EZB Forum » Printable Version of Topic » How to make your own Hiren's Boot CD

Forum: EasyBoot
Topic: How to make your own Hiren's Boot CD
started by: madar

Posted by madar on Aug. 01 2009,04:42

How to make your own Hiren's Boot CD
========================================
Hiren's BootCD has used a lot of programs inside itself and this makes it a little
bit hard to users to analyze and edit or change it.

In the other look,it uses different methodes of booting CD,In old versions used DOS
based Boot,and in new version (v 9.9) uses Linux based Boot.

Any way the origional method that is used for making these CD's are almost the same
in all versions.

Unfortunately there is not any good informations about making this cd in the web pages
(at least in my tries).on the other side If i try to talk about all things in this cd
it will take a lot of time and pages that is out of my patience.
So because of many questions about that in this forum (fe007) and many others in web
pages In This tutor i am going to make a mini hiren boot CD,that has just One program
to run and you can do almost the same for adding other programs to it.

Reading this tutor will make you ready to work by hiren's BootCD,but i recommend you
that 1st work by old versions of this CD for example versions 5 or 6 ,and when you got
familiar go to work by new versions.

Notes:
-----------
1. Hiren's bootcd works in DOS mode (of course in version 9.9 it uses other way to use
mini xp too),so in this tutor you should use programs that can run in DOS.

2.In this tutor i will show you how this boot cd works for making ram disk and running
"Partition Magic Pro 8.05".for this purpose i will edite and also delete some files to
make this cd to have and work by just one program (Partition Magic Pro 8.05)

3.because the purpose of this tutor is working by hiren's boot cd ,so i will not use my
own files to make the CD and will use hiren's files.ifyou needed to know how to do the
same work by your favorite programs,write your notes and i will try to talk about that
in other tutor.

===============================================
Now lets learn some other things befor starting tutor
------------------
1.All process for running hiren's programs are disigned by bootifo of CD in all versions
except version 9.9.for getting bootinfo in versions except 9.9 ,load ISO by Ultraiso and
save bootinfo some where to work by that later.for version 9.9 the boot informations are
located in file ...hiren bootcd\HBCD\boot.gz

2.when you boot by hiren cd ,in the first page you will see 2 lines below:

-----1.Boot from hard drive

-----2.Start BootCD

that you should select 2nd item to see origional menue of hiren CD.
This page is made by file "jo.sys" that is located in bootinfo files.if you do not want
to have this page ,just delete "jo.sys" from bootinfo files.

3.In Top of hirens boot cd menue you will see line "Hiren's All in 1 BootCD vx.x Menu"
if you do not want to have this line in top of menue page,the easiest way is changing
"io.sys" inside bootinfo files by "io.sys" from MS-DOS v7.1

4.Hiren boot cd uses several batch files for runing programs that you can see this bat
files in all version excpt 9.9 in "bats" directory in bootinfo files folder.and in 9.9
version they are located in extacted boot.gz folder\drivers.cab\temp directory.
These bat files are essential for working hirenCD and if you want to make your own bootcd
in this way you have to know programming by bat files perfectly.

=============================================
I think i have talked more than your patience.So lets to begin the real part of tutor:
=============================================
By doing steps below you will have an micro hiren,s BootCD with just one program to run
(Partition Magic Pro 8.05).read that carefully,this almost shows how hiren runs any DOS
program in ram and if you can understand that perfectly you can extend it to any other
your favorite dos programs.
Note that i say the process for versions other than 9.9 and if you want to do by version
9.9 you should do the same actions but with "boot.gz" instead of bootinfo files.

1.Open hiren's BootCD.ISO by UltraIso,Click on "Bootable" in menu,then select "Save boot
file...".and save that by the name of "hiren.bif" some where (for example in D:\Source).

2.Open hiren's BootCD.ISO by UltraIso, delete all files and directories inside BootCD
directory excpt files below and save:
mix.uha
pqpm.uha
uharc.exe
uharcd.exe

At this time you will have a micro hiren CD that has just (Partition Magic Pro 8.05) files
and some other files that are needed to run that.but if you run that you still have a lot
of options in boot cd's menu that are not needed (and will not work too).

