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| Post Number: 11
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allgames71 
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 06 2012,01:44 |
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hello balder ,
Thanks for your tutorial , but I think I need time to digest everything as I'm a slow walker. I'll let you know my test result.
At this moment , my 160GB usb hd's Win8 Developer Preview windows has just downed while I was installing some software in it. It can't go into windows and said there's some error with it , nomatter how many time I restart it , the same happening. Even I use the automatic repair function , it still fail.
So I've to install the Win8 v7989 again and make the new Win8 Developer Preview again in my 160GB usb hd.
Anyway , thanks in advance.
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| Post Number: 12
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allgames71
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 06 2012,12:31 |
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hello balder ,
I've tried your tutorial just once and succeeded.
QUESTIONS :
1. The 2 partitions remain the same size without anything change but just to add grub mbr , iso , menu.lst to partition 1.
2. Before I use a 320GB usb hd as my Easyboot menu , and the 160GB usb hd is only for trial of Win8USB. So can I just copy everything in the 2 partitions in 160GB usb hd to the 320GB usb hd ? Of course I'll try it myself.
I think , once you way succeed , the rest of above mention procedure will not be difficult. Thanks again.
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| Post Number: 13
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balder
Group: Members
Posts: 1942
Joined: Oct. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 06 2012,13:55 |
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@ allgames71
Quote: "I've tried your tutorial just once and succeeded."
Excellent done  Â
Thanks for clarifying what I suggested as solution - it worked as expected 
-------------------------------
QUESTIONS :
1. The 2 partitions remain the same size without anything change but just to add grub mbr , iso , menu.lst to partition 1.
Yes this is correct (except changes to MBR and the 2 needed files 'menu.lst' and 'grldr').
2. Before I use a 320GB usb hd as my Easyboot menu , and the 160GB usb hd is only for trial of Win8USB. So can I just copy everything in the 2 partitions in 160GB usb hd to the 320GB usb hd ? Of course I'll try it myself.
Hmmm... yes this should work IF 'bootmgr' on partition 2 is the one that launch Windows - BUT you do not have any folder 'boot' in partition 1 
It seems to me that 'run setupnt6.img' used in EasyBoot menu launch 'bootmgr' in partition 1.
It works like this:
1. In EasyBoot menu you have 'run setupnt6.img' to launch Win8 on your USB harddisk
2. Â Floppy image 'run setupnt6.img' is a 'grub-kicker-image' and 'menu.lst' has this line to find 'bootmgr' find --set-root --ignore-floppies /bootmgr
This means grub starts to search the first partition and if 'bootmgr' is found there, it launches this file and nothing else (grub won't search partition 2 for a second 'bootmgr' to launch)
What I'm saying is: you probably need folder 'boot' that is in partition 1 
On the other hand, no harm testing your initial suggestion: "copy everything in the 2 partitions in 160GB usb hd to the 320GB usb hd" - but I think you need that first partition with it's folder 'boot'
Anyway - nice it worked - using ISO created by EasyBoot as your partition is NTFS we cannot use original file 'ezldr' to launch EasyBoot menu (ezldr need FAT32 to run)
I still have some major problem to test your suggestions - but you have already proved tutorial worked as expected - thank you for providing community with this vital information
He, he there seems to be no limit what we can achieve with this EasyBoot software if using some minor 'work-around' 
regards balder
Edited by balder on Jan. 06 2012,15:33
--------------
Download complete set of scripts including help file HERE
Note: Script collection updated 2019-05-19. Scripts mainly support EasyBoot_6.5 or later
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| Post Number: 14
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allgames71
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 06 2012,23:24 |
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hello balder ,
Thanks for your explanation. I'll go on the job of copying everything from my 160GB usb hd to 320GB usb hd , to see if it really works. But surely it's not an easy job , as my 320GB usb hd is nearly full (not much space left). Besides , there's already 2 partitions in there :
1. Primary partition for Easyboot
2. Logical partition for all my datas.
I'll surely try , if fail , I'll use my 320GB usb hd to install this Win8USB finally , then copy the datas back to it.
It worths , as I think this Win8USB is much better than the Win7.vhd (7USBEditionByiMortaluz.vhd). Beacause the 7USBEditionByiMortaluz.vhd only works on some usb hd and computers only. But for Win8USB , it has a high compability to any computers.
You know , I'm a computer repairer , so I've chance to test it with my customer's computers. For more than 10 of my customer's computer I've tested right now. Win8USB still works fine and make me happy.
My succeed is because all your effort. Thank a lot.
