Hi all,

For some odd reason I cannot get BartPE to load from a USB flashdrive. It loads in RAM OK (even though it is taking around 10 minutes to load the 200Mb ISO on my HP TC1100), then it shows a blue screen with a white mouse pinter in the middle. The mouse works, but I cannot get any furtehr than this. Anyone can shed some light on this? Thank you for your help!

Welcome to the site. It is a great adventure you are trying to undertake.

May I take this moment to point out the search feature that is an integral part of this forum? Also a basic parusal of the main section would have shown you a thread based on this topic. For the sake of letting you find it your self, here is the link to it.

http://www.ubcd4win.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2405

It is a long thread and has some answers for you.

Thanks for the welcome! I have studied that thread over last weekend, and actually got to the point of creating the boot USB successfully. What I would like to try is to have a VERY small iso, so at least I reduce the RAM parameter. What is the bare minimum of plug-ins I need? Thanks once again.

No worries. Now as your latest question falls outside the scope of my last answer, it literally all depends on what you want to do with it. At a minimum you have to have the autobuild and critical plugins enabled or disabled according to what they are. After that, what do you not need to do what you want? To get my builds small but useful, I drop all malware from my build along with FF and Filezilla and a few other apps. As i boot mine off of USB drive, I have those particular apps as portable apps from portableapps.com. I have no need for those. Others are all about your tastes.

Basically, it is small as you make it. Leave the main build stuff and pick your apps you will need.

Good luck!! It can be a pain as you may build your for your systems and then try on a friends just to find out that the RAM disk may not work on it. It is a crap shoot when it comes to the USB booting thusfar.

Thanks Bv!

Actually at this point what I want to do is not very important, however let's say that the primary scope is to perform and maintain good system backups (so I have the Ghost plugin), of course, at USB 2.0 speed. Other than this, I don't need anything at this point. So, I started off with enablind (or disabling) all the Critical plugins, along with all the Autobuilds and the Ghost plugin. Other than those I selected nothing, just to keep the iso down to a minimum. Still the iso is a chunky 277Mb (the bulk being the windows files in the i386 folder), so really it's not as small as I make it...

Anyway, the result of the above is still the blank blue screen with the happy little mouse pointer floating around And thinking of the Ramdisk, what can make (or not make) it work? Do you think it's actually a Ramdisk issue?

In other words... I feel lost... by the way, my version of the PE builer is 3.1.10a, the version of the RAMdisk driver (in the srsp1 folder) is 5.2.3790.1830. Could you please check your version? My file sizes of ramdisk.sys and setupldr.bin are 22,528 bytes and 298,096 bytes respectively. I have 512Mb RAM on board.

If you followed the directions for the RAM disk creation and grabbed the files from 2003, then I am not sure... Might possibly be an issue of the services not getting started fast enough for it to continue on. This is as well addressed in the main USB boot thread.

I was going to post the info from the other thread but I have a question... You are in fact using 3.04 correct? The fix that is listed in the main USB thread has been implemented since 3.0 came out I believe. What it was was a modification of a inf or 2 and added a few files including sleep.exe to pause the system for a few seconds while the services and such fired up and then continued the boot. If you are still using 3.04 and it is giving the issue, then let me know and I will post the mods needed.

You may also think about using a vanilla BartPE with the BTS and LB driver 1.9 to make your disk. That may slim it down for you...

I agree that it might possibly be an issue of the services not getting started fast enough (it takes a good 10 minutes loading the iso into RAM). To which main USB thread are you referring? Is it the one you originally posted in your first reply?

I am using version PE Builder 3.1.10a not 3.04, but still I do not recall seeing sleep.exe.

I have no info on vanilla BartPE with the BTS and LB driver 1.9. Can you please elaborate, or guide me with some links? On the ramdisk.sys issue, are there different file versions which I can try?

On a totally different note, do you know if Bart is contactable in any way?

Thanks once again!

There are hardware / BIOS limitations at USB booting. 10 minutes loading the iso into RAM indicated USB 1.1 speed.
A HP TC1100 might be strange.

There is new BartPE USB section over there at 911.
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showforum=38
Maybe a user did booted from a HP TC1100.

Yes



BartPE 3.1.10a is included in UBCD4Win 3.04. Are you using the vanilla plain non modified BartPE or are you using UBCD4Win that you download from this site?