3.Open notepad and types lines below on it,then save that as "Autoexec.bat" in D:\source
directory:

@echo off
set ramd=R
set keyboard=US
startup all
:all
copy %cdrom%\bootcd\uharcd.exe %ramd%:\>nul
IF %config%==PQPM call %config%
wbat fill (+cyan on black)
smartdrv>nul
call loadcd

4.Open notepad and types lines below on it,then save that as "Config.sys" in D:\source
directory:

[MENU]
menuitem=PQPM, Partition Magic Pro 8.05
menudefault=PQPM,
menucolor=11,0

[PQPM]
devicehigh=himem.sys /testmem:off /numhandles=128
dos=high,umb,
fileshigh=40
shell=\command.com /e:2048 /f /p
switches=/f

[COMMON]
LASTDRIVE=Z

5.Open D:\source\hiren.bif by ultraiso,replace autoexec.bat and config.sys inside that by the
ones you have made in steps 3 and 4 then save it.(you can delete jo.sys too if you
do not want to see first page)

=======================================
Now 1st test your iso and be sure you have don OK then study files below to understand
how it works and how you can do your own.
autoexec.bat
config.sys
all bat files inside bootinfo

Posted by fe007 on Aug. 02 2009,14:21

Hey Shirin. Good tutorial. Gonna try this out right now.

Posted by madar on Aug. 02 2009,15:39

fe007

Note that the first bat file that is used (for making ramdisk and
some other jobs) is startup.bat inside bootinfo directory

Posted by bugme on Feb. 08 2010,06:15

Dear Madar,
I studid your full article. I have not taken any trial on dos boot cd. But after studing hiren bootcd 10.0, Structure of autorun.exe, autorun.csv making of uah files and bat files.. these things are quite easy than boot cd. If u check autorun.exe, if we have to add any menu entry, simply open autorun.csv and add your menu... okey. After all, because of your this good tutorial, i get inspired to work on it. thanks..
Dhananjay Sabnis
dssabnis@yahoo.com

Posted by tmy on Apr. 11 2012,14:13

Hi I have hiren boot cd 15.1 with lots of programs included that were removed for legal reasons. My question is this :
When the cd well it's a DVD as it's very large, one of the options is to boot to the kaspersky rescue disk 10 and it works great however since this the making of this DVD the program has been updated I don't mean the virus defs I mean the program has been updated slightly to include a few extra functions.

Could you explain how to replace this program with the iso of the current program ? Thank you so kindly

Posted by balder on Apr. 11 2012,16:34

@tmy

First of all - welcome to this forum @tmy

Quote: "Could you explain how to replace this program with the iso of the current program"

Note: I'm unsure if @madar has the ability to answer so I'll try to do it :;):

You are talking about 'kaspersky', but as far as I know there is no kaspersky in Hiren-15.1

However, Avira AntiVir Personal (07-12-2011 is present in Hiren-15.1.

Why don't you simply integrate kaspersky into EasyBoot and in this way have direct access to launch kaspersky avoiding detour to Hiren and then launch kaspersky - I cannot understand the logic to this

Anyway... I guess you have your reasons

In folder HBCD you have text-file 'menu.lst'

Open 'menu.lst' (use notepad) and insert extra text-lines (bold text) so your result is like this:

title Mini Windows Xp\nRun Antivirus and other windows programs
# example password: test
# password --md5 $1$gNe0$KZPOE8wNbTNSKOzrajuoB0
find --set-root /HBCD/XP/XP.BIN
chainloader /HBCD/XP/XP.BIN

title Dos Programs\nRun Dos Programs
find --set-root /HBCD/Dos/dos.gz
map --mem /HBCD/Dos/dos.gz (fd0)
map --hook
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)
map --floppies=1

title Linux based rescue environment (Parted Magic 6.7)\nTo manage partitions, backup and recovery
set pm=/HBCD/Boot/pmagic.lst
find --set-root %pm%
set lang=us
set opt=
configfile %pm%

title Kaspersky Rescue CD iso (Virus Scanner)
find --set-root /HBCD/KASPERSKY.ISO
map /HBCD/KASPERSKY.ISO (0xff) || map --mem /HBCD/KASPERSKY.ISO (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

Note: you can of course insert kaspersky text-lines where ever you like in menu - it is a question of taste - do as you like

Save changes to menu.lst

Now copy kaspersky.iso to folder HBCD and rename ISO-file to exactly KASPERSKY.ISO (it's vital you use uppercase=BIG LETTERS to name)

Open kaspersky.iso (I use UltraIso) and extract folder 'rescue' and file ' livecd' to the root of your build (folder disk1 is the root in EasyBoot if you wonder) or to the root of DVD-build

Still having kaspersky.iso-file opened in UltraIso you delete folder 'rescue' and file 'livecd'
(we don't need this folder/file in ISO as it is extracted to the 'root' of your build)

Save changes and delete possible backup of ISO that UltraIso might leave.

