Topic: Service-post
started by: balder
Posted by balder on Jun. 14 2011,14:13
”Service-post”On request from many users to my USB-related scripts, I have heavily updated two scripts.
And that is the “easyboot-usb.script” and “easyboot-grub-iso.script” that before was prohibit to format USB devices with several partitions – but is now able to perform such process.
This means if you – as example – use USB harddisk with several partitions, script is able to find the first partition (usually first partition also is the “active” partition).
Note: “easyboot-usb.script” has its name changed to: “easyboot-usb_v2.script”
Another example:
My computer has one harddisk with two partitions which is presented in Windows explorer as C: and D:
If I connect my USB harddisk (that also has two partitions), Windows explorer show drives; C: and D: and the two USB partitions E: and F:
Both scripts now analyse your USB device and automatically chose drive letter E: as target.
The “easyboot-usb_v2.script” can also totally avoid any format to USB device regardless how many USB partitions that is showed in Windows explorer.
You can hereby “update” your ISO-file (preferably EasyBoot-ISO-file) without anything else is deleted.
You can also check “Automatically run defrag” in script to avoid: "Error 60: File for drive emulation must be in one contiguous disk area"
Again this script automatically chose the first USB drive letter it can find as target!
Only chosen ISO-file and grub-files including grub-MBR is updated.
Note: Built-in limit that only one USB device can be connected at same time is still in scripts to avoid lost of data from other USB devices! This means that you cannot have USB-DVD-drive connected at same time as you connect some other USB device (USB harddisk or USB stick device).
Scripts automatically halts and complains and also refuse to go any step further in process!
I also updated help in “easyboot-grub-iso.script” with a flash video sequence – question is; is this better help for a “new “user
Balder
Posted by balder on Jul. 01 2011,17:20
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!Two scripts has been heavily updated
The two scripts are “easyboot-usb.script” and “easyboot-grub-iso.script”.
There was a bug in script(s) that stopped script(s) to run, if computer was equipped with more than one internal harddrive
Nothing has been destroyed, but script basically refused to run properly, if your computer used more than one internal harddisk.
It doesn’t matter if your internal harddisk has several partitions – that is okay.
Same to USB device – script accepts several partitions on USB device as well
Anyway - it is now solved
Note: Scripts can work with up to 9 drives (8 internal harddrives at same time and is still capable to decide which USB drive that is the target).
Scripts always choose the first USB drive letter as target.
Scripts also – due to safety - refuse to run if you at same time have two USB devices connected to computer
It doesn’t matter what kind of USB devices you use – harddisk unit(s) or USB stick(s).
Script has full control what’s going on
Please skip your present folder “WinBuilder_Complete” and do a new download.
Sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.
balder
Posted by apprentice on Jul. 04 2011,07:54
QUOTE
"I also updated help in “easyboot-grub-iso.script” with a flash video sequence – question is; is this better help for a “new “user "
That would be helpful . appreciated . TY
Posted by rybshik on Jul. 05 2011,23:25
(balder @ Jul. 01 2011,22:20)
QUOTE
The two scripts are “easyboot-usb.script” and “easyboot-grub-iso.script”.
Dear balder,
would the scripts help to write Acronis bootable ISO to USB Flash , formatted FAT32? Can you please reply to the topic < Acronis Boot ISO -> USB Flash FAT32 >
Posted by balder on Jul. 10 2011,01:27
@rybshikAs a new member I say welcome @rybshik
Quote: “would the scripts help to write Acronis bootable ISO to USB Flash”
I guess it would
Test solution to Acronis ISO-file < HERE >
You instead simply use any name to ISO-file in “easyboot-iso.script” textbox to your Acronis-ISO file
Attention: I’m travelling around and do not have my stationary computer with necessary software available.
I won’t be home before 18 July and cannot fully participate with solutions at present time
Sorry if above solution doesn’t work you have to wait
Regards balder
Posted by balder on Jul. 10 2011,01:31
@rybshikLadies and gentlemen, I’m travelling around (its holiday season
) and cannot fully participate to solutions at present time I won’t bee back at my home residence until 18 July
Sorry for the inconvenient this might cause all fans of easyboot
balder
Posted by balder on Aug. 09 2011,02:58
@Ladies and gentlemen, time has come to expand my collections of scripts New script is added to download
And the new script is "USB-NT6-SETUP.SCRIPT"
This script make USB stick\thumb-drive launch setup of any NT6-system (Vista OR Win-7 OR Server-2008).
Script refuse to operate to any USB harddisk.
