Create a muilti boot flash drive (XP & Vista)

Swordfish · 8 Jun 2012 at 20:12

As part of my job I can be installing Windows XP/Vista/7 umpteen times in a day and would like to make it easier for myself.

So at present I have multi boot flash drives with all versions of 7 on it which works a charm and am looking to combine my XP flash drives (Home OEM, Pro OEM, MCE2005 OEM, PRO VL) into 1 one large ISO/Flash drive that offers the option of which OS to use at boot.

I would also like to integrate my Vista flash drives into one, as at the moment I have separate drives for x64 and x86.

Any ideas?

Azuse05 · 8 Jun 2012 at 21:59

Couple year back it was painful trying to install multiple programs (or isos) on to a usb drive, not done it for a while but perhaps this is worth a shot? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQmv2IWe4c

Swordfish · 8 Jun 2012 at 22:18

Azuse05 said:
Couple year back it was painful trying to install multiple programs (or isos) on to a usb drive, not done it for a while but perhaps this is worth a shot? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQmv2IWe4c

Have been playing aboput with the XBoot but it does not seem to automatically recognise the ISO and I need to select with type of loader is needed.

Gonna try them all till one works !!!

troops · 8 Jun 2012 at 22:30

Ive used YUMI Multiboot USB Creator before for different dos iso files,
Dont see why it should work.

Swordfish · 8 Jun 2012 at 22:31

troops said:
Ive used YUMI Multiboot USB Creator before for different dos iso files,
Dont see why it should work.

I tried YUMI as well but again cant seem to get it to like ISO's that have been 'lited' (XV or 7)

Deleted member 77746 · 9 Jun 2012 at 00:19

Buy XXX amount of USB sticks. Separate each OS installers. You won't find a solution to this.

Swordfish · 9 Jun 2012 at 10:51

mrbell1984 said:
Buy XXX amount of USB sticks. Separate each OS installers. You won't find a solution to this.

That's what I do at the moment and I'm sure there is a solution - I just need to find it.

Deleted member 77746 · 9 Jun 2012 at 13:30

Swordfish said:
That's what I do at the moment and I'm sure there is a solution - I just need to find it.

Not for multi boot Windows. I been searching for years.

ns400r · 9 Jun 2012 at 13:57

This any use?

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/120444-how-to-install-windows-from-usb-winsetupfromusb-with-gui/

Deleted member 77746 · 9 Jun 2012 at 14:14

That looks a messy way to do it.

Swordfish · 9 Jun 2012 at 15:16

ns400r said:
This any use?

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/120444-how-to-install-windows-from-usb-winsetupfromusb-with-gui/

mrbell1984 said:
That looks a messy way to do it.

Used that for creating the drives I have, but it does hot have the capability to have more than one version of XP and I use 4 (Home,OEM,VL,MCE).

I am going to try X Boot again and use images made from my current flash dives rather the CD images I tried last night. That way it should overcome the boot issues I was having with the images.

ns400r · 9 Jun 2012 at 15:18

Even though this is mentioned in the first post over there?

multiple Windows XP/2kX sources in the same partition

Swordfish · 9 Jun 2012 at 15:21

mrbell1984 said:
Not for multi boot Windows. I been searching for years.

Got one for Windows 7, which when loaded up offers me all the versions including both architectures. The flash drive also has driver pack 12 on it with Nnite. So I can install Windows, drivers and relative software from the drive and it's all on one 8 GB flash drive.

There has to a be an XP method I just need to find/invent (!!) it.

kiel367 · 9 Jun 2012 at 15:22

novicorp wintoflash will do all versions of windows

Swordfish · 9 Jun 2012 at 15:26

ns400r said:
Even though this is mentioned in the first post over there?

I must either be thick or not reading it right and even my colleague I work with with cant figure it out either. :confused:

Swordfish · 9 Jun 2012 at 15:53

kiel367 said:
novicorp wintoflash will do all versions of windows

Had a look but it does not do what I need - support to install any of 4 versions of XP from the one drive.

ns400r · 9 Jun 2012 at 16:03

Just had a quick look at it.
Put a VL version on the USB then simply changed the source CD and repeated the procedure with a Home CD and a second folder was created on the USB.
Not tested it though.

Swordfish · 9 Jun 2012 at 16:17

ns400r said:
Just had a quick look at it.
Put a VL version on the USB then simply changed the source CD and repeated the procedure with a Home CD and a second folder was created on the USB.
Not tested it though.

Was thinking the same thing as if you look at the source folder you can see the different folders it make. You would think they would make it a bit clearer !

Running the first process now and will repeat with a few other XP's and see how it works.

Will report back.

EDIT : Seems to work - running the first install now and when complete I'll test the other install and let you know.

ns400r · 9 Jun 2012 at 16:49

Quick boot test in a virtual machine and there are 2 boot menu items, the two different versions of XP I put on the USB drive. Both appear to be functioning but I don't have the time to fully install each to test.
Looks like you should be ok.

Swordfish · 9 Jun 2012 at 17:12

ns400r said:
Quick boot test in a virtual machine and there are 2 boot menu items, the two different versions of XP I put on the USB drive. Both appear to be functioning but I don't have the time to fully install each to test.
Looks like you should be ok.

Aye, things seem fine with XP.

Trying the Vista ones now.

Cheers