Recovery Console not working from USB Stick, Grub boots Recoveryconsole fine from DVD, but not from usb External links Options

[ctmag]

Hi all,

I use the XP recoveryconsole started from grub and it works fine as long as i use it from cd/dvd. But when i put it on an USB stick (files copied with robocopy and grub installed with grubinst) all other options still work, but the recovery console just reboots...

I think it has something to do with the fact that the usb stick is like an USB HD and maybe the recovery console does not run from hd?

Thanks for your help!!

Markus

[was_jaclaz]

It does work from both HD AND USB.

READ these:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=2254
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=20983
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21049
AND links therein.

Alternatively, you may want to try posting some relevant information (compare with "Common Sense Advice" point d.):
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?act=boardrules

Trivialities like:
Filesystem used
Directory name (if not \CMDCONS\)
Directory listing of ROOT of stick
Directory listing of \CMDCONS\ directory
Bootsector used
menu.lst entry /method used
may make a difference

jaclaz

[ctmag]

OK, i tried finding what i did wrong by reading the posts and links you pointed me to, but did not (yet) suceeed.

Here are some more details, maybe someone can give me a hint.

my txtsetup.sif ist attached

My target dir looks like this:

30.07.2008 19:48 <DIR> boot
02.11.2006 22:00 438.840 BOOTMGR
30.07.2008 19:49 1.054 menu.lst
30.07.2008 19:48 <DIR> Programs
30.07.2008 19:48 <DIR> RECO
30.07.2008 19:48 673 vistape.cfg
30.07.2008 19:49 86.654.499 vistape.wim


my usb root looks like this

30.07.2008 14:54 <DIR> boot
02.11.2006 22:00 438.840 BOOTMGR
30.07.2008 14:51 192.009 GRLDR
30.07.2008 14:51 1.054 menu.lst
30.07.2008 14:54 <DIR> Programs
30.07.2008 14:54 <DIR> RECO
30.07.2008 14:50 673 vistape.cfg
30.07.2008 14:51 86.654.543 vistape.wim


My menu.lst looks like this:

CODE

splashimage /boot/gentleblue.gz
timeout 30
default 0

title VPE c't edition
chainloader /BOOTMGR

title Parted Magic Linux 2.2 (Runs from RAM)
kernel /boot/plinux/kernel.pml vga=788 noapic root=/dev/ram0 squashfs=/boot/plinux/pmagic.fs pmodules=/boot/plinux//pmodules init=/linuxrc ramdisk_size=200000 keymap=us liveusb quiet toram
initrd /boot/plinux/initrd.pml

title Windows XP SP2 Recovery Console German
chainloader /RECO/SETUPLDR.BIN

title Find and Load NTLDR of Windows NT/2K/XP
find --set-root /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr

title Find and Load CMLDR of Windows NT/2K/XP
find --set-root /cmldr
chainloader /cmldr

title find and load IO.SYS of Windows 9x/Me
find --set-root /io.sys
chainloader /io.sys

title find and boot Linux with menu.lst already installed
find --set-root /sbin/init
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst

title MemTest86+
kernel /boot/memtest.bin

title Floppy (fd0)
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)

title CommandLine
commandline

title Reboot
reboot

title Halt
halt

the recovery console was made with the recc.script from vistape12b3. Here is the basic code (not complete, removed everything not relevant just to show what is done)

CODE

Echo,Downloading requested files...
WebGet,"%DL_GERMAN%","%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Pro-BootDisk.exe"
Echo,Extracting downloaded files...
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\7z.exe","x -y #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Pro-BootDisk.exe#$q -o#$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\extract.exe","-x #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot1.img#$q #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\extract.exe","-x #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot2.img#$q #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\extract.exe","-x #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot3.img#$q #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\extract.exe","-x #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot4.img#$q #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\extract.exe","-x #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot5.img#$q #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\extract.exe","-x #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot6.img#$q #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
ShellExecute,hide,"%WindowsDir%\System32\expand.exe","-r #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\TXTSETUP.SI_#$q #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%#$q"
#remove junk
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\WindowsXP-KB310994-SP2-Pro-BootDisk.exe"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\makeboot.exe"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\makebt32.exe"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot1.img"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot2.img"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot3.img"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot4.img"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot5.img"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\cdboot6.img"
FileDelete,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\TXTSETUP.SI_"

