grub4dos: booting from iso image on usb drive--how to write menu.lst???

Discussion in 'Windows XP / Older OS' started by stayboogy, Jun 3, 2011.

  1. stayboogy

    stayboogy MDL Addicted

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    #1 stayboogy, Jun 3, 2011
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2011
  2. 60cent

    60cent MDL Senior Member

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    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  3. stayboogy

    stayboogy MDL Addicted

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    i've tried several different ways and still no dice.

    why isn't there good documentation on this anywhere on the net?
     
  4. Anakunda

    Anakunda MDL Senior Member

    Feb 6, 2010
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    What's the ISO exactly?
    Remember you can't boot every ISO the scheme you written.

    You also can give a read the whole topic at reboot.pro and see there are diferrent techniques of booting into different ISOs (especially Linux-based images are more sensitive the way how they're mapped).
     
  5. stayboogy

    stayboogy MDL Addicted

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    to be honest was just trying to get all my utility boot disks that i have running from usb, such as easeus, paragon, active, etc boot disks, because my lite on piece of crap dvd drive refuses to open like it should and i don't really want to buy another one right now so i wanted to see what i could do with this in the event something "bad" happens, which i'm not expecting, just a precaution. plus i love learning new techs to do new things. so just learning how to do it mainly.

    got paragon to working, the others still no dice and i wrote my menu.lst just like someone else did which they said worked but did not work for me, so idk. i'll keep working @ it.

    was hoping more here had some experience trying these things as it's pretty freaking awesome, and techy lol
     
  6. user_hidden

    user_hidden MDL Expert

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    here is an example for parted magic:

    title Parted Magic 6.1
    find --set-root /iso/pmagic.iso
    map /iso/pmagic.iso (hd32)
    map --hook
    root (hd32)
    chainloader (hd32)
     
  7. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
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  8. Anakunda

    Anakunda MDL Senior Member

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    #8 Anakunda, Jun 5, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Hi Tito, would you know how to write a proper entry for current versions of Hireens BootCD?

    On older versions this entry did work fine:
    Code:
    title Hiren's BootCD
    find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /HBCD/boot.gz
    map --mem /HBCD/boot.gz (fd0)
    map --hook
    chainloader (fd0)+1
    rootnoverify (fd0)
    map --floppies=1
    boot
    
    Bad luck now. I've tried to look at up to date version of HBCD and found that it uses alternately isolinux/grub4dos loaders.
    I've found a solution that makes the ISO partially functional by forwarding to it's menu.lst:

    Code:
    title Hiren's BootCD grub4dos menu
    find --set-root /HBCD/menu.lst
    configfile /HBCD/menu.lst
    But this only something works. I'm curious...Wanted to ask at reboot.pro but HBCD is damned w**** there.

    Any working solution appreciated!
     
  9. user_hidden

    user_hidden MDL Expert

    Dec 18, 2007
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    for Hiren's this works for me STILL with version 14.0


    title Hiren's Boot CD 14.0
    find --set-root /iso/hirens.iso
    map /iso/hirens.iso (hd32)
    map --hook
    chainloader (hd32)
     
  10. stayboogy

    stayboogy MDL Addicted

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  11. Anakunda

    Anakunda MDL Senior Member

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    it works unlike old versions atleast that it can boot but not fully, for ex. try to boot Linux based rescue environment (Parted Magic 6.1) it won't boot
     
  12. stayboogy

    stayboogy MDL Addicted

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    i don't know if you are going to find the answer you need here, unless someone more knowledgeable than the ones who have already posted drops by. you will probably have to post your concern @ reboot, or you may find your answer there in some of those threads.

    apparently this function is still "experimental" so until someone creates a newer/better usb iso loader, it's probably going to be trial and error...
     
  13. stream

    stream MDL Member

    Nov 5, 2010
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    I have been successful every time using Flash*Boot.