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| Post Number: 15
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allgames71
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 08 2012,08:54 |
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hello balder ,
Please help !
I fail in making Win8USB partition1 enlargement
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I made the Win8USB in my 160GB usb hd ok. It has 2 partitions :
1st primary partition 350MB
2nd primary partition (Active) ... the rest of my 160GB usb hd space.
My aim is to enlarge the 1st primary parition to 10GB and the 2nd primary partition remain the rest of my 160GB usb hd space.
If I can enlarge the 1st primary parition to 10GB , then I can add the other Easyboot software in it from my 320GB usb hd. But unfortunately I failed ....
The first time after making the Win8USB with my 160GB usb hd , I check it's partition with SPEfdisk (DOS ware) , and the SPEfdisk message "Partition area found overlap".
The steps I enlarge the 1st primary partition of 160GB usb hd is :
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1. Write the 1st and 2nd primary partitions image of the 160GB usb hd with Acronis individually.
2. Use partition tools to delete the 2nd primary partition of the 160GB usb hd , then resize the 1st primary partition from 350MB to 10GB.
3. Create again the 2nd primary partition with the rest space of the 160GB usb hd.
4. Use Acronis to restore the former made image to the 2nd primary partition of the 160GB usb hd
5. Use SPEfdisk to check the 160GB usb hd's partition this time , no error message about the partition come out.
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When I boot up again the 160GB usb hd , the Windows has a message "Preparing Automatic Repair" with 3 options :
1. Continue ... Exit and continue to %1
2. Troubleshoot ... Refresh or reset your PC or use advanced tools
3. Turn off you PC
The No. 1 and 3 options has no response , so I have to choose the 2nd one. The second choice also have few options, but also fail to repair. It's last options is to do the "System Restore" or "Recover the backuped image". But the "System Restore" won't work. And the "Recovery image" surely wouldn't be existed as this is a portable OS, that Microsoft stops this function to backup the windows.
Please balder , how can I fix this problem ?? Yes we made the Win8USB work. But if can't add the former made Easyboot software in it (the 1st primary partition) will become meaningless. As I don't want to have an additional 32GB usb stick or another usb hd to boot this Win8USB.
Help , thanks.
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| Post Number: 16
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balder
Group: Members
Posts: 1942
Joined: Oct. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 08 2012,13:14 |
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@allgames71
Quote: "Please balder , how can I fix this problem ??"
Well I'll say I probably cannot fix this using some 'quick fix tool' as there aren't any such tool available 
It seems Win-8 do create this two partitions during setup to USB harddisk (though I haven't still been able to test setup Win8 to USB harddisk as you did).
Anyway, if I was in your position I would test using Ghost instead of Acronis - and yes I know about Acronis but still doesn't fully trust this comparing to Ghost
I would test this:
1. Redo the post nr;1 (install Win-8 to 160 GB USB Harddisk)
2. Use ghost to create separate Images of partition 1 and partition 2
3. Wipe out partitions completely and create 10 GB to partition-1 respectively the rest of space to partition-2 Note: I highly recommend using Windows built-in disk management tool diskmgmt.msc to do the job
4. You can also optionally create a third partition with FAT32 to launch Linux\isolinux software (but this is optionally)
5. Use ghost to clone back partition-1 to the new 10 GB partition respectively the same procedure to partition-2
6. As you have NTFS as file-system to partition-1, you must use tutorial  in post nr; 10
I trust Ghost software much more than Acronis - this is by long experience, I have used Ghost sense 1996
I really cannot figure out much more
regards balder
--------------
Download complete set of scripts including help file HERE
Note: Script collection updated 2019-05-19. Scripts mainly support EasyBoot_6.5 or later
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| Post Number: 17
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allgames71
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 09 2012,15:14 |
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hello balder ,
I've thought of way to solve the partition problem , but fail :
1. Make Win8USB as it was , so we have 2 partitions
1st primary 350MB
2nd primary the rest of the 160GB usb hd space
2. I resize the 2nd partition to 35GB
3. Make a 3rd partition primary of 10GB
4. The 4th partition is Logical with the rest space of the 160GB usb hd. So we used up the 4 primary partitions of a harddisk.
5. Add grub mbr , iso , menu.lst to partition 1 as you taught before.
6. Use SPFdisk to make a boot menu of :
1. Win8USB
2. Easyboot
So I can boot either partition 1 (Win8USB) or partition 3 (Easyboot), but strange happen , I boot the Win8USB OK , but when I boot Easyboot it says "NTLDR missing" and stop to boot. So I check it manually in SPFdisk :
1. Hide Partition 1
2. Unhide Partition 3 and activate it , then save.
But SPFdisk message "refuse to save". I know it's because of the strange partition of partition 1. As I've mention before , everytime I go into SPFdisk , it always has an error message "Partition area found overlap". So I think this is the reason I fail to boot partition 3 (Easyboot).
