Install XP from a RAM loaded ISO image
Install XP from a RAM loaded ISO image. Use a default XP ISO image.
Addional files are at a F6 virtual floppy.
After years of search a new driver is developed:
FiraDisk: File/RAM Disk driver for Windows.
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8804
The driver is at early development.
The driver does mount a grub4dos RAM drive.
That's awsome and can be used at a lot of conditions.
Use grub4dos to load a virtual floppy and XP installation image to RAM first.
The virtual floppy is used at F6 stage.
32 bit FiraDisk drivers are loaded by default.You don't have to press F6.
You may press F6 to get selection choice.
There is a fake setup.exe used after first reboot.
The idea is used from drivers from CD
The integrated version is changed: this fake setup.exe launch a batch setup.cmd.
There are includeded the source code, a hidden window processed setup.exe.
And a visible window debug version setup_dbg.exe. To use this version rename this to setup.exe.
The fake setup calls the original, renamed setup: setupORG.exe
The original version is not includede. Therefore edit the floppy image and add the file:
Expand setup.ex_ from your windows version
expand.exe SETUP.EX_ setupORG.exe
copy the file to \setup\I386\setupORG.exe or \setup\AMD64\setupORG.exe
BTS DriverPacks method 2 are supported. http://driverpacks.net/
This use a fake setup and setupORG.exe too.
If you use a DriverPacks version, copy this setupORG.exe to floppy image.
You may add a file \WINNT.SIF too.
Used files at USB:
\Inst\XP_INST.IMA
\Inst\XP_RAM.ISO
A basic XP_INST.IMA is attached. Add setuporg.exe as described.
XP_RAM.ISO is a default XP ISO image. This file is loaded to RAM.
grub4dos menu.lst
title Loading XP RAM install - /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#(fd1) optional, required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN Assumptions: hd0 : booted USB device hd1 : windows target device Tested at virtual machine. Has to be tested at real hardware: several hard disks, several USB drives, internal multi card reader As wimb indicated, comment this if you read and install to the same hard disk. #map (hd0) (hd1)
#map (hd1) (hd0) XP installation from CD and remapped drive order: Files are not deleted from installation media. Setup creates a valid boot.ini. No need to fix boot.ini. Boot once from USB. Setup may assign letter c: to another device. C: is not available for new installed windows. Setup.cmd deletes MountedDevices. At reboot windows assign letters again: c:\windows txtsetup.oem copy a flag file fixDrive.USB to activate this behaviour If you don't need this behaviour, comment the lines ;dll = setup, fixDrive.USB Setup.cmd uses ImDisk to mount the ISO file. http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html#ImDisk The name \Inst\XP_RAM.ISO is the internal default. The name can be configured: The floppy image contains a file \setup\ISOimage.ini. Edit this file. Next the file $winnt$.inf is adjusted. Windows setup continues and use the mounted ISO file. Install from USB to USB is possible too. This part based on Dietmar's tutorials. http://www.winusb.de Read \USB32\to_usb.txt for details. At windows setup press F6 and load firadisk and all usb drivers. In addition there is optional approach to lower RAM usage, e.g. use a 600mb image at 512mb RAM. Integrated mkISO_RAMload_sort.cmd creates a sorted ISO image: boot and textmode files are in front of media. Mkisofs.exe, dd.exe and gsar.exe are used to the create the ISO image. http://cdrecord.berlios.de/private/cdrecord.html http://www.student.tugraz.at/thomas.plank/ dd.exe http://www.chrysocome.net/dd gsar.exe http://home.online.no/~tjaberg Given a sorted ISO image, OEM at end of ISO image. Use grub4dos map to load first part to RAM only. Integrate all \I386 and \AMD64 files. IsoBuster Free does list LBA (Logical Block Address) of files. http://www.isobuster.com/license-models.php The LBA show the file location. Calculate N: LBA of file and add file length Use this number to load image to RAM. Example: load the first 234567 sectors to RAM. Remember one CD sector holds 2048 byte data title Loading XP RAM install - /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFE)+234567
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
map /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFE)
map --hook
map --mem (0xFE)+234567 (0xFF)
map --hook
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN XP_RAM.ISO has to be continuous, defrag a splitted file. v02: firadisk updated: map to (fd0) only. F6 does work 64 bit prepared, unfortunately BSOD 0x7b at 64 bit firadisk added flag file fixDrive.USB added config file ISOimage.ini under construction: install from USB to USB v03: added: install from USB to USB added: added sorted files added: multiboot ISO image, sub directory v04: ISOimage.ini is enabled by default enhanced: sorted files, experimental RAMboot.lst created v05: update: firadisk and imdisk driver - flat file possible in addition if required, USB drivers loaded at a addional reboot v06: major redesign: One driver only - firadisk no need to include setup.exe in floppy image XP_INST_v04.7z XP_INST_v05.7z XP_INST_v06.7z
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
#(fd1) optional, required at some BIOS
#map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd1)