    Just browse to the desired ISO & it will do the rest for you. :cool:
     
  14. sushil1576

    sushil1576 MDL Senior Member

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    #14 sushil1576, Jun 8, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Hi, Well it is possible to boot many iso file directly with grub4dos with the map command..But it is not that simple...some iso files do have that internal support for grub4dos like some like some linux iso's...I have myself made quite a few iso file that can boot directly of hard disk or from any usb drive...In fact i am using Grub4dos for multi-booting XP,Windows 7 and many other linux live cd's and other utility iso files directly from my hard disk so that i don't have to search for the required CD's...:)

    Code:
    color blue/green yellow/red white/magenta white/magenta
    timeout 30
    default /default
    
    gfxmenu /BL_GIRL.GFX
    
    title Windows XP Professional
    find --set-root --ignore-floppies /ntldr
    chainloader /ntldr
    savedefault --wait=2
    
    title Windows 7 Ultimate
    find --set-root --ignore-floppies /bootmgr
    chainloader /bootmgr
    savedefault --wait=2
    
    title Mini Windows Xp
    find --set-root /HBCD/XPLOADER.BIN
    chainloader /HBCD/XPLOADER.BIN
    
    title LinuxMint 8.iso
    find --set-root /Images/LinuxMint-8.iso
    map /Images/LinuxMint-8.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    root (0xff)
    kernel /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/mint.seed boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/images/LinuxMint-8.iso quiet splash --
    initrd /casper/initrd.lz
    
    title Ubuntu v9.04 LiveCD
    find --set-root /Images/ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso
    map /Images/ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    root (0xff)
    kernel /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/Images/ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso quiet splash locale=zh_CN.UTF-8 --
    initrd /casper/initrd.gz
    boot
    
    title Live Hacking CD v1.1
    find --set-root /Images/livehackingcd_V1-1_full.iso
    map /Images/livehackingcd_V1-1_full.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    root (0xff)
    kernel /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/Images/livehackingcd_V1-1_full.iso quiet splash locale=zh_CN.UTF-8 --
    initrd /casper/initrd.lz
    boot
    
    title Tinycore v2.5
    find --set-root /Images/tinycore_2.5.iso
    map /Images/tinycore_2.5.iso (0xff) || map --mem /Images/tinycore_2.5.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    chainloader (0xff)
    savedefault --wait=2
    
    title Parted Magic v4.5 ISO
    find --set-root /Images/pmagic-4.5.iso
    map /Images/pmagic-4.5.iso (0xff) || map --mem /Images/pmagic-4.5.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    chainloader (0xff)
    savedefault --wait=2
    
    title Ultimate Boot CD ISO
    find --set-root /ubcd411.iso
    map /ubcd411.iso (0xff) || map --mem /ubcd411.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    chainloader (0xff)
    savedefault --wait=2
    
    title Damn Small Linux 4.4.10-initrd LiveCD
    find --set-root /Images/dsl-4.4.10-initrd.iso
    map  /Images/dsl-4.4.10-initrd.iso (hd32)
    map --hook
    root (hd32)
    chainloader (hd32)
    
    title Hiren's BootCD v10.2
    find --set-root /HBCD/boot.gz
    map --mem /HBCD/boot.gz (fd0)
    map --hook
    chainloader (fd0)+1
    rootnoverify (fd0)
    map --floppies=1
    
    title MSDART x86
    find --set-root /Images/ERD65_x86_Win7_RTM_blueforce.iso
    map /Images/ERD65_x86_Win7_RTM_blueforce.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    chainloader (0xff)
    
    title MSDART x64
    find --set-root /Images/ERD65_x64_Win7_RTM_blueforce.iso
    map /Images/ERD65_x64_Win7_RTM_blueforce.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    chainloader (0xff)
    
    title FlashCD
    find --set-root /Imagse/FLASHCD.iso
    map /Imagse/FLASHCD.iso (0xff) || map --mem /Imagse/FLASHCD.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    chainloader (0xff)
    savedefault --wait=2
    