Now I'm thinking of another way that may succeed , and of couse it needs your help :
1. Still use these 3 primary partitions of the same thing , but don't use the SPFdisk as boot menu.
2. Can we move all the menu.lst , xxx.lst(s) to partition 1 from parition 3 (the menu.lst and xxx.lst that we use all the time before) ?
3. In the menu.lst of partition 1 , then call all the iso(s) in partition 3 ?
This is only my thought , may be it doesn't working actually , but still may be you can figure it out as it would be a great help to me.
Thanks a lot.
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| Post Number: 18
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balder
Group: Members
Posts: 1942
Joined: Oct. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 09 2012,17:27 |
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@allgames71
Quote: "Can we move all the menu.lst , xxx.lst(s) to partition 1 from parition 3, then call all the iso(s) in partition 3 "
Yes this should be fully possible (at least in theory)
Note: you need to at least use "search-command" in menu.lst.
Example: I want to launch bootmgr that I might have in partition-3. However in my case I also have a file bootmgr in partition-1
Anyway - to launch bootmgr I can use this text in menu.lst that I have in partition-1: Â find --set-root --ignore-floppies /bootmgr
Grub now search all partitions for a file bootmgr
Note: if such bootmgr is found in partition-1 or partition-2 it first launch bootmgr in that partition (so in this case bootmgr that I have in partition-3, is never started).
To solve this, I simply rename bootmgr in partition-3 to a different name - a name like; win-8 or whatever.
Then make changes in menu.lst to find --set-root --ignore-floppies /win-8 Â (and of course also the rest in menu.lst from bootmgr to win-8).
Attention! If partition-1 is FAT32, then grub most likely fail to launch ISO (or other files) that is put in partition with NTFS as filesystem
You can launch ISO (or other files) that is put in FAT32-partition(s) if launching grub from an NTFS-partition, but not the other way around (launch ISO or files that is put in NTFS-partition if launching grub from FAT32).
You can also use EasyBoot menu and launch 'grub-kicker-images' simply by modifying 'menu.lst' in such floppy image (folder balder\USB_resources\ setupnt6.img is such floppy image that you can modify menu.lst)
It's a matter of 'taste' using the more elegant EasyBoot menu - the choice is of course the user  Â (which is you)
He, he you sure do a lot of interesting experiments over there in Hong Kong 
regards balder
--------------
Download complete set of scripts including help file HERE
Note: Script collection updated 2019-05-19. Scripts mainly support EasyBoot_6.5 or later
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| Post Number: 19
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allgames71
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 10 2012,06:13 |
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hello balder ,
quote : "Grub now search all partitions for a file bootmgr"
As you say so , I copy (not move) all my menu.lst and xxx.lst from parititon 3 (my old Easyboot) to partition 1. Nice things happened , the majority of my Easyboot software boot fine and work 100%.
I test all my Easyboot software one by one , and find that those which are iso(s) , typically basic only Win7PE format software boot well without any modification in the menu.lst.
But I've failed in some way. Those are .img.gz image files in the "images" folder and others :
1.
title DOS Big Floppy Disc
map --mem /IMAGES/dos.img.gz (fd0)
map --hook
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)
boot
When I boot this "dos.img.gz" , an error message comes out :
Booting DOS Big Floppy Disc
map --mem /IMAGES/dos.img.gz (fd0)
Error 15: File not found
Press any key to continue...
2. My XPE.iso boot with a black screen and doing nothing. Reference null
3. The pud linux boot up and stop right the way. Reference null
That will be great if you can help and solve my problem , anyway , the pud linux is not that important to me as I seldem use it.
Thanks again.
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| Post Number: 20
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allgames71
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 10 2012,06:35 |
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hello balder ,
This time , I make a folder in partition 1 name "images" , and copy the "\images\dos.img.gz" from parition 3 to partition 1\images.
This time boot with another error message :
Autodetect number-of-heads failed. Use default value 2
Autodetect sectors-per-track failed. Use default value 63
floppies_orig=0, harddrives_orig=2, floppies_curr=1, harddrives_curr=2
chainloader (fd0)+1
Error 13: Invalid or unsusported executable format
Press any key to continue...
Please help. Thanks
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