You can only use USB stick\thumb-drive
I have found out that this is the most reliable method to run setup of NT6-system from USB
Please read carefully help in script - push help-button in script
Download is available below in every post I write in this forum
Regards balder
Posted by balder on Aug. 12 2011,14:21
Attention!Scripts has been modified to match the new release of EasyBoot (version-6)
You must download and replace your present folder "WinBuilder_complete" with the new one from "balder.zip"
Scripts has been adjusted to fit both earlier versions of EasyBoot, as well as the brand new version-6 (you are highly recommended to upgrade your EasyBoot to version-6)
Information about new version-6 < HERE >
Download script-collection below as usual
Regards balder
Posted by balder on Aug. 26 2011,01:31
Updates done to scripts that manage USB devices:These scripts now support any USB unit up to 8 terabytes if choosing FAT32
Note: limit is related to FAT32 file-system and not to script itself.
If choosing NTFS as file-system on USB-unit, there is practically no limits to what size USB unit can have (though FAT32 file-system is recommended as first choice).
The "Defrag-option" is updated to work in both NT5-systems (NT5=typically WinXP) and in NT6-systems (NT6=typically Vista\Win7).
Hopefully I have not created any bug in script
Please report back if bug is found in script
Updates to script that manage ISO-files:
"Grub-kicker-images" used in script to launch ISO-files, is reduced 80% in size for faster response.
Improvements to integration of Hiren's BOOT-CD (new recommended settings and EasyBoot menu commands = more universal)
regards balder
Posted by balder on Sep. 02 2011,14:02
To whom it concerns New script "easyboot-hiren_v14*" developed to better support Hiren's BOOT-CD!
Attention! Script only support fully out Hiren_v14.1 and higher
Intensions with script is:
1. Integrate the whole Hiren and automatically give user the right EasyBoot menu command to launch the whole Hiren from both CD\DVD as from USB
2. Checkbox - if checked - only integrate Hiren MiniXP and skip everything else and give user the right EasyBoot menu command to launch the Hiren MiniXP from both CD\DVD as from USB.
3. Option one, create ISO-file of MiniXP to launch in EasyBoot or option two, skip ISO-file and instead run MiniXP from reduced HBCD-folder (takes a few MB less in space) and still give user the right EasyBoot menu command to launch MiniXP from CD\DVD as from USB to both options.
4. Perhaps most important, you don't need to check "Allow Lower Case" when creating ISO in EasyBoot
balder
Posted by EB1000 on Sep. 02 2011,19:36
Thanks! Great work. I will test the new Hiren tomorrow by rebuilding my Super boot dvd. Do I just need to delete HBCD folder from disk1 that was created by your older Hiren script or is there more things to to before rerunning the new script? i also ran the make uppercase script to the HBCD folder and modified menu.lst inside HBCD and the one inside hiren.img. Is it safe just to delete HBCD plus hiren.img and run the new script?Now I was wondering, can loaded ISO's by your script be compressed to say xxx.ISO.GZ and loaded by modifying the menu.lst of grub image form xx.iso to xxx.iso.gz? Will this work, or is it only possible using firadisk driver? I want to add another Live XP built plus PPAPPS folder to my already 4GB built, but I"m exceeding the limit of a 4.7GB DVD size by 200MB, so if I compress all ISO's by at least 5% that should be enough. Or even better, can you add another script for iso loading that will also compress the iso images?
Thanks
Posted by balder on Sep. 03 2011,03:30
EB1000Quote: "Is it safe just to delete HBCD plus hiren.img and run the new script?"
Yes it is save to delete the whole folder.
However, why delete folder? Why not move\copy folder in case you are not satisfied with the result of "new" development?.
Have as an "backup" if things go wrong!
Note: You have also a floppy image "hiren.img" in folder ezboot. Move \copy also this file to the same backup (or whatever folder you have your "spare-parts" for future use.
Quote: " Now I was wondering, can loaded ISO's by your script be compressed to say xxx.ISO.GZ and loaded by modifying the menu.lst of grub image form xx.iso to xxx.iso.gz? Will this work, or is it only possible using firadisk driver?"
Yes it will work but then ISO's are loaded to RAM before launched
There are two reasons why I use firadisk combined with compressed ***.iso-gz.
1. We must use firadisk to launch WinPE-ISO-file created from source of NT5-system (WinXP or Server-2003_sp1 or similar NT5-system).
Note: Script only implement one tiny firadisk.img.gz (less than 0.05MB in size) that is used to all NT5-systems. All other ISO-files doesn't care if firadisk is in it's place or not, they work anyway!
2. Firadisk is run from RAM and the same to WinPE ISO-file (normally NT5-PE-ISO) and hereby it is logical to reduce size to such ISO-file to reduce time it needs to start up as it must be run from RAM to utilize firadisk drivers.
Anyway - YES you can reduce any ISO-file using Gzip-compress-method - you have this Gzip-compress in my script "easyboot-cab.script" or better up, why not simply check "Run ISO from RAM" in script "easyboot-iso.script"
Note: If you run EasyBoot_-version6 you can use the new menu command: run ***.iso but not to g-zipped file - or any zipped ISO-file - you must use "easyboot-iso.script" to launch G-zipped ISO-files!