    title Memtest 86+ v4
    find --set-root /Images/memtest86+-4.00.iso
    map  /Images/memtest86+-4.00.iso (hd32)
    map --hook
    root (hd32)
    chainloader (hd32)
    
    title commandline
    commandline
    
    title reboot
    reboot
    
    title halt
    halt
    The above list is just a sample menu.lst of mine that i mostly use..I have also got an other expanded list which is little more organise than this...Whats really interesting thing with using Grub4dos is that we can even use grub4dos for hiding or unhiding any partition and that too on the fly...For..example i can make Windos XP system partition hidden when i am using Windows 7 and Vice :)versa.. Interesting isn't it...
     
  15. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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    #15 FreeStyler, Jun 8, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    @sushil1576
    Don't you have problems mounting the physical HD's using the DaRT iso's like you have done?

    Mine looks like this:
    Code:
    title Start ERD Commander 64-bit (Microsoft DART 6.5)
    find --set-root /ERD65x64.iso
    map (hd0) (hd1)
    map (hd1) (hd0)
    map /ERD65x64.iso (0xff) || map --mem /ERD65x64.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    root (hd0,0)
    chainloader (0xff)
    
    title Start ERD Commander 32-bit (Microsoft DART 6.5)
    find --set-root /ERD65x32.iso
    map (hd0) (hd1)
    map (hd1) (hd0)
    map /ERD65x32.iso (0xff) || map --mem /ERD65x32.iso (0xff)
    map --hook
    root (hd0,0)
    chainloader (0xff)
     
  16. stayboogy

    stayboogy MDL Addicted

    May 1, 2011
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    i have plenty of iso's that have been mapped and configured the same way as you sushil and they still do not work, most of the time giving the error "file not found"

    what works for some will not always work for others--this has been proved time and time again, varying from thumb drive to thumb drive and from machine to machine...
     
  17. Anakunda

    Anakunda MDL Senior Member

    Feb 6, 2010
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    #17 Anakunda, Jun 8, 2011
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2011
    Beware, many ISOs boot with the defaul scheme, BUT(!), they won't work properly. It's necessary to test each ISO properly before claiming it's work. It's the case of HBCD too ...
    Some ISOs need to be stored in the root folder of booting media otherwise they dont work as should, some need to have version specific name etc etc
     
  18. sushil1576

    sushil1576 MDL Senior Member

    Jul 3, 2009
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    #18 sushil1576, Jun 9, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    @ FreeStyler
    We need to map hard disk only if we are using the iso files on the usb hard disk or usd drives

    Code:
    map (hd0) (hd1)
    map (hd1) (hd0)
    But since i am using Grub4dos as my main loader on the internal hard disk,and i am booting it from internal hard disk,i can skip mapping of the hard disk...Otherwise as you mantioned we do need to use those commands...


    @stayboogy

    Well mine iso's works perfectly...and one more thing the linux disk configuringations keeps on changing,so we need to update those entries according to the linux iso versions...so thats the reason i mentioned their version in the menu.lst entries...

    @ Anaconda

    You are pretty correct,we need to test each and every iso and thats the reason we need to keep updating the linux entries every time a new version comes out but there are some iso which can directly boot from the default scheme.
     
  19. sankawa3821

    sankawa3821 MDL Novice

    Jun 21, 2011
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    #19 sankawa3821, Jun 21, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    If you were to boot Linux based rescue environment (Parted Magic 6.1) on USB drive, you may need to change the command in menu.lst

    Original
    Code:
    title Linux based rescue environment (Parted Magic 6.1)\nTo manage partitions, backup and recovery
    set pm=/HBCD/Boot/pmagic.lst
    find --set-root %pm%
    set lang=us
    set opt=
    configfile %pm%
    Change to
    Code:
    title Linux based rescue environment (Parted Magic 6.1)To manage partitions, backup and recovery
    find --set-root /HBCD/Boot/pmagic.lst
    set lang=us
    set opt=
    configfile /HBCD/Boot/pmagic.lst