I need help writting a tutorial ..

[alaa_ecv_tc]

Hi ..
As it is my first English tutorial I got a permission from Trotter to post this tutorial here !
I'm not that good in English so I need help writing this without mistakes in language .

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In this tutorial we will learn to make our flash disk or any USB storage device bootable so we can install Windows XP/2003/Vista/7/8 from it or just boot the Hiren's boot from it and use it's tools .

[Note1] : Target device is the name that will be used for the USB flash memory or any storage device like USB HDD that we will make it bootable .
[Note2] : This will not work on old MotherBoards .. also in some M.B.s You must enter the BIOS setting and enable the USB Legacy support .
[WARNING] : Back up your data on the target device before continue .. Every thing on the target device (The one that will be bootable ) may be deleted ( even partitions if exist ) .

~\ Let's go /~
[ INSTLLING WINDOWS FROM USB ]
[WARNING] : You MUST have your own legal copy of Microsoft windows to use .
- You can use the official Microsoft tool to do that But this is just another way .
-First you need this software : Win2flash
This method is easy but I will explain too much any way .
-Download the latest version from WinToFlash - Install Windows From USB - Download Page
The version in this tutorial is 0.7.0046 beta

-After downloading extract ALL files to some folder .
-Insert your USB drive , you need one that is 2GB for XP/2003 or 8GB for Vista/7/8 ..
-Insert your Windows installation DVD or CD in your optical drive , or have a copy of them in some place - having a copy is not recommended at all .
-Run WinToFlash.exe from the extracted files .
-For the first time you will get the First Time wizard continue and accept and the program will connect to Internet and give you a free license , show an add and probably will cry to make you buy it !.
-You will see a big button in the middle of the program .. Try Not to touch it , it is confusing !!! just go to the advanced tab .. it is really much easier ..
- Choose the wanted task as needed but be careful if you are installing on USB HDD the partitions will be removed and one partition will be created for boot .
- The tasks are :
* Transfer Windows XP/2003 to USB drive

Use this if you want to install Windows XP or Server 2003 from USB drive .
- Click Create
- in Windows source path press Select then choose the Folder contains the I368 Folder .. Not the I368 it self , then click ok
- in USB Drive press Select then choose your USB Drive ... DO NOT CHOOSE FOLDER !!!
[WARNING] DO NOT choose drive letter from your HDD .. ALL PARTITONS IN THE SAME DRIVE WILL BE REMOVED .. ALSO CHOOSING ANY PARTITION IN YOUR USB HDD WILL DELETE ALL PARTITIONS IN THAT HDD .. you have been warned .
- Don't remove the mark on Remove the read-only attribute from files .. Most tests failed since .
- Click Run
- If you got an error then check the steps above to see what did you miss !
- Choose I do accept ... then Continue .
- You will see a WARNING window .. You have been warned too many times already .. click Continue if you are sure you don't need any File in the target DISK .
- This stupid version have limitations .. these limitations are not that important because tests worked fine with them .. Just do not get a stupid flash drive .. click OK ..
- WAIT ..
- It is normally to take some time on 10% .. Just WAIT .
- 20% - 30% - 40% ... 80% .. Wait ..
- Click OK and that's it .

* Transfer WinPE XP/2003 to USB drive

Not covered in this tutorial

* Erase Disk

This Just delete files in the target drive .. !!

* Transfer Windows Vista/2008/7/8 setup to USB drive

Use this if you want to install Windows Vista or Seven or 8 from USB drive .
- Click Create
- in Windows source path press Select then choose the Folder contains the sources Folder .. Not the sources it self , then click ok
- The rest is the same as transfering Windows XP/2003 to USB drive But remember that you need more than 4GB drive size .

* Transfer WinPE Vista/2008/7/8 setup to USB drive

Not covered in this tutorial

* Create Windows XP/2003 Emergency bootloader USB drive

Not covered in this tutorial

*Create bootable MS-DOS USB drive .

Not covered in this tutorial

*Create Windows XP/2003 Recovery Console USB drive .

Not covered in this tutorial

If you really hate the shareware version .. the older FREE versions I have :
V0.4 : old and stupid .. win2flash.rar - 4shared.com
V0.6.0011 : The BEST .. Novicorp WinToFlash 0.6.0011 beta.zip - 4shared.com
the V0.6 is the most tested version , have less tasks than the v0.7's AND I am using it till now .
=================================
[ INSTALLING HIREN'S BOOT TO USB ]
[WARNING] : You MUST have your own legal copy of Hiren' boot to use .
You need Hiren's boot CD v13 or later - the original one - if you don't you must at least have all it's files and get your self a running Linux Terminal .

- You need at least 1GB FlashDisk for version 13 or 14 ..
- Format your USB Drive with FAT32 File system .. use any method you want !
- Use any Disk managment program such as ( Diskmgmt.msc [windows] - Acronis Disk Director [windows] - Partition Wizard [windows] - Gparted [Linux] ... etc ) and set ACTIVE the partition you want to boot from .