But as ISO now is loaded to RAM before it starts, it takes more time before up and run - especially if using DVD-unit!
However I guess you can accept this - time is not your enemy - it's that "space" that seems to be your enemy
(and you are not alone with this issue, it's a common issue that is requested from time to time).Some test and notes:
Tested following (checked "Run ISO from RAM" in "EasyBoot-iso.script")
1. YLMF.ISO (isolinux-build = clone of WinXP) original size=709MB reduced less than 1% (pointless to run from RAM)
2. Ghost14 rescue ISO. Original size=196MB reduced to <175MB = ~11% (good result)
3. ActiveBootDisk (built from NT6-system same as Ghost14). Original size=231MB reduced to <218MB = ~6% (acceptable result)
4. EASEUS9BootCD.iso (built from NT6-system same as Ghost14). Original size=158MB reduced to <144MB = ~9% (good result)
5. Acronis rescue ISO (True Image Server) Original size=154MB reduced to <133MB = ~14% (excellent result)
Summing-up:
ISO-files based on Isolinux\knoppix (Linux) cannot be reduced that much it is worth loading\run from RAM.
However any WinPE built from NT5-systems is great (and must be run from RAM anyway).
ISO-files based on NT6-systems is reasonable reduced in size, so it is worth to loading\run from RAM
Any WinPE based on NT5-systems is reduced approximately close to 50%
WinPE based on NT6-system is reduced between 6 to 11 % (depends what and how much "utilities" that is implemented to build).
And the very best result and winner is Acronis-resue-ISO-files that are reduced between 12-14% - excellent result!
Conclusion:
I think you can reduce your build to fit on your DVD (but you are really close to how much you can press DVD to hold).
Don't forget to make a backup of your working solution before going ahead with this experiments.
Another thing, can you please continue this discussion regarding your "super-DVD in original topic you started < HERE >
Because I guess we are not finished with this "super-DVD" (I can tell you that I'm very impressed - he, he perhaps a little bit jealous as well
) Attention! Updated scripts with some "cosmetic" improvements
When launching ISO to RAM you get the message: "Loading ISO to RAM can take several minutes!" and some other cosmetic stuff as well!
regards balder
Posted by EB1000 on Sep. 04 2011,06:14
@balderWhich gzip version your cab script is using? I'M asking because I noticed when I manually compress an ISO image to GZIP format using latest version of 7ZIP and ULTRA settings, I get about 5 to 10% better compression compared to the compression by your latest script. Can I still use your script to compress but then overwrite the XX.ISO.GZ files by ones manually compressed using 7ZIP Ultra mode (GZ as well of course)?
Can't your script be updated to use the latest gzip engine with Ultra settings?
Thanks
Posted by balder on Sep. 04 2011,06:56
EB1000Quote: "I get about 5 to 10% better compression compared to the compression by your latest script"
I tested and there was no difference at all
Run Gzip with "easyboot-cab.script" to ERD65_x86_Win7_RTM_blueforce.iso that ended in size=232269878 (original size was=249298944 not much to an difference but was expected as there isn't that much "tools" inside such ISO. It's the WIM-file that set the size in such ISO and WIM-file is already compressed when created).
Then run "easyboot-iso.script" with checkbox "Run ISO from RAM" checked and the result was exactly the same - no difference at all!
Also tested same procedure to "ERD50_x86_WinXP_SP3_blueforce.iso" (this is an NT5-system) and as expected ISO was heavily compressed from original size= 193200128 down to 83576167 that will say approximately 55%
I cannot find any differences at all
However if your "system" in some odd way threat scripts differently you can use the method you already discovered and I quote: "Can I still use your script to compress but then overwrite the XX.ISO.GZ files by ones manually compressed using 7ZIP Ultra mode (GZ as well of course)?"
---------------------------------------------
Quote: "Can't your script be updated to use the latest gzip engine with Ultra settings?"
I'll look into in a few days - but I have my doubt there is any major differences
But if so, I'll update scripts
regards balder
Posted by EB1000 on Sep. 04 2011,07:11
@balderI think I might wasn't clear. I was not comparing the "run from ram" to the GZIP script, I was comparing either "run from ram" or Gzip script to a third alternate way by using the application 7ZIP and compressing the same ISO file to Gzip format using Ultra mode. I"m using the latest 9.20 version of 7Zip..
