Problem installing XP from USB

[jaclaz]

@cdob

Well, if winnt32 is not to be used, it's better to use the "known to be working" mutiboot method:

http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html

In that method, migrate.inf works.

Would adding cfadisk.sys or dummydisk.sys filter drivers work? +

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=4701&st=6

You must be right about gray's reports, that would account for the "stop" fusan is experiencing with the write protect key enabled.

But we still need to understand why there is a difference with the 4 Gb key and the 16 Gb, would it be possible that on USB sticks FAT16 is so faster when compared to FAT32 that it makes the difference?

I wouldn't think so, FAT32 has not any "complex" structure as NTFS has, from what I know is nothing more than an "improved" FAT16.

What could maybe make a difference is "quality" of the sticks involved, if the 4 Gb belongs to "top range" and the 16 Gb is of the "cheap ones", that could make a whole world of difference.

See the measured performance on this (alas rather oldish) comparison:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/384/3

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/384/4

I guess that since there is a great number of small files when installing, access time and read speed would be the most useful parameters to judge.

To remain among OCZ products, the OCZ Rally is almost 20 times faster than the OCZ Roadster in access time, and, assuming that read speed would be roughly proportional to the measured write speed (irrelevant in our case), the difference is anyway more than 3 times.

@fusan

Performing a quick test with HDTACH may confirm or debunk this latter theory:

http://www.simplisoftware.com/Public/index...?request=HdTach

the TRIAL version should have enough features to do the access time and read tests.

jaclaz

[fusan]

@jaclaz

The link you refer to: http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html is it supposed to

link to a particuar thread to copy windows in another way than using winnt32.exe? Because it

just link to a general forum instead. Or maybe that is your pupose

Anyway I compared the two USB keys with HDTACH and this is the result:

16 GB Corsair VoyagerGT = 31,3 MB/s

4 GB Kingston DataTraveler = 12,6 MB/s

Ill try to cfadisk.sys just to se if it works.

@cdob

Setupreg.hiv does actually change the registry. The problem is just that the change also halts the pc

right after windows splash screen.

Yes I have tried using /tempdrive when winnt32.exe is called, but it doesent change anything.

Using an Image instead of winnt32.exe will skip the deplay, but Im not sure how to do it.

Do you mean that I run winnt32.exe and after windows has been copied to the HD, Ill make an

Image of the HD?

But wouldnt that give a problem since the HAL will be "locked" to one particular PC? The problem is that

I use this automated installation on several laptops... some with multiprocessors and some old with

just one.

Otherwise this sound like a good alternative to using winnt32.exe.

[cdob]

Setupreg.hiv does actually change the registry. The problem is just that the change also halts the pc

right after windows splash screen.

Yes, FBWF driver is missing.

Yes I have tried using /tempdrive when winnt32.exe is called, but it doesent change anything.

That's bad news.

Do you mean that I run winnt32.exe and after windows has been copied to the HD, Ill make an

Image of the HD?

Actually idea was to replace winnt32.exe.

Basically: copy files yourself and prepare boot environment.

So far a rough idea only. Not tested.

Contrary your idea should work too. Run winnt32.exe once and create a Image of the HD.

But wouldnt that give a problem since the HAL will be "locked" to one particular PC?

Winnt32 dosn't care about HAL. Installation works at uniprocessor and multiprocessor machines.

[jaclaz]

@jaclaz

The link you refer to: http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html is it supposed to

link to a particuar thread to copy windows in another way than using winnt32.exe? Because it

just link to a general forum instead. Or maybe that is your pupose

Check the stickies in that Forum.

jaclaz

[fusan]

@cdob

What I ment with the HAL thing was that the image made would be locked to one particular machine.

My idea with makin the image of c: after windows copy is not that good at all. It will be a nightmare to maintain this image

when new updates and hotfixes arrives.

Hmm Maybe I shold install those together with the Application at the end of windows installation.

So that would lead me to your procedure with copying windows files myself using the method jaclaz recomend.

Ohh... allmost forgot... I added the FBWF plugin and remade the bart build, changed the setupreg.hiv with the

writeprotect. It still freezes after windows splash screen. Maybe FBWF is loaded after setupreg.hiv or maybe it is the wrong

FBWF plugin. Maybe it doesent load at all, is there a way to check that?

Still the question is floating in the air... why is there no delay with the 4GB stick opposite to the 16GB?

The strange thing about this delay is that it is varying in time, sometimes it takes minutes, somtimes few seconds before the copy starts.

Edited July 26, 2008 by fusan