Now you have kaspersky in Hiren.iso

Tip! To integrate kaspersky into Easyboot read post nr; 4 < HERE >

balder

Posted by nikkil on Apr. 29 2012,11:54

Great tutorial. I'm a newbie but I was able to walk through the steps with ease.

Posted by Babac on Dec. 02 2012,16:21

Hi everyone,
I've been looking around for a while in order to learn how to add a file to Hiren's Boot.I found this old thread interesting and,so far, the most understandable of all those I came across,but yet I need some clarification in the answer given by balder on April 11th,2012:

QUOTE

Open 'menu.lst' (use notepad) and insert extra text-lines (bold text) so your result is like this:

From where do I open this file?

QUOTE

Open kaspersky.iso (I use UltraIso) and extract folder 'rescue' and file ' livecd' to the root of your build (folder disk1 is the root in EasyBoot if you wonder) or to the root of DVD-build

Please tell me more about the root of my build.I don't understand what you mean.
Thanks.

Posted by balder on Dec. 03 2012,00:21

@ Babac

This is your first post in EasyBoot, so I say welcome @ Babac

Quote: "From where do I open this file?"

Use notepad or similar simple text-editor to modify text-file 'menu.lst' :;):

Note: text file 'menu.lst' is plainly a simple text file and not a complicated 'bin-file'
You can also right-click to 'menu.lst' and chose to use notepad - and if fact - set the system to continue use notepad as the 'main program' to edit 'menu.lst'!

Quote: "Please tell me more about the root of my build.I don't understand what you mean"

I quote from my post nr;6 "folder disk1 is the root in EasyBoot if you wonder"
This also automatically creates the 'root' to the 'burned' CD\DVD when you are finished

Note: folder 'disk1' is also the 'root' to USB drive if you decide to use build from USB drive :cool:

Or compare with the harddisk unit C: in your operative system you run (I guess you run Windows) - [C:] is also called the 'root' in such system

balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 03 2012,12:25

Thanks Balder for welcoming me and also for your answers.

1-I understood the ''menu.list'' file had to be opened with notepad.I was rather asking from where do I open It?From the CD???If so, impossible to save it there(error message).

2-

QUOTE

Open kaspersky.iso (I use UltraIso) and extract folder 'rescue' and file ' livecd' to the root of your build (folder disk1 is the root in EasyBoot if you wonder) or to the root of DVD-build

I'm trying to add a ISO file called ERD Commander.
When I extract it, there is no folder 'rescue' and file ' livecd' showing up. Are these files applicable only to Kaspersky???
Thanks.

Posted by balder on Dec. 03 2012,13:28

@Babac

Quote: "impossible to save it there"

You always do your changes to the files in folder 'disk1' and then create ISO, followed by testing in some 'virtual environment' (Virtual PC or whatever)

When done, it's time to 'burn' to CD\DVD - or some CD-RW

Quote: "I'm trying to add a ISO file called ERD Commander"

Attention! ERD can be launched directly using ISO-file of ERD (which is the recommended method)
However, to make it possible to launch ISO-file of ERD directly, you need to use my script 'easyboot-iso.script' and in script tick 'Run ISO from RAM'
This solution works from both CD\DVD as from USB drive :;):

---------------------------------
Note: you have a help-button in each script that gives some basic help
You have download of script-collection below in every post I write in this forum
Attention! Read carefully 'READ_ME.html' inside folder 'balder' before you go ahead

And remember to extract folder 'balder' to the root in your OP-system (C:) :cool:

-------------------------
Quote: "Are these files applicable only to Kaspersky"
Yes only to kaspersky - ERD has nothing in common with kaspersky, which is a antivirus program
ERD Commander is a 'Live-system' based on a NT5-system (WinXP or similar NT5-system)

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 06 2012,11:12

I'm going to have a deep look into all this.
No doubt I will have to come back to you.
Thanks again.

Posted by Babac on Dec. 08 2012,13:55

Hi Balder,
I had a look at the stuff on your links.My conclusion now is that I'm further away than I thought I was in this process.

