WinNTSetup

So to not mess up other topics, you can use this one to post question ideas and what ever about WinNTSetup here.

Always remember partitioning is entirely up to you.
If there is a red cross icon, it will not work, as you have not selected a correct boot drive.

Latest Release Version: WinNTSetup3.rar

Would you verify for me bcd boot code (when you have time) with two VHD's on usb?

I will try to test again as I think my results are somewhat flawed..

Also..

C/P MS TechNet

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2
A Windows 7 or Windows 8 boot environment is required to natively boot a .vhd

The local disk must have at least two partitions: (already proven false with legacy boot)
a system partition that contains the Windows 8 boot-environment files and Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store,
a partition to store the VHD file.

But you will have to update the system partition to a Windows 8 environment to use the .vhdx file format.

The BCD you poested looks okay, it should work.

For the Windows 8, your right even the Core edition supports VHD boot.
You can right click on the VHD button and disable the checks made.

Hi JFX,

just came and following slowly,

I will recreate Win7x86 some time tonight, this time with usb3 driver added 
 I currently can not install usb3 drivers, ends with bsod .... well we will see, in the end it is nice testing WinNTSetup :)

I could not find instruction about how to use "Reg Tweaks",
 should I put .reg files to a folder ? so it will process all .reg file ?
  if so, should I convert .reg files ?

Yeah, just select a folder with *.reg files in it.
There is no need to convert them, but make sure there standard.

like ControlSet001 becomes CURRENTCONTROLSET

or HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-%guid% becomes HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Hi KYHI,

Lance, have you accessed your usb's bcd after using WinNTsetup??

I guess yes,
I plan to add usb drivers from dps tonight to get usb3 support,

besides it was an interesting bcd, msconfig (and bcdedit list) lists 1 entry, but on boot there are 4 entries, so answer might be no,
 I will focus on that later, I am only human 

+
as you wrote, since WinNTSetup does not format,
 it is easy to add to my usb disk 

..
I will follow other posts, slowly slowly
 

Would entry of (Bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures) for wintousb.vhd be the possible cause? For unusual MBR?


Bcd update correctly with the above options and both vhd's bootable

But even when the selection is MBR - an EFI Folder and Bootntx file seem to have been unnecessarily written to disk? Any reason? I'm thinking ALL switch..


And a quick question - is it possible to include updated tools and windows 8.1 boot files in the download??

As I assume that bcdboot is using Host OS Boot Files - I did notice that WinNTsetup downloaded some tools - it must reference..

Reason being if Host not win7/win8 VHD not possible to boot, unless using win8 boot environment.
Win8.1 ADK Tools with media from PE is a 12MB 7z download

Bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures should be only to prevent recovery boot of winre.wim.

Yes, the "ALL" in  combo box on proceed page will create EFI files, in your case too.
There all not necessary but might work with some uEFI boards.

You can update the tools manually, if you want, but it's not necessary.
These ones downloaded are form Win 8.0 and still fully compatible with Win 8.1.

First off, This Program is awesome..... (Insert WinNTsetup Link Here)

It proves everything I was let to believe from MS to be BS.. Period..

I was able to boot - VHD - off a USB with only one Non GPT partition...

Windows 8.1 x86 and Windows 8.1 x64 both in Legacy Mode and Windows 8.1 x64 in UEFI mode...

F12 brings up my boot menu options - I have the option to boot USB via Legacy or UEFI

Selecting the UEFI Boot Option the x64 version VHD booted straight up..

Selecting the Legacy Boot Option the boot manager gave me the option to boot x86 VHD or x64 VHD
Selected x86 VHD and boot Windows 8.1 x86 in Legacy mode <> Selecting x64 VHD booted Windows 8.1 x64 in UEFI mode (must of redirected the boot to efi manager)

I actually had to disable UEFI Boot in my firmware settings to boot x64 in legacy mode...

Here is what I found That Works for portable windows to go -

USB Format NTFS -
MBR Boot Partition Selection = USB
Yellow Triangle = Allow Bootsect.exe to update Bootcode (Popup appears after clicking "SETUP") > Not needed if MBR Triangle already Green and saves time
Selected Drive Letter Pre-Assignment  "M" (Found it keeps my current Host OS drive letter assignments) (VHD windows Dir=M)

JFX, I assume that the second scroll box directs to what bootmgr to add the current boot entry??? (None,All,Bios.Uefi)

Anyway on popup after clicking "SETUP" when using x86 version software > I change from ALL to BIOS (when using x64 software I left as ALL)
The result of doing this Added both the x86 VHD and x64 VHD into bootmgr and only added x64 VHD into EFI bootmgr...

This program proves you can boot UEFI without a separate Fat32 Partition and proves you can boot UEFI on non GPT disk.. A Big Portable Windows Plus... 