I was suggesting take the 3.04 from this site, get the BTS drivers, delete the drivers from the drivers folder or just move them to another location, grab the 1.9 driver pack from Litlbuggers site and build that way. Or download the plain BartPE from his site and use the driver method I just mentioned. That is what I would consider a plain jane vanilla base to test with.

As for additional files, did you follow the guides for grabbing the files from 2003? You have to grab several files from 2003 server in order for the ramdisk option to work. This includes but is not limited to ramdisk.sys.



Don't know...


@cdob,

I will have to keep an eye on that thread and maybe post in it... Who knows... Thanx for that link!!

Thanks cdob and Bv. Your help is greatly appreciated.

OK, I have the UBCD4Win from this site, not the original BartPE. Where do I find the BTS and Litlbuggers drivers? Do you have links? Is it just a plain delete and replace which you are proposing?

From the 2003 SP1 pack I only took the ramdisk.sys and setupldr.bin as per Bart's own instructions, and placed them in the folder srsp1 in the PEBuilder folder. I took and replaced/added no other files.

At this point I think I should re-define what I am aiming for. All I need is the ability to backup (and re-write if required) my entire hard drive in a PE environment, at USB 2.0 speed. I have checked with HP and came to know that my TC1100 tablet runs USB at 1.1 speed in DOS, so I believe I have no other option apart from loading the USB 2.0 drivers (in a Windows environment). I have tried several times to use the usbaspi.sys method (Panasonic USB 2.0 drivers for DOS) mentioned elsewhere on the net, but I had zero success, as it is impossible to load USB drivers from a USB device. So I am concluding that the best - and only - way is to load a basic windows setup and work from there, using a Windows based backup software such as Acronis True Image.

The link to the BTS drivers is plainly posted in the Current version and Lastest News forum area.. Its the first sticky post so I don't understand how you missed that one.

UBCD4Win v3.04 already include the v1.9 drivers... there is no need to download them again.

I was under the presumption that the 2.0 drivers were in 3.04... Thank you for the clarification there rdsok.

@mdebono

Why don't you use the CD instead? If you can't load the USB2 drivers and so only runs at 1.1 speeds, why not skip the USB all together and just use the CD? It boots fairly fast and you can plug your External HD to do backups or even do over your network at home. Just an option...

I agree that the CD might be the best option, but I have portability in mind. Remember this is a Tablet PC, so really no CD, no floppy... An external CD will have to be plugged through USB anyway, and will need external power... Despite all this, I will probably have to go down this route and see how it goes.

Actually right now I think I have made some progress. I have managed to install (and boot) Win98SE from a Dane-Elec 1GB memory stick. The desktop loads in about 2 minutes and performance-wise it feels OK. Now all I need is to install the Windows USB 2.0 drivers and find a Windows-based imaging software. I have tried to install the same Win98 on my Transcend JetFlash 8GB, but so far I have not succeeded (willnot boot). Any ideas here? Main problems is the format, since it's 8GB and cannot be FAT like the Dane-Elec.

Will keep you posted with developments. If in the meantime you get any bright ideas please let me know

Hearing about the system spec of not having a built in CD-ROM drive, you will more than likely have the same issue even with a CD... Dies at the same point basically. Maybe doing a install of XP onto your flash drive may work. Hard to say. It does require a higher level of knowledge of installs than with this project. Someone here (I apologize as I have a terrible memory) gave me a link to a couple of sites of which I think are mentioned in that long thread of USB booting. For quicker access, here is the link to the install and run XP from a USB stick. I can not say that it WILL work for you but is also worth a shot as it is a full install of XP and not the BartPE version.

http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

I have not followed it to do what it allows you to do but took parts of it to try to get it to work with BartPE to no avail. Good luck!!

====================================
I've been trying to get a FULL, REAL install of XP Pro to a -bootable- USB HDD for some time now...

The above link provided all the necessary info to actually do it,
but i used some mods to the procedure in order to get my USB HDD going.
Did not use an iso, rather copied Install DVD to folder and slipstreamed SP2 for 'newer' files in folder.
Formatted USB HDD NTFS, one partition, with the HP utility, then used the 5 or 6 file (1 new) mods mentioned.
Used CDImage in .bat file to create the iso, then burned to DVD-R. This is my new Install DVD, w/USB Boot mods.
Booted this DVD, and voila: XP Pro installation came up...
Had to copy: ntldr and ntdetect.com to USB HDD somewhere in here,
because XP installation set it to boot from c:\boot.ini only.
The USB HDD has no boot.ini and comes up as D: when booted...