map --mem /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFF)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN Assumptions: hd0 : booted USB device hd1 : windows target device Tested at virtual machine. Has to be tested at real hardware: several hard disks, several USB drives, internal multi card reader As wimb indicated, comment this if you read and install to the same hard disk. #map (hd0) (hd1)
#map (hd1) (hd0) XP installation from CD and remapped drive order: Files are not deleted from installation media. Setup creates a valid boot.ini. No need to fix boot.ini. Boot once from USB. Setup may assign letter c: to another device. C: is not available for new installed windows. Setup.cmd deletes MountedDevices. At reboot windows assign letters again: c:\windows txtsetup.oem copy a flag file fixDrive.USB to activate this behaviour If you don't need this behaviour, comment the lines ;dll = setup, fixDrive.USB Setup.cmd uses ImDisk to mount the ISO file. http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html#ImDisk The name \Inst\XP_RAM.ISO is the internal default. The name can be configured: The floppy image contains a file \setup\ISOimage.ini. Edit this file. Next the file $winnt$.inf is adjusted. Windows setup continues and use the mounted ISO file. Install from USB to USB is possible too. This part based on Dietmar's tutorials. http://www.winusb.de Read \USB32\to_usb.txt for details. At windows setup press F6 and load firadisk and all usb drivers. In addition there is optional approach to lower RAM usage, e.g. use a 600mb image at 512mb RAM. Integrated mkISO_RAMload_sort.cmd creates a sorted ISO image: boot and textmode files are in front of media. Mkisofs.exe, dd.exe and gsar.exe are used to the create the ISO image. http://cdrecord.berlios.de/private/cdrecord.html http://www.student.tugraz.at/thomas.plank/ dd.exe http://www.chrysocome.net/dd gsar.exe http://home.online.no/~tjaberg Given a sorted ISO image, OEM at end of ISO image. Use grub4dos map to load first part to RAM only. Integrate all \I386 and \AMD64 files. IsoBuster Free does list LBA (Logical Block Address) of files. http://www.isobuster.com/license-models.php The LBA show the file location. Calculate N: LBA of file and add file length Use this number to load image to RAM. Example: load the first 234567 sectors to RAM. Remember one CD sector holds 2048 byte data title Loading XP RAM install - /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFE)+234567
ls /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO || find --set-root /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO
map --mem /Inst/XP_INST.IMA (fd0)
map /Inst/XP_RAM.ISO (0xFE)
map --hook
map --mem (0xFE)+234567 (0xFF)
map --hook
chainloader (0xFF)/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN XP_RAM.ISO has to be continuous, defrag a splitted file. v02: firadisk updated: map to (fd0) only. F6 does work 64 bit prepared, unfortunately BSOD 0x7b at 64 bit firadisk added flag file fixDrive.USB added config file ISOimage.ini under construction: install from USB to USB v03: added: install from USB to USB added: added sorted files added: multiboot ISO image, sub directory v04: ISOimage.ini is enabled by default enhanced: sorted files, experimental RAMboot.lst created v05: update: firadisk and imdisk driver - flat file possible in addition if required, USB drivers loaded at a addional reboot v06: major redesign: One driver only - firadisk no need to include setup.exe in floppy image XP_INST_v04.7z XP_INST_v05.7z XP_INST_v06.7z
Since looking at this thread: Install 2000/XP/2003 from RAM loaded small ISO I started to wonder if it would be possible to combine the two projects (sort of).
Would it be possible to boot a mini iso with the boot files (as flyakites guide - saves on boot time!) in RAM (0XFF) and direct boot the full iso (safes RAM) from the UFD (0XFE) then install from the full iso. Just a thought but I wondered if it would work.
Edit: Nearly forgot... tested install on my desktop with and without card reader. Everything went fine except on the attempt where I created a new partition on the drive (disk was empty) and ended up with a random reboot just at the point presetup.cmd should have run. I booted to hdd a second time and everything went fine except I ended up with a 'All Users.WINDOWS' dir in Documents and settings.
I think this reboot was caused by the for loop in presetup.cmd because on subsequent installs (and on the second attempt above) I had "No Disk" errors at this point when the card reader was connected.
A part from disconnecting it prior to install the only solution I can think of is to reverse the search order in the loop, that way the UFD (where my OEM dir is) should, hopefully, be found before the card reader.
SET TAGFILE=\OEM
FOR %%i IN (Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C) DO IF EXIST "%%i:%TAGFILE%" SET CDDRIVE=%%i:& GOTO DPsFound If I was doing this in a bash script I'd search for the volume label instead and save a possible 23 mounts but I have know idea how to do that in Windows.
FOR %%i IN (Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C) DO IF EXIST "%%i:%TAGFILE%" SET CDDRIVE=%%i:& GOTO DPsFound If I was doing this in a bash script I'd search for the volume label instead and save a possible 23 mounts but I have know idea how to do that in Windows.