it has plenty of screenshots of various USB sticks. Pay attention on the ATTO benchmarks. http://www.hardwarebg.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92033 Interesting model was Buffalo RUF2-E4GB, which isn't the fastest model, but gives results close to the best model, at a half price. Unfortunately they released two series of the same, with different controllers, the worse of them performing way slower than the other one. The R type of Buffalo's flash drives is classic- expensive, but among the fastest ones on the market for years. http://www.buffalo-technology.com/products...b-flash-type-r/

Try this: title Ubuntu live root (hd0,0) kernel /casper/vmlinuz file=/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash -- initrd /casper/initrd.gz

Have a look here: http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/partsigs.htm

This is not a proper grub4dos syntax. Please copy- paste here or attach the original isolinux.cfg file and we will try to adapt it for grub4dos.

What version of GParted you tried? Both 0.3.6-7 and 0.3.4-8 worked right away in my tests on 3 different computers.For 0.3.6-7 if it doesn't start GUI try waiting a few seconds, it should auto start depending on the options you choose, [0] beginner etc. Try "sudo startx" too. Ubuntu most likely will be included in the next version, matter of a few weeks.

A few things to try for NTFS- 1. Try zeroing out the first say 200 sectors of the USB drive. Unplug it safely using the windows icon, replug it and reformat it with HP tool in NTFS, try using the tool a few times one after another. 2. Use Hitachi microdrive filter driver or dummydisk (latter is present in both WinSetupFromUSB and USB_multiboot) to make your stick visible to Windows as a hard disk. Then format it from Windows Disk management AND set active partition. Experiment with cluster size. Sometimes second or third format helps, I have noticed maybe a bug in HP USB format tool, when it doesn't rewrite the MBR on first run, do it 3 times and suddenly it works. As for the USB repair option- it's been always working, since the first batch files. You must NOT edit BOOT.INI on the internal hard disk after the install completes, there is a second entry, making this installation visible for repair from USB.

PEtoUSB formats only in FAT16=>partitions up to 2GB. Use HP USB format tool instead, what option would work for you (boot to boot loader/manager) depends entirely on your motherboard/BIOS and has nothing to do with what would be put afterwards on the USB disk- Windows setup, Linux distro, BartPE or whatever.

From ReadMe.txt There are two tooltips, both on USB disk field and REFRESH button saying the same... It all depends on the ISO in question. There is a major difference between boot from CD and from USB, and the latter is a hard disk media, usually.If you really are after "stuffing" an ISO into a USB read this: http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-...th-t121502.html

@lieblingsbesuch- Working on that, but real life also has it's own opinion how time should be distributed, actively negotiating with it @latteslave- does that mean you succeeded when source was used from a HD?

Was your XP source on a CD? Can you copy it to a hard disk, use that as a source and report if that resolved the problem. I guess TXTSETUP.SIF editing fails when source is on a CD, because of the read-only attributes. Thanks for the feedback. edit: Couldn't understand this part, can you explain further?

Try 2000 with different service packs integrated. It seems failing when initialising the loaded drivers and launching the main part of the setup. Has 2000 ever been loaded on that laptop?

Please have a look at this post : http://www.msfn.org/board/USB-Boot-file-de...585#entry797585 It describes exactly why we need rdummy and why drive letters are good indicator during Text mode. It also explains the situation with mixed SATA/PATA drives and why migrate.inf shouldn't be used.

Well, you will have to say which tutorials or program you used and what did (not) happen, with details. The more information you provide, the easier to send you in the right direction.