I am inclined to use UltraIso to add a program to Hiren's. Everything I tried so far with this software failed along the process.
Is it possible to add a program with UltraIso and ,if so, can you help me on the steps to follow.
Thanks.

Posted by balder on Dec. 08 2012,14:10

@Babac

Quote: "am inclined to use UltraIso to add a program to Hiren's"

Well this has nothing to do with EasyBoot - but - as you cannot that easily include a program into Hiren I suggest you use Easyboot

You can most likely include a program into the grub menu that is used inside Hiren - which is close the same as use a 'grub-kicker-image' launched from EasyBooy menu

Quote: "Is it possible to add a program with UltraIso and"
Yes in some cases (if using the inside Hiren used grub menu it might work okay)

So my question is: what program are you interested to integrate into Hiren (or Easyboot) ERD or something else

Note: it is extremely easy to include Hiren into EasyBoot menu as a start :cool:

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 08 2012,15:47

Balder,
The program I would like to integrate to Hiren's is Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery.I would appreciate a step by step guide to achieve that with Easy Boot.
I will give it a try.
On the other hand,Madar wrote a tutor in this thread on August 1st,2009 that I almost understood.
I think that should he had mentioned where to put and how to manipulate Partition Magic Pro 8.05 with UltraISO, I would succeed.I guessed different ways of doing it, but it failed.
Thanks.

Posted by balder on Dec. 09 2012,04:01

@Babac

Quote: " Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery"

Quote: "Partition Magic Pro 8.05"

Well I'm not familiar with Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery

Does it include a 'rescue image file' (ISO-file or floppy image) that we can launch when computer boot?
If not, it cannot be run from menu of EasyBoot

Could you please confirm if this program is provided with facility to create a 'rescue media' - most likely a ISO-file or perhaps a bootable floppy image - that can be launched when computer reboots.
----------------
However you then you jump to the old fashion "Partition Magic Pro 8.05" that has nothing in common with Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery

This old program "Partition Magic Pro 8.05" (sometimes called 'partition tragic'

) can be run from a floppy image (or bootable ISO-file).
Note: you create (or find on Internet) a DOS floppy image of partition magic_8_05 that easily can be launched from EasyBoot menu when computer reboots
But I know that partition magic has a built-in facility to create a bootable floppy image (bootable 'rescue image')
Copy floppy image to folder EZBOOT and use menu command: run pm.img (or whatever name you use to floppy image)
Tick only 'Joliet' when creating ISO in EasyBoot :cool:

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 09 2012,15:05

Hi Balder,
I jumped to Partition Magic Pro 8.05 as an example only.
I just wanted to know how to add such a software to Hiren.
I understand Madar's tutor except for the insertion of the software itself, no matter which one.
If you could explain me how to do it with Partition Magic, I will be able to do it with a software of mine.
In short what I need is a complement of information on Madar's tutor:
1:How do I integrate Partition Magic?
2-Should it always be a ISO file?
3-Was Madar referring to Easy Boot or UltraIso when he explained this procedure?
Thanks

Posted by balder on Dec. 09 2012,17:25

@Babac

Quote: "

I answer by quoting from post nr; 16 above
"I know that partition magic has a built-in facility to create a bootable floppy image (bootable 'rescue image')
Copy floppy image to folder EZBOOT and use menu command: run pm.img (or whatever name you use to floppy image)
Tick only 'Joliet' when creating ISO in EasyBoot "

This can surely not be any problem to understand - or is it

----------------------
Quote: "Was Madar referring to Easy Boot or UltraIso when he explained this procedure?"

I would say Yes!
---------------------------------
However you only want Hiren
Okay, I'm on a friendly mood as Christmas is soon arriving :laugh:

The most simple way is to use the 'floppy image' created by parted magic, followed by modifying the grub menu
It is possible to make changes to the DOS part of Hiren, but as it seems that you having problem following tutorial by @madar, I suggest you forget the DOS modifications and hold tight to the grub menu

You must be skilled in DOS and how that old fashion stuff works if you are going to make modifications in there
So let's stay put to grub menu!

Next question is:
What Hiren are we dealing with here

Okay, let us assume it is Hiren_v15.2 (latest release)

Hiren_v15.2 use grub menu and has skipped *.uha to compress files - instead 7z is used to compress files

As it is close to pointless to compress the floppy image created by partition magic, you can use floppy image as it is.

