Thursday, May 9, 2019

usb - Multiboot 32GB flash drive (Windows + Linux + Tools)

I am searching and testing various methods for days now, and I haven't found any straight forward guide on how to make Multiboot USB flash drive that is capable of booting following:



  • Windows 8 instalation (Standard iso file)

  • Windows 7 instalation (AIO x86,x64 iso file)

  • Windows XP (Optional)

  • Any linux distro (Optional)


and some tools including



  • WINPE (with gimagex for .wim manipulations)

  • Hirens Boot CD

  • Ghost (for HDD cloning purposes)


Everything is fine with above mentioned tools, using grub4dos with custom gfxmenu:
Grub4dos with custom gfxmenu


But when runing Windows 7 instalation ISO I am having this particular problem:
CD/DVD driver missing


Below is menu.lst content from grub4dos:


timeout 10
default 0
gfxmenu (hd0,0)/message
### MENU START
title Boot From HDD
password --md5 $1$dMc3$BaQGJmKXts3aRdbn29JFd/
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0,0)
### MENU END
### MENU END
title Install Windows 7 AIO\n
password --md5 $1$dMc3$BaQGJmKXts3aRdbn29JFd/
ls /images/WIN7AIO.iso || find --set-root /images/WIN7AIO.iso
map /images/WIN7AIO.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)
### MENU END
### MENU END
title Run Ghost\n
password --md5 $1$dMc3$BaQGJmKXts3aRdbn29JFd/
ls /images/ghost.iso || find --set-root /images/GHOST.iso
map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 /images/GHOST.iso (0xff) || map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 --mem /images/GHOST.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)
### MENU END
### MENU START
title Run Gimagex\n
password --md5 $1$dMc3$BaQGJmKXts3aRdbn29JFd/
ls /images/gimagex.iso || find --set-root /images/GIMAGEX.iso
map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 /images/GIMAGEX.iso (0xff) || map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 --mem /images/GIMAGEX.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)
### MENU END
### MENU START
title Run Hiren's bootcd\n
password --md5 $1$dMc3$BaQGJmKXts3aRdbn29JFd/
ls /images/gimagex.iso || find --set-root /images/HIRNESCD.iso
map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 /images/HIRENS.iso (0xff) || map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 --mem /images/GIMAGEX.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)
### MENU END

So what is it that am I doing wrong and is this problem solved by adding some kind of USB drivers for windows 7 iso or changing menu.lst content?
Also is this even posible to have this kind of variety in one USB drive, as I haven't finished this little project but already worried that there will be future problems adding Win8,Winxp,linux iso's to grub4dos...
For information, USB is 3.0 NTFS formated and Win7 custom install.wim file is over 5GB.
I would be very greateful if someone pointed me to the right direction achieving this with straightforward guide or instructions!

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