BTW, it -is- a 'full install', activated it over the net, D/L'd -all- 98 or so updates for it
and installed Ghost, Partition Magic, MS Works, etc with no problems at all...
(So, it is a 'full-bore' installation and bootable from USB HDD, and I assume that
the same can be done using a large USB stick.)

@BvF7734
"... try to get it to work with BartPE" ---
Sounds interesting, but I thought you already boot UBCD4Win from a USB stick, using PeToUSB ?
http://www.ubcd4win.com/forum/index.php?s=&...ost&p=43813
====================================
@mdebono
You might want to try the above (original msge) link's procedure on your 8 GB 'stick', formatted NTFS.

For your 1 GB stick, you might want to try this:

1. Make a MINIMUM UBCD4Win build, no malware, etc. and 'disable' most plugins. This will keep the
BartPE folder as small as possible. (Be sure to KEEP your 'Ghost' or 'Acronis' plugin...)

2. Try the 'BartPE stick' procedure that works -for me- :
http://www.ubcd4win.com/forum/index.php?s=&...ost&p=43811
(Don't Google for PeToUSB - go here for download:)
Thanks to Rich Burnham at:
http://gocoding.com/page.php?al=petousb

BTW, the PeToUSB procedure does -not- depend on an iso or ramdisk - he copies files directly from
\BartPE to the USB stick. SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD RENAME: \srsp1 to \srsp1_temp BEFORE THE BUILD, in step 1.

3. Good luck, and keep us informed.

chuck

The USB stick is in fact working for me. To a point.... My particular issue is that it works fine on our latops but will not work on our desktops. When I use the same USB stick whether it came out of a laptop or was a fresh copy of the files is immaterial as it is the same 0x7b stop code every time. It was suggested as a solution to this issue to modify the source similarly to how it is modified to install on a USB hard drive. This edit had no affect in my testing and was confirmed with others in the same boat as I.

Ah, now I see...

Did you try a build using the 'older' ntdetect,com (not SP2), per:
http://www.nedprod.com/Niall_stuff/BootWinUSB
-----------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE:
SP2 introduced a new NTDETECT.COM, which to be frank, is simply "Buggy".
You will probably find that it causes intermittent BSOD's 0x7b eg;
you can boot under safe mode or with boot logging enabled but normal boots
are 50/50 successful.

The solution is easy -
In the BartPE or UBCD CDROM, in the \i386 directory, there is an -older- NTDETECT.COM.
Simply copy this one over the one in the root directory of your windows installation.
END QUOTE
(I assume this implies: No SP2 slipstream was incorporated before building,
in which case you may need the 'older' from the original Install CD's \i386.)
-----------------------------------------------------------

Also, did you have a shot at PeToUSB's Format_Options checkbox = "Enable LBA (FAT16X)" on the right side.
Heard of a user who needed that 'checked' to work on his Dell notebook, but
'unchecked' to work on his Dell desktop...

Man, those new DELLs are tough!!!
(Was wanting Dell as my new computer last July, but no 64x2, my primary requirement.
Had to go Gateway -- this thing boots anything. Good BIOS code, I guess.)

Well, good luck, again.

OK guys, so I thought I'd give you an update on my latest endeavours:

1. Tried a minimal BartPE build from CD
2. Tried UBCD4Win Builder from CD
3. Tried to install WindowsXP SP1 with USB mods from original CD to Pen Drive
4. Tried Rich Burnham's method
5. Tried simple Win98 boot disks, but I always get "command.com missing or corrupt"

None of the above would let me pass the blue screen of death (0x7b). I read about the ntdetect issue (that's why I tried SP1 not SP2). Whatever I do, I'm stuck at the blue screen. Note that for all the above trials, the hard drive was unplugged, so the only devices present were the USB CD and the USB flash drive. I am formatting the flash drive using HP's format utility, mentioned elsewhere here and in other tutorials on the internet.

Next I will be trying to install Windows98 SE. Who knows, perhaps I can take it in two steps to arrive to XP, thus avoiding the blue screen of death??

Heeeeelp!!!

@chuckr_jcr:



I did not understand what you meant by the parts in bold. Which versions of ntldr ans ntdetect.com did you use and where did you place them? Do these files by themselves make a drive bootable? Did you copy these file by a manual copy/paste?

