Create a multi boot rescue USB flash drive


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Thanks for your reply.

I tried using the windows PE method but i cant figure out how to go about with it. Maybe you can help?

When I mount the UBCD iso, which is based off of bartpe. I get these folders:

BCDW

CMDC

I386

images

isolinux

PROGRAMS

syslinux

Menu.lst

dband-crub4dos.ini

win51IP

Win51IP.sp2

autorun.inf

I tried to copy all the folders and use the menu.lst information, however it wont boot :(

Thanks for any help!

I've got a noob question. I've got my drive running UBCD4win, knoppix, spinrite and other tools but would like to add a couple other linux distros. Since the linux distros can't be in sub folders how would you handle having similar distros on your usb drive? I'd like to run helix and ubuntu and a lot of the folders are the same. I know I can rename the vmlinuz and initrd.gz but how would I handle the folders?

Thanks for any help!

I've got a noob question. I've got my drive running UBCD4win, knoppix, spinrite and other tools but would like to add a couple other linux distros. Since the linux distros can't be in sub folders how would you handle having similar distros on your usb drive? I'd like to run helix and ubuntu and a lot of the folders are the same. I know I can rename the vmlinuz and initrd.gz but how would I handle the folders?

Thanks for any help!

Just extract the contents of the .iso files and copy them exactly as they are to the drive. However, make note of which folders already exist, so you can copy the contents, rather than the folder iteself over.

I also have knoppix, ubuntu and helix running on mine without any issues...

Just extract the contents of the .iso files and copy them exactly as they are to the drive. However, make note of which folders already exist, so you can copy the contents, rather than the folder iteself over.

I also have knoppix, ubuntu and helix running on mine without any issues...

Did the trick!

miketowninc,

ubcd4win was the first one I put on the stick. There is a utility in the ~\UBCD4Win\plugin\!Critical\ubcd4winToUSB directory that will install grub4dos and put the ubcd4win on the usb stick for you. If your stick is already setup I don't know if using the utility will mess things up so I would back it up first before proceeding. Build ubcd4win like you normally would and be sure to check the box to 'create iso' (if you don't you'll end up with MANY duplicate menu entries). Then after it completes simply run the utility in the directory above and be sure to uncheck the format option. The utility will copy all the files for you. Only problem I can see is that it will install grub4dos also, no way to uncheck, that is where I'm not sure if it will mess up a previously setup stick. Hope this helps.

  • 1 month later...
  • 2 months later...

I managed to get the Belgian FCCU linux distro booting also.

downloaded the ISO, coppied the "live" folder to the root of the flash drive.

Here is the menu entry,

title FCCU Forensics Linux 12.1

kernel /live/vmlinuz1 boot=live keyb=be noswap username=fccu hostname=fcculive union=aufs

initrd /live/initrd1.img

Seems to boot into it and work fine.

Im working on trying to integrate a windows 7 install option on the menu too.

I have a sandisk 16gb flash drive.

Is there a way to add the WIndows 7 install to this? (ass long as i got the ISO)

Is there any kind of gui OS i can add to this?

Thanks

Yes you can. Its pretty much a case of just extracting the files from the ISO and then hooking to the installer file.

Im not sure what you mean by GUI OS? (I know what GUI stands for etc, but not actually sure what you mean by adding a GUI?). You add various types of OS, so therefore you boot to a GUI...? :s

how can I hook it to the installer file? what should i write in the menu.lst?

Windows PE etc' are all dos like, i'm looking (beside win 7 install) an OS with graphical interface that can start with my USB.

Something with mouse functions, My Computer etc'. (instead of remembering a bunch of commands)

Edited by Shasoosh
how can I hook it to the installer file? what should i write in the menu.lst?

Windows PE etc' are all dos like, i'm looking (beside win 7 install) an OS with graphical interface that can start with my USB.

Something with mouse functions, My Computer etc'. (instead of remembering a bunch of commands)

Im not sure what you mean by DOS like? PE boots to a GUI environment that has a mouse etc and also allows you to run software AND start setups etc from within there.

You could just place PE on a USB stick and boot to that. I think thats what you are looking for, rather than using Grub4dos.

I think you need to get your head around how it works though, from what i can tell. You need to realise what and how a bootloader works and the commands that each bootloader gives and accepts. Grub4dos is relativly easy to configure, which is why its being used in this thread. using PE to boot to, you would still be using a form of bootloader and supplying commands either through the boot.ini (xp) or the BCD file (Vista and 7).

Im not sure what you mean by DOS like? PE boots to a GUI environment that has a mouse etc and also allows you to run software AND start setups etc from within there.

You could just place PE on a USB stick and boot to that. I think thats what you are looking for, rather than using Grub4dos.

I think you need to get your head around how it works though, from what i can tell. You need to realise what and how a bootloader works and the commands that each bootloader gives and accepts. Grub4dos is relativly easy to configure, which is why its being used in this thread. using PE to boot to, you would still be using a form of bootloader and supplying commands either through the boot.ini (xp) or the BCD file (Vista and 7).

When i log into PE i get a nice background and a "command" window. Can i get explorer.exe to run there?

When i try to run explorer.exe i get an error msg saying its not compatible (i'm using Windows 7 x64)

I guess Win PE is x86? any way to get around this?

Edited by Shasoosh
When i log into PE i get a nice background and a "command" window. Can i get explorer.exe to run there?

When i try to run explorer.exe i get an error msg saying its not compatible (i'm using Windows 7 x64)

I guess Win PE is x86? any way to get around this?

Well it does run a command window yes.

What you might feel better with is a live environment such as Knoppix or Ubuntu?

no, im just interested in the explorer file system shell.

A taskbar could be nice too.

In that case im not sure, unless you manage to actually INSTALL XP to a USB stick. But then you would have driver issues when you use the device in different machines.

I really think you might be hitting a wall here.

i think i found something

BartPE vs. Windows PE?

* BartPE is not supported by Microsoft. Windows PE is an official Microsoft product.

* BartPE has a graphical user interface. Windows PE has a command line interface.

* The tools needed to make a BartPE installation are free software. Windows PE is available only to Microsoft OEM users.

* BartPE allows unlimited custom plugins. Windows PE has a limited range of plugins options.

I still don't understand why Microsoft won't allow s a graphical user interface

  • 3 months later...

Been a while since i used this thread.

Just wanted to say that:

My USB key died this week, so i instantly goot looking at your guide to get it up and running again on a new key.

One of the tools i always had was Ubuntu Live. However, i was useing version 8 and now downloaded version 9.10 and found i couldnt boot it using grub4dos any longer.

I have spend the past few days searching around for ways to get this working and now have a completely new USB stick of tools. However, i no longer use Grub4dos, but Grub itself. Plus, i dont ahve ANY extracted .ISO files on the device any more. I ahve all the .ISOs in one folder and boot the .ISOs directly by mapping through grub.

I find this is, for one thing, tidier on the key and easier\les confusing than the old method in your tutorial.

For that reason, would you mind if i wrote a new guide on this, using the mothod to use Grub and boot the .isos directly?

  • 2 weeks later...

Hey guys, that tutorial was awesome, my flash is booting at almost all computers, but I thing there's some problem with grub4dos or mbr record. On computers where it works is showing before going to grub message like "Try hd(0,0) fat32" and then grub normaly shows up. But on some computers it doesn't and jump right to WinPE or grub on HDD for instaled OS. Don't you know where is problem? Maybe i'll try ext2 partition and normal linux grub but i'd rather like this "all in one partiotion" solution.

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