This is important :
The best way to fail making your drive bootable is not to make it active ..
ONLY the Primary partitions can be active .. logical and extended are not .
Soooo ..
-If you are using USB Flash Disk that is 1 Partition then just make sure it is ACTIVE and it's type is PRIMARY .. If NOT remove it the create it again as Primary - FAT32 and then set it active .
- If you are using USB HDD and there are Partitions : First remove All partitons .. then create a Primary one with FAT32 File system .. More than 2 GB & less than 16 Gb .. then create other partitions .. then set the First Partition ACTIVE ..
Don't forget to apply changes as I do

- Copy the Hiren's Boot content to The root of your USB drive , Do not put them in a folder !
- Do NOT change the directory structure of these files .. you can remove the autorun.inf File if you want .
- Make sure the folder named USB_INST is exist or download it from here :
USB_INST.rar - 4shared.com
and extract the folder inside to the root of your USB drive .
- Remove your USB drive . <= ! important .
- Run Linux Terminal .. or boot from Hiren's CD and choose System rescue CD in v13 or Gparted Linux in V14 .
- Insert your USB drive .
- Type fdisk -l ( lowercase "L" ) then press enter , and see what is your USB drive .. it must be /dev/sdx
and the boot part of it must be /dev/sdxx with a * symbol next to it under the boot column .
[Note3] : the xx is a prefix .. replace the xx's with what is appropriate for your USB drive. e.g. sdb1 or sdc1.
- Make a dir to mount the USB drive in .. Type mkdir /mnt/usb then press Enter .
- Mount your USB drive by typing : mount /dev/sdxx /mnt/usb

remember to replace the xx

- Enter the usb_inst folder , Type : cd /mnt/usb/usb_instthen press Enter .
- Run these commands as written exactly but replace the xx's :

./syslinux -i -d isolinux /dev/sdxx
dd if=./mbr.bin of=/dev/sdx
sync

[Note4] : The sdx in the second line is a device ( sdb or sdc etc.. ) *not* a partition ( sdb1 or sdc1 etc.. ).
- You can remove the USB_INST folder now if you want .
That's it .. it is ready for boot .

Tested on 10 different types of Flash disks and USB HDDs , worked on 9 and the 10th FlashDisk failed .. It was very slow any way .

 

[KSoD]

Okay 2 questions.

1. Why not use the official Microsoft tool to transfer any of their ISO's to USB?

Microsoft Store Online

Seems to me that this would be much faster to do if you just created an ISO of the disk and then used this. Would save far more problems in the end.

2. Where is the warning that you must own the disk before performing these steps? Cause you know the first question people will ask is where can they download Windows from to perform these actions. Downloading Windows from anywhere but Microsoft.com would be considered piracy.

 

[alaa_ecv_tc]

Okay 2 questions.

1. Why not use the official Microsoft tool to transfer any of their ISO's to USB?

Microsoft Store Online

Seems to me that this would be much faster to do if you just created an ISO of the disk and then used this. Would save far more problems in the end.

2. Where is the warning that you must own the disk before performing these steps? Cause you know the first question people will ask is where can they download Windows from to perform these actions. Downloading Windows from anywhere but Microsoft.com would be considered piracy.

1- The Microsoft official tool is not available for every one .. like me I can't get access to Microsoft store as many others can't .. Just because I porn somewhere someone does not like

2- The warning will be added .. I hope editing will be easier this time .. I have a very weak 3G signal ..

Thanks

 

[MindoverMaster]

Can't you just use Unetbootin? What I use all the time to make bootable Linux distros on my pen drive.

 

[Trotter]

I did not know that the tute included Hiren's. I am with KSoD on this... Hiren's is not legit software. But the rest of the tute can be discussed.

 

[KSoD]

1- The Microsoft official tool is not available for every one .. like me I can't get access to Microsoft store as many others can't .. Just because I porn somewhere someone does not like

2- The warning will be added .. I hope editing will be easier this time .. I have a very weak 3G signal ..

Thanks

1. That doesn't mean that it is still not available other places online. A quick search found it on Download.com powered by CNet. A place that everyone can download from. I have no idea what the 2nd statement even means. But still Google turns up lots of results for this tool being available elsewhere, not just the Microsoft Store. Another one is Codeplex by Microsoft, a site that everyone should be able to download from.

2. As long as they are added.

The part Trotter refers to in regards to my remarks are this. Hirens has come under fire. They are distributing software without authority. Such as Combofix and MBAM. They don't have the license to freely distribute the software, they do give a warning that you should not use the software unless you have a legit license, but it doesn't negate the fact they still break the law by distributing the software without proper authority. The fact is that even if you dont have a license, you can still use the software to its fullest extent. I am sure that such actions breaks some laws and copyrights.

It is for these reasons that I suggest using the USB to DVD Tool by Microsoft. The use of Hirens can be considered illegal in most places. That would include our site since we dont promote piracy at all and what Hirens does by only attaching a warning but allowing the software to be used to the fullest would be considered piracy. Sad that such a great tool has gone to such extents. But there are free and legal programs to do just about everything that this one does. We will just have to substitute those tools for Hirens instead.

 

[alaa_ecv_tc]

OK .. So this tutorial is dead .. I failed this time !

First Download.com is redirecting me to Microsoft ..I think downloading these stuff from a 3rd Party server is illegal any way .
And For Hiren's .. Well .. looks dead too ..

I will write a tutorial for something and I want it to be useful and new , this must be done .
But since there is no software to use ! I must explain what to do and why .. no step by step ..
just like explaining booting device and booting methods .. or partitioning method ( basic - Dynamic .. ) and what is primary , extended , Filesystem .. etc .

Thanks all