GRUB, Install XP/7 from ISO

[huglester]

Hello everyone,

First of all I wanted to thanks of the wonderfull resource here. so MANY valuable information around..

But I came with a problem here, for few days I am trying to make a bootable USB with ISO's on it... Why ISO? Well, if I decide to replace/add some new ISO's - it would be very easy... I also often create different CDs using nlite, so no need to re-create disks etc..etc...

So after researching I have found, that I need grub loader, since grub can work with images...

After long testing, reading forums and trying examples, I have foudn one, wich let me at least launch the setup, it is:

title Boot Disk Image xp1
map (hd0,0)/xp.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader ()

Using this, when I try booting, it asks me 'Press any key to continue to boot from CD...'

After I press 'any key', it starts loading drivers, but when it comes to show hard disks, I get BSOD, with error number: 0x0000007b. While I tried burning same image on the CD, and it worked fine...

Any information is greatly appreciated...

Thank you!

Jaroslav

Edited October 20, 2010 by huglester

[jaclaz]

After long testing, reading forums and trying examples, I have foudn one, wich let me at least launch the setup, it is:

You are still missing some info .

You DO NOT want "grub" you want grub4dos (it is NOT the same).

First thing read these two threads:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8944

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5041

(both stickies in the grub4dos forum):

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

Then read here on MSFN (in this same MSFN Forums » Member Contributed Projects » Install Windows from USB forum):

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=137714

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=120444

(also both stickies)

Then re-read:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8944

once again, the XP .iso works in a different way from the 7 .iso and another .iso may work the same way as one of the said two or in a third (or nth) different way.

In a nutshell, a 7 .iso should work "as is", an XP one needs to be specially crafted/modified.

jaclaz

[huglester]

hello jaclaz,

thank you for such wonderfull information and explanation.

I'll go down with the topics in order you described.

As I can see this doesn't work in such an easy way like I though:)

Everyday we know/learn something new:))

Thanks and good luck!

Jaroslav