Thanks,
Mark

OK. Looks like you're trying to make a "Full bore" real XP install, following the directions on:
http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

NOTE that if you're following his method, by modifying files -inside- the iso, that NONE of the following
words means anything or is remotely applicable to his method. I simply used a different technique
and ran into a few stumbling blocks with my method. Too lazy (and cheap) to fool around with the
"WinISO" that he says you have to have, and registered. I use freebies or write my own.
============================
First:
Since I used a -modified- procedure by NOT working -within- his original .iso file as mentioned,
I had copied my installation DVD to a folder (E:\USB_InstallXP) and was working with the -files- in
that folder.
When I hit his step 9 =
--------------------------------
9) Burn the ISO back to CD
Feel free to use any burning package you want. I used the free and simple Burnatonce
10) Install Windows XP from the CD
--------------------------------
I had to first -create- an ISO file using folder (E:\USB_InstallXP)...
So, I used a DOS prompt to run my homemade batch file:
CDImage in .bat file to create the iso...

CDImage is a freebie (Microsoft, I think) program that creates ISO files.
My "batch" file (called 'Burn.bat') to run it from a command prompt looks like this:

where the:
-L (in Lowercase) is the volume label for the CD
-b indicates where the "Bootsector" is found
>---> don't know what these mean, but were on the example I found: -J1 -h -o -m So I kept them...
The next parm is the folder to use to create the iso (uses entire folder, mine around 850 MB)
and last parm is the output file location, my new ISO file, to later be burned to DVD and complete step 9.
My burner is called "Power2Go" and writes ISOs to CD/DVD just fine.
============================
Next:
USB HDD somewhere in here
After the XP Pro Installation ran from the DVD (and completed), he booted the USB HDD 60 GB, but it was
"thru" the file "Boot.ini" on the C:\ drive. But, I could NOT boot from the plugged-in 60 GB from Power-ON,
after changing my BIOS settings, etc.
Turns out (somehow) that the files: ntldr and ntdetect.com were not on the 60GB, but ARE
required to boot (thru the USB wired HDD from Power-ON)...
(Seems to -imply- that C:\ntldr and C:\ntdetect.com are executed -before- the 'boot.ini' is read, and therefore
are not necessary on the USB HDD itself. -My conjecture-, not fact.)
So, I simply copied them from the C:\ (root) (they're probably "system/hidden" - I always show ALL files in Explorer,
so I can do as I please with those files.) to the USB HDD 60 GB's X:\ (root), where X: is the USB HDD.
These files alone will not make a drive bootable. I put them there because they were missing, and they
are required to "fire up" the Windows XP booting, from the USB wired drive from Power-ON (and NOT thru C:\Boot.ini).
If using 'his' method of working -inside- the iso, these files should already be inside the .iso file.

BE ADVISED THAT MOST USERS WOULD --NOT-- EVER USE THIS PROCEDURE because they MIGHT INADVERTENTLY
DELETE SYSTEM files !!!!!!!
If you DO use it to copy the files: ntldr and ntdetect.com to the USB HDD as I did, move very SLOWLY and
CAREFULLY (so as NOT to click "DELETE", ever).
When done, REVERSE the procedure's 3 clicks to once again --HIDE-- the files, for "normal" operations!!!

To -see- them in Explorer, be in the C:\ (root), 'Tools', 'Folder options', 'View', then "Show hidden",
and unclick the 2 "Hide" boxes, and 'Apply'.
I always "Apply to all folders" because I want to see what's on my machine, at all times...

I 'usually' copy by: Rclick and hold down, on the Source-file, then 'Drag' to the drive-letter or folder, then
release the R button. Then I click on "Copy here".
Only sometimes, when I'm going into "buried folders", will I Rclick, 'Copy',
then go somewhere else and Rclk, 'Paste'.
Either method works, but I prefer the first because there's no "Delete" showing this way, just Copy or Move.
(The worst that can happen is that it goes into the wrong folder if you're not careful watching the 'Blue'
destination name).

I hope this answers your question and I also hope you have enough technical knowledge to thoroughly
comprehend what is written, and the implications of a single 'slip-up'...

Once again, Good Luck!

@chuckr_jcr:

I have followed all the instructions religiously, but I'm still stuck before the WinXP install. After XP Setup loads all the files, I get the famous blue screen of death (error 0x7b). So I guess that the problem of ntldr and ntdetect.com are still to come, after I can manage to install XP!

Any ideas are welcome. Note that I had to format the USB stick in FAT32, otherwise it is not seen as bootable.

Thanks once again.