Do it this way:

1. Create floppy image of parted magic and give it name partmagic.img

2. Open Hiren ISO-file with UltraIso (keep ISO opened in UltraIso to the end of this tutorial)

3. Inject partmagic.img to folder HBCD/Dos

4. Extract (drag and drop) text file menu.lst from inside of folder HBCD to the root (C:)

5. Open menu.lst on the root (use notepad)

6. Change this text:

title Mini Windows Xp\nRun Antivirus and other windows programs
# example password: test
# password --md5 $1$gNe0$KZPOE8wNbTNSKOzrajuoB0
find --set-root /HBCD/XP/XP.BIN
#map --mem /HBCD/XP/f6drivers.img (fd0)&&map --hook
chainloader /HBCD/XP/XP.BIN

title Dos Programs\nRun Dos Programs
set dos=/HBCD/Dos/dos.gz
find --set-root /HBCD/Boot/dos.img && set dos=/HBCD/Boot/dos.img
# to make big floppy image of all the dos programs (Useful when booted from NTFS usb drive) open HBCD\DOS\dosimg.cmd
find --set-root %dos%
map --mem %dos% (fd0)
map --hook
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)
map --floppies=1

title Linux based rescue environment (Parted Magic 2012-10-10)\nTo manage partitions, backup and recovery
set pm=/HBCD/Boot/pmagic.lst
find --set-root %pm%
set lang=us
set opt=
configfile %pm%

TO THIS (you can copy and paste from below overwriting existing text in 'menu.lst' but it is only the bold part that is added):

title Mini Windows Xp\nRun Antivirus and other windows programs
# example password: test
# password --md5 $1$gNe0$KZPOE8wNbTNSKOzrajuoB0
find --set-root /HBCD/XP/XP.BIN
#map --mem /HBCD/XP/f6drivers.img (fd0)&&map --hook
chainloader /HBCD/XP/XP.BIN

title Dos Programs\nRun Dos Programs
set dos=/HBCD/Dos/dos.gz
find --set-root /HBCD/Boot/dos.img && set dos=/HBCD/Boot/dos.img
# to make big floppy image of all the dos programs (Useful when booted from NTFS usb drive) open HBCD\DOS\dosimg.cmd
find --set-root %dos%
map --mem %dos% (fd0)
map --hook
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)
map --floppies=1

title Linux based rescue environment (Parted Magic 2012-10-10)\nTo manage partitions, backup and recovery
set pm=/HBCD/Boot/pmagic.lst
find --set-root %pm%
set lang=us
set opt=
configfile %pm%

title Parted Magic-8.05
map --mem /HBCD/Dos/partmagic.img (fd0)
map --hook
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)

7. Save changes to menu.lst

8. Inject (drag and drop) menu.lst back into folder HBCD in ISO-file overwriting existing 'menu.lst'

9. Save changes to Hiren ISO-file when closing UltraIso

That's it

Attention! Be aware that launching ISO-files are not done with same syntax

And further more, some software needs 'special treatment' to run properly
You can compare to EasyBoot and how we treat software in there to make it work correctly!

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 10 2012,15:25

Hi Balder,
Wow, I think I can go a little bit further now.

QUOTE

Balder says:Next question is:
What Hiren are we dealing with here

Okay, let us assume it is Hiren_v15.2 (latest release)

Yes ,it's 15.2

QUOTE

Balder says:Quote: "Was Madar referring to Easy Boot or UltraIso when he explained this procedure?"

I would say Yes!

Hum! Yes to what???

QUOTE

Balder says:
1. Create floppy image of parted magic and give it name partmagic.img

Suppose my software is Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery.The file of this software is in .exe format only.Is it possible to convert it into whatever format to make it work in Hiren's?

Thanks and please stay in the Christmas mood until I'm finished with this!!!

Posted by balder on Dec. 10 2012,16:07

@Babac

Quote: "Thanks and please stay in the Christmas mood until I'm finished with this"

Well that part won't help us in this case

as you quote:
"The file of this software is in .exe format only.Is it possible to convert it into whatever format to make it work in Hiren's?"

No absolutely not

I don't think you understand how hiren (or EasyBoot) works and/or are used

Hiren and EasyBoot is not a Windows system - it is used as boot-manager when computer boots to launch different 'tools'

I think you need to do some research to better understand how these things are used (and works) before I can be to any help

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 11 2012,13:26

Hi Balder,
Rest assured I know how Hiren's works.However ,I know nothing about Easy Boot.I don't even own this software.

