How To Make A Bootable Windows USB Flash Disk

How To Make A Bootable Windows USB Flash Disk 1. Does your computer support booting from USB? Usually, if its an option in your BIOS boot sequence menu, the answer to this is yes. If its not there, look for BIOS updates. If you are not sure, proceed and see what happens 2. Sorting out the \"Bootability\" of your USB-Drive Connect your USB drive to your computer, directly, without a Hub. Then, shut down your computer, disconnect any other hard disk drives from it, and insert your original Windows XP CD into the drive. Start the installation, and proceed to the section where you are allowed to pick a hard drive. If it goes beyond the partition selection, your drive is already fine for booting Windows XP. If not (seems to be the cases with many of the Freecom USB HDDs for example), you will get an error like \"Windows is unable to find your drive, partition, data etc bla\". This is usually not a big problem. All you need to do is \"properly\" format the drive. Reboot into your normal Windows, and get this HP tool , and use it to format your HDD completely. I chose NTFS format, worked fine everytime i tried. After this, my drives are recognized as valid installation devices by the Windows XP installer. (In fact, i did not manage to create a USB primary partition with FAT32 that was recognized as being installable) 3. Dumping the original Windows CD into an ISO File Pretty easy one. Simply open WinISO, and select Actions -> Make ISO from CDROM, and save your CD image. 4. Extracting the files we need to work on After the CD dump is done, close and reopen WinISO. Then, open the ISO file you just created using File -> Open. Now, click the I386 folder, and select the following files (Ctrl key to multi-select) TXTSETUP.SIF DOSNET.INF USB.IN_ USBPORT.IN_ USBSTOR.IN_ Select Actions -> Extract and put the resulting files into some folder to work on them. 5. Unpacking IN_ files Use the Cab SDK (from the command line) for extracting the contents of the .IN_ files. Each of them contains exactly one .inf file. If you are unsure how to use the Cab SDK, here is an example command line: cabarc x USBSTOR.IN_ You should end up with three new files in the folder, called: usb.inf usbport.inf usbstor.inf You can now delete the .IN_ files. 6. Editing the files This is the main job. i ll also try to explain a bit whats happening. Use a simple Texteditor like Notepad. TXTSETUP.SIF This file is loaded on the initial install step by the Windows XP CD installer. In this file, we will change the way Windows treats USB devices during system setup -- the default is to only treat them as input devices during installation -- we will change this to include mass storage driver support (which needs to be loaded into the installer much earlier in order to work). First, move the following entries from [InputDevicesSupport.Load to the [BootBusExtenders.Load section , as shown here [BootBusExtenders.Load pci = pci.sys acpi = acpi.sys isapnp = isapnp.sys acpiec = acpiec.sys ohci1394 = ohci1394.sys usbehci = usbehci.sys usbohci = usbohci.sys usbuhci = usbuhci.sys usbhub = usbhub.sys usbstor = usbstor.sys [InputDevicesSupport.Load usbehci = usbehci.sys usbohci = usbohci.sys usbuhci = usbuhci.sys usbhub = usbhub.sys usbccgp = usbccgp.sys hidusb = hidusb.sys serial = serial.sys serenum = serenum.sys usbstor = usbstor.sys ... now the same for [BootBusExtenders and [InputDevicesSupport [BootBusExtenders pci = \"PCI-Bustreiber\",files.pci,pci acpi = \"ACPI Plug & Play-Bustreiber\",files.acpi,acpi isapnp = \"ISA Plug & Play-Bustreiber\",files.isapnp,isapnp acpiec = \"Integrierter ACPI-Controllertreiber\",files.none,acpiec ohci1394 = \"IEEE-1394-Bus-OHCI-konformer Anschlusstreiber\",files.ohci1394,ohci1394 usbehci = \"Erweiterter Hostcontroller\",files.usbehci,usbehci usbohci = \"Open Hostcontroller\",files.usbohci,usbohci usbuhci = \"Universeller Hostcontroller\",files.usbuhci,usbuhci usbhub = \"Standard-USB-Hubtreiber\",files.usbhub,usbhub usbstor = \"USB-Speicherklassentreiber\",files.usbstor,usbstor [InputDevicesSupport usbehci = \"Erweiterter Hostcontroller\",files.usbehci,usbehci usbohci = \"Open Hostcontroller\",files.usbohci,usbohci usbuhci = \"Universeller Hostcontroller\",files.usbuhci,usbuhci usbhub = \"Standard-USB-Hubtreiber\",files.usbhub,usbhub hidusb = \"HID-Parser\",files.hidusb,hidusb serial = \"Treiber fur seriellen Anschluss\",files.none,serial serenum = \"Enumerator fur seriellen Anschluss\",files.none,serenum usbstor = \"USB-Speicherklassentreiber\",files.usbstor,usbstor usbccgp = \"USB Generic Parent Driver\",files.usbccgp,usbccgp Next, we also have to write several keys into the registry. Convieniently, the txtsetup.sif allows you to specify files that are parsed and instered into the registry at install time. Insert the following in the [HiveInfs.Fresh section: [HiveInfs.Fresh AddReg = hivedef.inf,AddReg AddReg = hivesys.inf,AddReg AddReg = hivesft.inf,AddReg AddReg = hivecls.inf,AddReg AddReg = hiveusd.inf,AddReg AddReg = dmreg.inf,DM.AddReg AddReg = usbboot.inf,usbservices and also in [SourceDisksFiles [SourceDisksFiles usbboot.inf = 1,,,,,,_x,3,,3 bootvid.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2 kdcom.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2 Finally, save and close TXTSETUP.SIF. We are done with it. DOSNET.INF Now, open DOSNET.INF , and change the second [Files section to look like this: [Files d1,usbboot.inf d1,_default.pif d1,12520437.cpx d1,12520850.cpx usb.inf Change the bolded lines in the [StandardHub.AddService and [CommonClassParent.AddService sections: [StandardHub.AddService DisplayName = %StandardHub.SvcDesc% ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL ServiceBinary = %12%\\usbhub.sys LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender [CommonClassParent.AddService DisplayName = %GenericParent.SvcDesc% ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL ServiceBinary = %12%\\usbccgp.sys LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender usbport.inf Change the bolded lines in the [EHCI.AddService, [OHCI.AddService , [UHCI.AddService and [ROOTHUB.AddService sections: [EHCI.AddService DisplayName = %EHCIMP.SvcDesc% ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL ServiceBinary = %12%\\usbehci.sys LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender [OHCI.AddService DisplayName = %OHCIMP.SvcDesc% ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL ServiceBinary = %12%\\usbohci.sys LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender [UHCI.AddService DisplayName = %UHCIMP.SvcDesc% ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL ServiceBinary = %12%\\usbuhci.sys LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender [ROOTHUB.AddService DisplayName = %ROOTHUB.SvcDesc% ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL ServiceBinary = %12%\\usbhub.sys LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender usbstor.inf Change / Add [USBSTOR.AddService section to this: [USBSTOR.AddService DisplayName = %USBSTOR.SvcDesc% ServiceType = 1 StartType = 0 Tag = 3 ErrorControl = 1 ServiceBinary = %12%\\USBSTOR.SYS LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender new file: USBBOOT.INF Create a new file called USBBOOT.INF in the same directory as your other changed files, and put the following content into it: [usbservices HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\USBSTOR\",\" DisplayName\",0x00000000,\"USB Mass Storage Driver\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\USBSTOR\",\" ErrorControl\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\USBSTOR\",\" Group\",0x00000000,\"System Reserved\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\USBSTOR\",\" ImagePath\",0x00020000,\"system32\\DRIVERS\\USBSTOR.SY S\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\USBSTOR\",\" Start\",0x00010001,0 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\USBSTOR\",\" Type\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbehci\",\" DisplayName\",0x00000000,\"USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Miniport Driver\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbehci\",\" ErrorControl\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbehci\",\" Group\",0x00000000,\"System Reserved\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbehci\",\" ImagePath\",0x00020000,\"system32\\DRIVERS\\usbehci.sy s\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbehci\",\" Start\",0x00010001,0 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbehci\",\" Type\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbhub\",\"D isplayName\",0x00000000,\"USB2 Enabled Hub\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbhub\",\"E rrorControl\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbhub\",\"G roup\",0x00000000,\"System Reserved\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbhub\",\"I magePath\",0x00020000,\"system32\\DRIVERS\\usbhub.sys\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbhub\",\"S tart\",0x00010001,0 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbhub\",\"T ype\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbuhci\",\" DisplayName\",0x00000000,\"Microsoft USB Universal Host Controller Miniport Driver\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbuhci\",\" ErrorControl\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbuhci\",\" Group\",0x00000000,\"System Reserved\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbuhci\",\" ImagePath\",0x00020000,\"system32\\DRIVERS\\usbuhci.sy s\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbuhci\",\" Start\",0x00010001,0 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbuhci\",\" Type\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbohci\",\" DisplayName\",0x00000000,\"Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbohci\",\" ErrorControl\",0x00010001,1 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbohci\",\" Group\",0x00000000,\"System Reserved\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbohci\",\" ImagePath\",0x00020000,\"system32\\DRIVERS\\usbohci.sy s\" HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbohci\",\" Start\",0x00010001,0 HKLM,\"SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\usbohci\",\" Type\",0x00010001,1 7. Repack the inf files into their original IN_ format If you have not already deleted your extracted .IN_ files, do so now. They need to be replaced. Open a DOS shell again, and navigate to the folder with your changed files. Then exceute the following commands: cabarc n USB.IN_ usb.inf cabarc n USBPORT.IN_ usbport.inf cabarc n USBSTOR.IN_ usbstor.inf The three IN_ files should now exist again. Congratulations. All out modifications are done. 8. Inject the changed files into the ISO Open your Windows CD image again with WinISO. Navigate to the I386 folder, and delete the following files from the ISO, saving the changes to the ISO afterwards: DOSNET.INF TXTSETUP.SIF USB.IN_ USBPORT.IN_ USBSTOR.IN_ Just to be sure all is updated in the ISO, cloase and repoen the ISO in WinISO. Now, again go to the I386 folder and select \"Add Files\". Now add your changed files, in detail: USBBOOT.INF DOSNET.INF TXTSETUP.SIF USB.IN_ USBPORT.IN_ USBSTOR.IN_ Save the ISO. You are done. 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 Shut down your computer. Disconnect ANY internal and external hard drives (so Windows cannot find them during installation and mess up their Master Boot Records hehe). Some computers will have trouble to boot without an internal HDD attached, check in your BIOS and, if possible, remove the HDD from the boot sequence and set the USB Harddisk as the first boot device, and the CDROM as second. Also, now connect your USB Harddrive directly to the computer, without any Hubs in between. Windows should install just fine, with the exceptions noted below. Issues you will encounter during installation: During driver installation, the USB drivers will prompt you, as they are \"not certified\" - This is normal. Our changes invalidated the checksum, and therefore the driver is no longer signed. Just press \"yes\" a couple of times. Upon completion of the install, the system will complain once on the first bootup that the pagefile does not exist. You can ignore this for now, as Windows will work fine without it. People are looking at fixing this issue, but its not critical for now. Once everything is up and running , shut down and reconnect all your drives.