I failed in one respect (as I thought for sure it would not work based on my knowledge outside of this program) I did not test x86 in UEFI mode...

JFX, x86 in UEFI with this program??

I ask because x86 on uefi, failed for Lance, but may have been his host OS lacked "Boot" files on EFI boot partition or USB had GPT partitions

Since this program seems to be WAY COOL for Windows 7 and Windows 8 /8.1

For my next test > XP and Vista to VHD and add Boot Entry into current usb bootmgr

I got some time and a mission.. Now I got something to do.. Later

Hi KYHI,

If WinNTSetup can put NT5 to VHD,
 to have GPT disk support, Try with Win2k3 - (XP x86 don't support GPT)
  http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=34.0 ;)

I don't much time, only small time and coming after you 

JFX, I assume that the second scroll box directs to what bootmgr to add the current boot entry??? (None,All,Bios.Uefi)

Yes, this option is just the switch that passed to bcdboot.exe.

JFX, x86 in UEFI with this program??

It depends only some newer uEFI support x86. Also it requires a Win 8 x86.

Not sure what you mean with Vista and XP to VHD, that's not possible.
At least it will not be possible to boot cause these systems have no vhd driver.

Hi JFX,

how to fix "Boot Part" which remains X ?


Story behind:
I had test this ufd (removable - emtec)  with gpt.... (maybe with wintousb) and it was around....
 today I convert back to mbr (partitionwizard could do, windows dismanagement and active pm failed)
  WinNTSetup could not fix "Boot Part"
    at boot, for this ufd bios gives 2 options ,
       one with uefi (ufd can not boot, it continues with my host uefi)
       other normal (but can not boot, black screen error ~ can not find device to boot ... )

I will re test with another normal ufd, keeping this emtec around 


Big Story:
All I am trying to do is install a nice working Win71x86-vhd, ready to be used for some cases,
 but usb3 driver installation failed, and also gpu driver integration does not work (intel)
  I decide to create a vhd on internal disk, booting from a ufd, so I can unplug all devices to install usb3 driver


btw, I remember it was possible with fixed vhd via using winvblock like we do on Gena (the beta one inside plugin)........ !

moving slowly.....

Well, WinNTSetup doesn't not fix boot part, that's up to you, that's why the red X.

You properly just create a FAT32 partition, but not a EFI one.
Actually I not aware of a GUI partition tool other then Bootice, to be able to create one.

Lance, your external HDD - GPT format? - tell me no..

@JFX,

I figured out, partition was not Active, now Active and all working :)
 maybe WinNTSetup can make active maybe not, your design,
  but it would be nice some routes at hand to follow :)
ex:
    Boot Part Fails : 1) First Check if disk active



At last I could fix usb3 driver installation (by unpluging all), now fighting with intel gpu driver :)

It takes too much time to update etc. I hope this time I can finish and backup all

@KYHI

no :):)

Summary, I have 5 disk devices:
I have 1 internal disk (gpt) and 4 usb devices (All usb devices basic mbr if I am not testing something)
1 usb HDD,
2 ufd usb sticks - Removable
1 ufd usb sandisk extreme that acts like usb HDD - Fixed

I had made gpt tests on these ufd devices,
 when reverting back from gpt to mbr, windows disk management do not let,
  active partition manager could convert mbr fixed disk but not removable one,
  partition wizard could convert removable to mbr
  (both from gena....launch button ;))
   not tested bootice yet but I guess it can do all (it didn't came to my mind at first place)....

Following slowly

JFX,

btw, since I tried a lot, everytime chkdsk .... 
 but Win81x64 vhd does not popup chkdsk
  only Win71x86 vhd with all re installations...

I "full shutdown" win8, so there should be no dirty bit around...
 Well without "full shutdown" , boot bypass "ESC", "Del" .. here to bootmanager ... (where one need to shutdown with power button again to stop bootmanager and get "ESC" work again ...)

Here:
ESC - boot selection
Del - bios

 I don't know why, and I don't know if it will break anything, I never let Win71x86 chkdsk to fix anything, and empty reg is safer to me, only informing :)

Rufus will format USB MBR and GPT

Put win7x86 VHD on ext hdd and make ext HDD legacy bootable.. Get it off the GPT system disk and off your host bootmgr..

Once on ext HDD - attach VHD - and run > bcdboot V:\Windows /s U: /f BIOS

That command will make your USB HDD - Windows 7 Legacy bootable..

ESC - to change disk boot or set firmware boot1 internal and boot2 external

Menu should show

Thanks KYHI,

I already made my usb-hdd-mbr bootable to vhd with WinNTSetup,
 to me critical missing with WinNTSetup is gpt support, which is currently not important to me.....