QUOTE

By Babac"The file of this software is in .exe format only.Is it possible to convert it into whatever format to make it work in Hiren's?"

By balder No absolutely not

It is what I thought.I presume (and I always did) the file should be in the ISO format.
Correct???

QUOTE

By balderDo it this way:

1. Create floppy image of parted magic and give it name partmagic.img

How do I create a floppy image.I tried with Ultra ISO and I ended up with a file of over 90 gb and an error message at the end.
Thanks for remainning in the Christmas mood!

Posted by balder on Dec. 11 2012,14:27

@Babac

Quote: "It is what I thought.I presume (and I always did) the file should be in the ISO format"

Yes or No or anything depending if you mean EasyBoot or something completely different

Such question makes no sense in EasyBoot forum

Quote: "How do I create a floppy image"
What is the purpose with creating such image if you are bound to use ISO-file?
I don't see the point of this?
How are you going to use that image?
But I can give you one last answer to this (you need EasyBoot):

1. Launch EasyBoot

2. Press button 'Tools' and chose 'Create New Floppy Image'

3. Chose a size you like to use to floppy image

4. As 'Seed Image' you can use 'setup98.img' in folder 'ezboot'
Note: this 'Seed Image' creates a DOS MASTER BOOT RECORD (MBR)

5. Push 'Create' (you now have a new floppy image with DOS MBR

Another method to create floppy image up to size '2,88 Mb' is to use my script 'easyboot kicker-image.script'
This script can create floppy images with DOS MASTER BOOT RECORD (MBR) or GRUB MBR or with NT MBR
Depending what the purpose is to use floppy image to
Note: I cannot continue this discussion in HERE

Quote: "I know nothing about Easy Boot.I don't even own this software"
Well you can always test the freeware part of Easyboot.
Anyway.... This is EasyBoot forum and not a forum for 'general purpose' :angry:

I must redirect you to UltraIso forum - < HERE >
Start asking questions in UlltraIso forum which most likely is the best matching forum for your different requests :cool:

EDIT:
Personal thoughts on Hiren

I find it hard to understand this obsession to Hiren - some of them even mediocre collection of software - and most likely never needed!
Further more, each of these software can anyway be launched from EasyBoot menu without the help of Hiren's Boot CD!

Why not build your own 'rescue CD' with exact the 'tools' that may be needed

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 14 2012,13:11

(balder @ Dec. 11 2012,19:27)

QUOTE

@Babac

Quote: "It is what I thought.I presume (and I always did) the file should be in the ISO format"

Yes or No or anything depending if you mean EasyBoot or something completely different

Such question makes no sense in EasyBoot forum

I must redirect you to UltraIso forum - < HERE >
Start asking questions in UlltraIso forum which most likely is the best matching forum for your different requests :cool:

QUOTE

Balder says:EDIT:
Personal thoughts on Hiren

I find it hard to understand this obsession to Hiren - some of them even mediocre collection of software - and most likely never needed!
Further more, each of these software can anyway be launched from EasyBoot menu without the help of Hiren's Boot CD!

Why not build your own 'rescue CD' with exact the 'tools' that may be needed

Hi Balder,
The reason is simple.I'm lazy and Hiren is already built.
However, I'm ready to work(not too hard though) and give Easy Boot a trial.
Is there a good tutorial somewhere to learn how to build my own rescue disk?When I say good, iI mean better than the average.

Thanks.

Posted by balder on Dec. 14 2012,15:09

@Babac

Quote: "Is there a good tutorial somewhere to learn how to build my own rescue disk?"

You need to use 'Search' in upper right corner and also search both to 'Older' as 'Newer' topics

As search word you can use 'acronis' (to find out how to launch acronis rescue-CD as example)
and the same procedure to most of other software

However I do recommend the awesome tutorial ('The missing manual') by @AltairAC - < HERE >

Note: some of the stuff in this tutorial is partly changed from EasyBoot_v6 and later - but overall a very useful 'step-in' to the 'world of EasyBoot' :cool:

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 15 2012,16:21

QUOTE

Balder says:Do it this way:

1. Create floppy image of parted magic and give it name partmagic.img

1-I'm stuck on the very 1st step.
Can you explain how I do that?
2-When doing this, should the file used be in the ISO format?
Thanks

Posted by balder on Dec. 16 2012,03:26

@Babac

Quote: "1-I'm stuck on the very 1st step"

Well that part is extremely easy to do and you are already stuck to this :;):

