Boot.ini entry to access USB drive

[dnelaa]

OK, i have 1 hd with 2 partitions (c:,e:) when i load windows (xp) and i put in the usb drive i get like c:\ (root drive) d:\ (usb drive) e:\ (seconde partition of the hard drive) all are bootble.

now- my question is Can I add an entry to the Boot.ini file on the hard disk of the PC to boot USB Drive? Are the USB drivers of Windows already loaded when NTLDR boots? If yes, what do I have to add to the Boot.ini? (with out getting to the bios option 'usb first boot" thats not a problem..)

tried those options ( at "USB" lines) - no luck so far:

[boot Loader]

timeout=30

Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP LITE" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="USB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="USB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="USB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="USB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="USB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(2)partition(3)\WINDOWS="USB" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Edited June 17, 2009 by dnelaa

[jaclaz]

my question is Can I add an entry to the Boot.ini file on the hard disk of the PC to boot USB Drive?

NO.

Are the USB drivers of Windows already loaded when NTLDR boots?

NO.

But it doesn't matter, since also the BIOS USB support is disabled unless you choose in BIOS to boot from USB.

If yes, what do I have to add to the Boot.ini? (with out getting to the bios option 'usb first boot" thats not a problem..)

Since it's NO, null question!

You missed the alternative question:

If NO, what do I have to add to the Boot.ini? (with out getting to the bios option 'usb first boot" thats not a problem..)

You add to it an entry loading grldr of grub4dos.

From grub4dos you load an image containing PLoP.

PLoP has it's own USB stack that will hopefully allow booting from the stick.

See on boot-land:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showforum=66

Search for posts with keyword "PLoP".

A couple ones:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6330

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6371

Alternatively, and IF the usb stick you want to boot contains a XP or PE of some kind, you may want to try the "XP Kansas City Shuffle" or "Fake Signature Method", search for them on 911CD and boot-land.

jaclaz

Edited June 17, 2009 by jaclaz

[ilko_t]

What do you need to boot from that USB disk?

Is the motherboard capable of USB boot?

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

I am sure there are way better approaches if you answer the questions above.

To answer- USB drivers are not loaded at that stage, NTLDR works with whatever BIOS provides, unless a driver is loaded by (renamed to NTBOOTDD.SYS and using SCSI syntax in BOOT.INI).

http://blogs.msdn.com/ntdebugging/archive/...the-second.aspx

[jaclaz]

Re-reading the OP post, it seems like all is needed is to avoid the shifting of letters?

That would be solved by assigning the d:\ letter statically with Disk Management to the second disk/partition.

jaclaz

[dnelaa]

i dont get your point..what do i need?

well the all usb disk

i have menu with hiren tools, xp setup ext..

loading bios options every time and set usb as firsrt boot it's pain in the a**..

it will be very simple to add a line at boot ini isnt it?

What do you need to boot from that USB disk?

Is the motherboard capable of USB boot?

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

I am sure there are way better approaches if you answer the questions above.

To answer- USB drivers are not loaded at that stage, NTLDR works with whatever BIOS provides, unless a driver is loaded by (renamed to NTBOOTDD.SYS and using SCSI syntax in BOOT.INI).

http://blogs.msdn.com/ntdebugging/archive/...the-second.aspx

[dnelaa]

i dont get your point..

Q."What do you need to boot from that USB disk?"

A.well the all usb disk

i have menu with hiren tools, xp setup ext..

Q.Is the motherboard capable of USB boot?

A. yes

Q."What exactly are you trying to achieve"?

A. I dont get you..like what programs or what

all i do now is loading bios options every time and set usb as firsrt boot it's pain in the a**..

it will be very simple to add a line at boot ini don't you think?

What do you need to boot from that USB disk?

Is the motherboard capable of USB boot?

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

I am sure there are way better approaches if you answer the questions above.

To answer- USB drivers are not loaded at that stage, NTLDR works with whatever BIOS provides, unless a driver is loaded by (renamed to NTBOOTDD.SYS and using SCSI syntax in BOOT.INI).

http://blogs.msdn.com/ntdebugging/archive/...the-second.aspx

[ilko_t]

i dont get your point..what do i need?

well the all usb disk

i have menu with hiren tools, xp setup ext..

loading bios options every time and set usb as firsrt boot it's pain in the a**..

it will be very simple to add a line at boot ini isnt it?

Would be simple, yes, there is workaround, but there are number of limitations and to know if that suits your needs, we need to know what you are trying to boot, including what's on the USB stick.

Plus your question could mean "Can I boot USB stick if my BIOS/motherboard do not provide USB boot". How would we know what you mean?

To boot BIOS hard disk device you cannot use NTLDR, you can use it to chainload grub4dos, the chainload disk MBR, bootsector on partition on disk, or another bootloader on partition.

But in this case HD numbering is as BIOS provides it- internal HD is disk0 (you booted from it), USB (in case on other disks)- disk1. Number of applications would refuse to start, including XP setup when NOT launched from first hard disk as BIOS reports it.

Grub4dos provides ways to "shift" hard disk numbering, but you will fall into other difficulties.

So use BIOS boot options and select USB when needed, unless you want to learn more.

[jaclaz]

it will be very simple to add a line at boot ini isnt it?

Yes, but it WON'T work.

The ONLY KNOWN alternatives have been listed:

You add to it an entry loading grldr of grub4dos.

From grub4dos you load an image containing PLoP.

PLoP has it's own USB stack that will hopefully allow booting from the stick.

The above (IF it works on your particular motherboard) is a "generic" solution, the following:

Alternatively, and IF the usb stick you want to boot contains a XP or PE of some kind, you may want to try the "XP Kansas City Shuffle" or "Fake Signature Method", search for them on 911CD and boot-land.

Will ONLY work for a given NT based OS ("full" XP or PE).

jaclaz

[ilko_t]

Just to clarify- if BIOS supports booting from USB, giving disk number to the USB the following is possible and working:

Start internal disk

Load grub4dos

USB disk is (hd1) and accessible

Start PartedMagic for example from the USB disk.

So in this case PLoP is not needed.

[jaclaz]

Just to clarify- if BIOS supports booting from USB, giving disk number to the USB the following is possible and working:

Start internal disk

Load grub4dos

USB disk is (hd1) and accessible

Start PartedMagic for example from the USB disk.

So in this case PLoP is not needed.

Yep.

But not on all motherboards/BIOSes, some simply do not give any USB support if the "boot from USB" is not selected in BIOS.

One could also try the BOOT.INI "signature" Syntax, I seem to remember that it worked on some motherboards, at the time of the initial tests with Dietmar.

jaclaz