#patch setupldr.bin to find its files in the recc folder insted of the i386 folder
ShellExecute,hide,"%Tools%\sfk.exe","rep #$q%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\SETUPLDR.BIN#$q -yes -text /i386/RECO/"

#replace some strings in original txtsetup.sif
TXTReplace,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\TXTSETUP.SIF","1=%cdname%,%cdtagfilei%,,\i386","1  = %cdname%,%cdtagfilei%,,\RECO"
#replacement order does matter
TXTReplace,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\TXTSETUP.SIF","win51ip.sp2",%tagfile%
TXTReplace,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\TXTSETUP.SIF","win51ip2",%tagfile%
TXTReplace,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\TXTSETUP.SIF","win51ip",%tagfile%
TXTReplace,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\TXTSETUP.SIF","win51mp",%tagfile%

#copy to target
FileCopy,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\*.*","%TargetDir%\RECO"
If,ExistFile,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\BOOTFONT.BIN",FileCopy,"%TmpFolder%%pScrollBox1%\BOOTFONT.BIN","%TargetDir%\BOOTFONT.BIN"

#add to grub
TXTAddLine,"%MenuFile_GRUB%","title Windows XP SP2 Recovery Console %pScrollBox1%","Append"
TXTAddLine,"%MenuFile_GRUB%","chainloader /RECO/SETUPLDR.BIN","Append"
TXTAddLine,"%MenuFile_GRUB%"," ","Append"

the created recoverconsole works when bootet from the iso (created from the obove target dir)

Any hints are welcome, thanks!

Attached File(s)

 txtsetup.zip ( 81.9K ) Number of downloads: 168

 

[was_jaclaz]

Yep, as often happens, it seems to me like an overlapping of modifications.

Without actually checking it, there is:
1) a modification of TXTSETUP.SIF
2) a modification of SETUPLDR.BIN
3) a modification of default \CMDCONS\ directory (to \RECO\)

It is probable that either the TXTSETUP.SIF or the SETUPLDR.BIN changes have been made ONLY to the "CD related" part. (there would have been no reason to change anything else)

Try using:
1) using an UNMODIFIED TXTSETUP.SIF
2) using an UNMODIFIED SETUPLDR.BIN
3) rename back \RECO\ to \CMDCONS\
4) change:

CODE

title Windows XP SP2 Recovery Console German
chainloader /RECO/SETUPLDR.BIN

to

CODE

title Windows XP SP2 Recovery Console German
find --set -root /CMDCONS/SETUPLDR.BIN
chainloader /CMDCONS/SETUPLDR.BIN

If everything works, you can then "refine" with:
1) using either a patched bootsector or the (default in grub4dos) bootsector memory patching to avoid to go through the "blue screens of Text setup
2) clean (reduce) TXTSETUP.SIF, remove useless drivers
3) re-compress TXTSETUP.SIF to TXTSETUP.SI_
4) add the (by yours truly ) trick about allowing access, file copying, etc. (No more CATCH 22)
5) if you use the Server 2003 SP1 or R2 SETUPLDR.BIN put the whole thing in a RAMDISK image and have it really portable
6) do whatever else is suggested/hinted/explained in the referenced threads

A good idea would be to build a "basic" Recovery Console CD with the Vlauri batch, one with the psc's script, (BOTH should not do the "exoteric" modifications that the .script you posted appears to be doing) compare them with the one made by that script, check info given in the threads, on how to put it to HD or USB stick.

jaclaz

[ctmag]

argl....still drives me crazy after trying and reading for hours now...so i decided to start from scratch but still no luck...

i took a fresh cmdcons install (winnt32.exe /cmdcons)

took the folder cmdcons and the files ntldr, boot.ini, bootfont.bin,ntdetect.com and cmldr from my c drive and put it on usb (freshly formatted NTfs with hp util)
made the usb stick bootable by grub with grubinst

added this menu.lst:

CODE

splashimage /boot/gentleblue.gz
timeout 30
default 0


title Windows XP SP2 Recovery Console German
find --set -root /CMDCONS/SETUPLDR.BIN
chainloader /CMDCONS/SETUPLDR.BIN

title chainloader /CMDCONS/SETUPLDR.BIN
chainloader /CMDCONS/SETUPLDR.BIN

title Find and Load NTLDR of Windows NT/2K/XP
find --set-root /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr

title chainloader /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr

title Find and Load CMLDR of Windows NT/2K/XP
find --set-root /cmldr
chainloader /cmldr

title chainloader /cmldr
chainloader /cmldr

title CommandLine
commandline

title Reboot
reboot

title Halt
halt

here is the boot.ini

CODE

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
[operating systems]
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows XP-Wiederherstellungskonsole" /cmdcons
\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows XP-Wiederherstellungskonsole" /cmdcons

so there is not much left that is non standard but still does not work, get the following errors:

menu.lst eintry 1 starts booting but tried to access floppy and does not continue
menu.lst eintry 2 starts booting until a line of text from the recovery console (white in black, can no read, gone too fast) comes up and the reboots
menu.lst eintry 3 and 4 boot into ntldr and i can get the boot menu but when selecting option 1 from boot ini i get (after a fwe seconds) "error rading disk....", option 2 just reboots (was just a test)
menu.lst eintry 5+6 both just reboot

i also tried with a patched txtsetup.sif where i changed the tagfile to \menu.lst but it did not work...

any ideas...i am almost giving up on this...

[was_jaclaz]

ctmag,
sorry, but I do not get it.

I suggested you to use one out of two methods to re-start from scratch and you managed to use a third one?

However, giving up or failure IS NOT an option!

Please follow me.

Make a §#*@ing Recovery Console CD ISO with the V. Laurie batch, first thing:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=2254

Follow EXACTLY this step by step tutorial:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...20983&st=39

Just to make sure, try first with English Recovery floppies.

Once you have it working, EXACTLY as it is, we will see the mods you can make, grub4dos booting options, etc.

jaclaz

[ctmag]

Sorry for not following your advice...

I now did as you suggested: made the is (which boots fine in VMware) and then i copied it to USB and made an entry in menu.lst

title test
chainloader /I386/SETUPLDR.BIN

same result as before, starts booting the RC and after writing one line of text it reboots. So i think the problem must be the way the loader is started...on cd it works fine but not on usb.

(also tried "find --set -root /I386/SETUPLDR.BIN" but causes my floppy to run wild)

i also tried to boot the created cd boot sector, but grub does not like this file...is there a special way to boot such sectors? Or is there an (easy) way to just put the iso on the stick and boot the iso from grub?

[was_jaclaz]

Hmmm, sometimes (read often) I appear to have problems in communicating.

Does the word "EXACTLY" have a different meaning in Germany?

Can you find anywhere on the given link:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...20983&st=39
a reference to menu.lst, grub4dos, or chainloading?

Does this sentence:

Once you have it working, EXACTLY as it is, we will see the mods you can make, grub4dos booting options, etc.

mean if translated in German get the meaning of :

Use any way you think fit to copy the files to USB, introduce as many variations as you like to the booting mechanism, add grub4dos and a bunch of random menu.lst entries, and everything else that may cross your mind.

Let's see if Google translate helps:

Sie müssen nach dem Vorbild genau.

jaclaz

[ctmag]

Well you are right, i overlooked the posts for this topic.
I just thought that the topic would just consist of the question and did not see the answers...stupid me....

will read through that now...

[ctmag]

After trying a lot of different things including

• Different USB Sticks
• Different PC's
• Different boot methods (ntldr and grub, chainloading bootsectors and/or setupldr.bin) which always work from hd
• Following this also works from hd

I give up.


Other topic:
I was hoping to at least get grub to chainload setupldr.bin with memorypatching the cmdcons switch (which works, rc starts without blue setup screens) but then it fails with a message saying txtsetup.sif not found...also could not resolve this...