When you install as example Partition_Magic_Pro_8.05__Build_1371 you have in program possibility to create 'rescue' floppy.
Program creates a bootable floppy with partition_magic.
You can then use in EasyBoot built-in facility to 'read' and thereby create a image of this floppy by using button 'Tools>>Make Floppy Image' having that floppy in its slot
You of course need a floppy unit to make it work

Another way is to find a working floppy image of partition_magic_Pro_8 on Internet (still not impossible despite that partition_magic is an 'old' software)
When you have the floppy image, you copy it to folder EZBOOT and use menu command: run pm8.img (or whatever name you use to image)

Note: this is just an example how software (in this case using a floppy image) can be launched from the menu of EasyBoot :cool:

Another example is Norton Ghost 15.0 that also can create a 'bootable rescue media' - but in this case a bootable ISO-file that you copy to folder EZBOOT and use menu command: run ghost.iso (or whatever name you use to ISO-file)

Note: ISO-file of Norton Ghost 15.0 is based on NT6 and can directly be launched from the menu of EasyBoot

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 16 2012,15:15

Hi Balder,
Yes, I have a floppy device on one of my computers.

Thinking it over, I think that what I'm trying to do is something impossible.Let's forget about PartMagic and Hiren's.
What I want to do is to make a bootable CD with the Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery .exe file ,so I can boot on it when Windows does not work anymore.
Is it possible???

I checked its menu and did not find anything about creating a floppy image whatsoever.
Thanks.

Posted by balder on Dec. 17 2012,01:59

@Babac

Quote: "I checked its menu and did not find anything about creating a floppy image whatsoever"

Well I do not have, or use this software - which makes it difficult to find out options in software

If you cannot create a 'bootable media' - floppy image of bootable ISO-file - from Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery, then it cannot be used inside EasyBoot

EasyBoot is used from the point computer boots and is then able to launch different 'rescue software' (chosen by user).
You must understand what EasyBoot is a kind of tool :cool:

EasyBoot is a 'boot manager' launched when computer boots and not at all used inside a Windows system to launch 'tools' from that point.

As far as I have found out, it seems to be run from inside of a Windows system (but I still think there must be some option in Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery to create a 'bootable media', but as I do not have this tool to test on, I cannot give you any more advices at this point - in fact - I had never even heard about this product: 'Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery'

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 17 2012,16:25

Hi Balder,
Thanks for these explanations.I will go deeper and try to find out if I can find at ool to crate a bootable media.
In the meantime,I would like to come back to this previous discussion:

QUOTE

Do it this way:

1. Create floppy image of parted magic and give it name partmagic.img
2. Open Hiren ISO-file with UltraIso (keep ISO opened in UltraIso to the end of this tutorial)

3. Inject partmagic.img to folder HBCD/Dos

4. Extract (drag and drop) text file menu.lst from inside of folder HBCD to the root (C:)

5. Open menu.lst on the root (use notepad)

6. Change this text:etc etc...

Some thing is still not clear in my mind as far as step one.
Prior to creating the floppy image,I presume I have to set the PartImage file some how, some where....???
Thanks

Posted by balder on Dec. 18 2012,03:28

@Babac

Quote: "I presume I have to set the PartImage file some how, some where....???"

I'm unsure what you mean with 'set'

If you mean how to 'set' DOS commands inside floppy image - I suggest we leave this for the moment.

If you mean to launch floppy image from EasyBoot, you simply copy floppy image to folder EZBOOT and use menu command in EasyBoot menu: run parted_magic.img (or whatever name and extension you use to floppy image)

However if you mean how to 'set' floppy image to launch from the mofified Hiren you 'set' this command inside text file 'menu.lst' that is a part of grub (grub boot manager is used inside Hiren ISO-file).

You could also use my script 'easyboot-hiren_v14*.script' to integrate hiren ISO-file into EasyBoot

When done you can as example copy floppy image of parted magic to inside of folder 'easyboot\disk1\hbcd\dos'
And finally make changes to text file 'menu.lst' in folder disk1\hbcd as told in post nr; 18
Create iso in EasyBoot (tick only 'Joliet')

Hmmmm.... I'm still unsure what your problems is here

He, he.... I'm still in the 'Christmas mood' :laugh:

(dressed Christmas tree yesterday with help of my grandchild)

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 18 2012,13:47

QUOTE

Balder says:I'm unsure what you mean with 'set'

Hi balder,
I was figuring out adding a program like Ophcrack CD ISO to Hiren's,for exemple.
< http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/download.php >

1-Before creating a floppy image, should I put this ISO file somewhere in Easyboot or anywhere else???
2-Once I created a floppy image,what do I do with with the ISO file.Where do I put it?
Even Babac is not sure he understands what he means!!!

