LordX

Ok, I tested the Stick on my Bench PC with another hard drive. It ran the XP setup and fully installed. This was not a 'trouble' system (e.g. dell) so I dont know if it would work there - but does the fact that it loaded and installed mean that the ntdetect that I put into the .ISO file is working? Or do I NEED to test it on one of the trouble dell systems?

jaclaz - thanks for the info. I replaced the ntdetect in the i386 folder by simply copying and pasting. I used ULTRAISO to open the .iso files and replace the ntdetect file there. When ULTRAISO saved the new ISO files - they were a little different in size. The originals were 1100kb or so - the new ultraiso saves are 800kb or so. NOTE: The new ntdetect.com was the correct size (47,596 bytes). Is this ok?

I already completed the entire transfer of the OS disks to my thumb drive using version 1.0 beta 7. In the WINSETUP folder on the thumb drive it lists the 3 different Windows XP installations that I have (Home, MCE, Pro) - in these folders are the respective i386 folders. I should just be able to copy the modified ntdetect directly to these three i386 folders on the thumb drive ... right?

I copied the ntdetect.com file into my USB root - but should I replace the ntdetect.com in the i386 folder of the three different Windows XP installations I have on the stick?

Ok, I got it to boot into the troublesome PC. Here is how: 1. Used RMPREP to prep the drive using the XP/ntdlr setting and NTFS. 2. Used Parted Magic to add 2 additional primary partitions to the stick (using the stick with Win764, Vista64, Vista32). 3. Used version 1.0 beta 7 to copy files as normal. Presto - that's it. It booted right up on the HP laptop - and I tested the win7/Vista setups from all 3 partitions. PS - About the dell issue - I found your post with the HEX ntdetect alternative, so I used the HEX program and saved the file, but I have yet to copy it to the stick. I will post about if it works or not. If it does, then this stick will be the ultimate windows boot stick for home users. Thank god bootit.exe worked on my thumb drive!

Before I begin - does having the drive formatted in Fat32 or ntfs make any difference? I have it as ntfs right now.

Scratch that last post about not having a system - I just found a newer HP laptop (core i3, win7) that gives the same Missing MBR Helper message. I will have some fun with my stick (lol) tomorrow and see what I come up with and post the results. If I ask some dumb questions along the way, please forgive me.

I would love to help - your program has been such a help to me it is the least I could do. I do not have one of these pesky machines near me at the moment. Every PC I have right now boots fine. I am going to see a customer tomorrow with an HP laptop - but I don't know if he will allow me to borrow the laptop This is a serious issue for me because I would like to have my DVD's only for emergency, and permanently switch to this USB drive. I will be happy to post my results once I get them.

Any specific instructions for prepping the drive with the RMPREPUSB? Should I format the drive into one partition BEFORE using RM? Etc?

First - I love this tool - it has helped me so much with my home PC's - and cleared away my old stack of DVD's! Thanks Thanks Thanks! Only concern I have: The USB Stick I created with this prgram (beta 6) boots on about half of the PC's I try it on. Perfectly. The other half I get: Missing MBR Helper. (Mostly HP Laptops actually - and some Acers). Is there a file I can copy to the drive, or a file I can edit, that will allow this to boot on almost every system? PS - These are newer systems (e.g. Vista +) That are designed to boot from USB. - These systems also boot from another linux USB stick (pendrivelinux.com) I have that has utilities on it, so I know the systems are capable of booting to USB. PPS - I guess one more tiny issue - when I try to boot into Windows XP setup on any Dell desktop (only desktops too, not laptops) - It blue screens after copying the initial files - right before it 'starts windows' and shows available partitions. Any ideas on this?

Something Important: As mentioned before, for the multiple windows Vista/7 installs the removable bit must be 'flipped'. However, the bootit.exe program from Lexar works on SOME other manufacturers drives, but not all. For example - my OLD Corsair Survivor 16gb drive WORKED - so I just wasted $80 buying two more (which are a newer version) to find that they do NOT work. This Thread could REALLY use a Full and Updated LIST of all Thumb Drives that people have gotten to WORK with the Bootit.exe application. Especially the FASTEST sticks! If this list already exists somewhere, I would greatly appreciate a link. Thanks again for this fantastic program!

I got my issue fixed. I read and searched this forum topic through all the pages, and I think that it should be made common knowledge that the CD/DVD Driver issue with Vista/7 on a partition other than Partition 0 is because the Removable Bit has NOT been flipped. I had a Corsair 16GB Voyager drive, and was ABLE to flip the removable bit, so the multiple partitions WORKED with the Vista/7 installs. This should be CLEARLY listed in the very first post - Vista/7 Installs must be on different partitions, and MUST be on a Flash Drive that allows the REMOVABLE bit to be 'flipped'. Another thing that would help this post significantly is a listing of flash drives (or at least a listing of the FASTEST flash drives) that are compatible with the bootit.exe application.

Ok, after a lot of messing around and trial and error I have my stick created for the most part. The only error I get is with the Vista/7 Installations that are NOT on the first partition. Vista64bit is on the first partition (part-0) - and this loads up fine and installs. Vista32 (part-1), Win7-64 (part-2), Win7-32 (part-3) - ALL have the same error which is: "A Required CD/DVD Drive Device Driver is missing" - And then it gives me the options to browse for the driver. I read some posts from about a year ago with someone having the same problem - there were some links posted, but they are dead now. Has this problem been solved?

Hey all - new to this program and really looking forward to it. In fact, I will absolutely donate if/when I get this working right. Just to begin - I downloaded the latest version from page 1 of this forum, and cant find the general ReadMe.txt file which would help guide me through this process. I have a 32GB Corsair GTR thumb drive and my goal is to be able to have all three of my XP Installs (Home, Pro, MCE), my Vista/7 ISO's, and UBCD + Recovery Disks All on one drive. So far I have tried using Bootice to partition the usb drive (which partitioned it, but didn't format it so I had to use Parted Magic to format the 3 other partitions). The program Recognizes my Flash Drive and all FOUR partitions - but after spending a bunch of time copying all the ISO files, I was UNABLE to get the drive to BOOT. I formatted and re-partitioned the Drive back into 4. (part 1 = 15GB, part 2-4 = 5GB) I tried simply putting ONE ISO (XP Home) onto the main partition, and booting it. (I clicked on Bootice and added the Grub4dos MBR)... I put the stick into my bootable system (which boots fine with other grub4dos sticks) and it does not boot saying: "Cannot find GRLDR in all devices" I have spent all day messing with this, and would LOVE a simple guide to doing what I am trying to do, or an expert here who has been through all of this. Thanks again for making such a wonderful piece of software!