Posted by balder on Dec. 18 2012,15:15

@ Babac

Quote: "I was figuring out adding a program like Ophcrack CD ISO to Hiren's,for exemple"

Hmmm... Well this is EasyBoot and not Hiren's ISO-file

Still don't understand this obsession of Hiren

Why not use EasyBoot to launch Hiren and another menu entry to launch different Ophcrack CD ISO-file(s)

Note: I'm currently downloading both 'ophcrack-vista-livecd-3.4.0.iso' and the 'ophcrack-xp-livecd-3.4.0.iso' to figure out how to launch them from menu of Easyboot

However I'm pretty sure these ISO-files are based on linux (or isolinux) and may need some 'treatment' to launch correctly

I'll be back to report the results - can take until tomorrow :cool:

EDIT:
Both ophcrack ISO-files can easily be launched from the menu of Easyboot
However it needs some treatment to work correctly

Let's start with 'ophcrack-xp-livecd-3.4.0.iso'
Do it this way (usually called 'frugal solution')

1. Open 'ophcrack-xp-livecd-3.4.0.iso using UltraIso

2. Copy (extract) folder 'tables' to folder 'disk1' in Easyboot (folder 'disk1' is the root in EasyBoot if you wonder)

3. Delete folder 'tables' inside ISO-file

4. Save changes to ISO-file (use 'Save As') and save ISO to folder EZBOOT using name ophcrackxp.iso

5. Use menu command in EasyBoot. run ophcrackxp.iso

6. Tick 'Joliet' when creating ISO in EasyBoot

Do the same procedure to 'ophcrack-vista-livecd-3.4.0.iso' (in case you want that one as well)
Note: this time you don't copy (extract) folder 'tables' from ISO to folder disk1 as that folder name already is ocupied.
Instead you open folder 'tables' in iso-file and copy (extract) folder 'vista_free' to inside of folder 'tables' in folder disk1
Then delete folder 'tables' in 'ophcrack-vista-livecd-3.4.0.iso' and use 'save as' to iso-file and save iso to folder EZBOOT using name ophcrackvista.iso
Use menu command in EasyBoot: run ophcrackvista.iso
Tick 'Joliet' when creating ISO in EasyBoot

You should have a folder 'tables' in folder 'disk1', and inside folder 'tables' you should have a folder 'vista_free' and a folder 'xp_free_small' inside folder' tables' that is on the root of EasyBoot (folder disk1 is the root)
We need these 'tables' of files on the root of EasyBoot ISO-file to make it work correctly
But on the other way, we have no use of folder 'tables' inside ISO-files - folder 'tables' must reside on the root (folder 'disk1' in EasyBoot)
I tested to 'Burn' EasyBoot build to USB stick, and was able to launch and run ophcrack from USB as well

regards balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 19 2012,14:05

Hi Balder,

QUOTE

Balder says:
5. Use menu command in EasyBoot. run ophcrackxp.iso

I'm new to EasyBoot.I read over your comments and step # 5 is the one that would prevent me from going any further.
How do I launch '' run ophcrackxp.iso''?
I could not figure that out.I did not find any button to go ahead.
Thanks.

Posted by balder on Dec. 19 2012,15:41

@ Babac

Quote: "How do I launch run ophcrackxp.iso''

That is the menu command used in EasyBoot menu system

You do not 'launch' menu command, it is the menu command that launch your specific file

-------------------------------

Quote: " I'm new to EasyBoot"

So was I - but I started to learn and continued learning and are still learning :cool:

I suggest you do the same

Note1: If you even cannot understand how to use these basic steps in Easyboot - which you clearly do not - I suggest we stop this discussion at this point, as I cannot see how I can help you any further...

Note2: Before going any further, start at least with trying to understand the basic concept in EasyBoot

balder

Posted by Babac on Dec. 20 2012,15:23

Hi Balder,
I agree with almost all of what you said.
However, you seem to forget that in my question of December 18th,I as asking how to launch a software from Hiren's, not EasyBoot.

I know you don't like Hiren's but this is my concern at this very moment..
Thanks anyway for your efforts.I appreciated it.