Posted by balder on Sep. 04 2011,07:35
EB1000Quote: "using the application 7ZIP and compressing the same ISO file to Gzip format using Ultra mode"
Okay sorry for misunderstanding your point
Anyway, Gzip is an tiny and simple command line tool to work with
However if there is such big difference in perfomance between Gzip and 7zip I'll take a deeper look into this issue
regards balder
Posted by EB1000 on Sep. 04 2011,08:38
Thanks,Just to be clear, I used the Gzip engine that is built into 7Zip (and not the 7zip algorithm). I think the gzip version inside 7Zip is just more up to date than the command line your script is using. One more thing, Gzip has 3 levels of compression: Normal, High, and Ultra. maybe your script is using the default Normal not the Ultra? I"ll check to see if ISO can boot using the Ultra compression
Regards
EB1000
Posted by balder on Sep. 04 2011,09:16
EB1000Quote: "maybe I think the gzip version inside 7Zip is just more up to date than the command line your script is using"
Yes you are right there but as this hasn't been any major problem I only use default compressing for two reasons:
1. It is very fast comparing to run 7z full compressing
2. Using default compressing can also be a "safer" methods - though this is perhaps more of an "academic" discussion - it's always a little bit more shaky to "super-compress" files comparing to the more "soft" compress method
Quote: "maybe your script is using the default Normal not the Ultra?"
Yes this is correct - and major reason to this is "TIME".
I use the default mode also because I belive it is safer than do the full compressing option
Note: It takes considerably much longer to compress if set 7z to run maximal compressing ("-9").
It takes a looong time before finished - BUT you are right that 7zip is more effective than the gzip-method, proximally 5% better compress of file (some files but not all).
However it is an terrible slow process, and perhaps a little bit shaky as well, is it worth it
Answer might be this one:
Tested difference between Gzip and 7zip to NT5-PE-file (ERD65)
7zip was definitely the test winner - it stroked Gzip with 31% better compress to ISO-file
- but is it always safe to use that tuff compress level - hmmm I really don't know.Anyway this is interesting and I can for sure do some beta-tests...
Can you EB1000 give me the full command line parameters you used to create the G-zipped file format (not 7-zip format)
And further more, can you please give me download location to this tool you are using (the latest 9.20 version of 7Zip) so we are using the same tools while comparing options for next step.
And finally - thanks for sharing your test results and "know how"
regards balder
Posted by EB1000 on Sep. 04 2011,09:48
@balder:I did not use the command line of 7zip because \i already have it installed so i used the context menu and select add to archive then use the console to select gzip instead of default 7zip. The latest version is available here :
< http://sourceforge.net/project....ownload >
Th tutorial about command line switches is available here:
< http://www.dotnetperls.com/7-zip-examples >
Look for Gzip examples.
The only question left to check (I"ll do it when I get home) is if the 7zip gzip compression can be uncompressed and loaded to memory by (fira disk driver? grub? sorry but I"m still not sure how the gzip is extracted during boot. Should the application that does the extraction also be updated, so it can support the latest version of gzip...?)
Regards
EB1000
Posted by balder on Sep. 04 2011,12:18
EB1000Quote: "gzip is extracted during boot"
ISO-file is not extracted at all, as grub is able to launch G-zipped archives as is (to clarify, no separate extraction tool is needed as extraction is done by Grub itself) - no "extraction" is needed.
Unfortunately grub cannot launch 7z-zipped archives
Note: I know already all about 7z-switches but haven't used the "-tgzip" option, as I haven't needed to compress files that hard as you which to do
Did following tests to an ERD.ISO-file:
1a. Used my script "easyboot-iso.script" ("Run ISO from RAM" checked, and used default compress).
1b. Used my script "easyboot-iso.script" ("Run ISO from RAM" checked and used max compress = -9 --best).
No major difference in size to ISO-file and this took at least twice the time comparing using default compress values.
3. Used 7zip and used tgzip switch and full compress (-9)
ISO-file compressed approximately 3.9% better than above. But this take a looong time but ISO-file can be launched by grub.
4. Used 7-zip command line-exe with full compress, ISO-file is down 30% in size comparing to gzip, but ISO-file cannot be launched by grub.
Conclusion: 7-zip is very efficient but cannot be used in our case
5. Used 7z-zip Windows version and set compress to "Ultra" and gzip as file extension and ISO-file only down 3,5% comparing to my command-line tool in script.
Note: I need the command line tool to make things work correctly
Quote from post13: "I get about 5 to 10% better compression"
It depends on what type of file you are dealing with.
And it is an real slow procedure to use command line tool (7zip) and use maximum compressing.
For "normal" use I find it not worth the time it takes to reduce file a few %.
However in the end it's the "user" that take such decision...
Taking in consideration results above, I find it pointless to modify any scripts
EDIT:
Did some tests...
Using 7-zip and compress level -4 file down to 84MB (took less than 10 seconds to finish)
If setting 7-zip to compress level -5 file down to 81.3MB (took 20 seconds to finish = pretty interesting)
Using 7-zip and compress level -9 file down to 80.2MB (took 3 minutes and 10 seconds to finish)
Used my "standard-script (gzip with default compress) file down to 83 MB (took less than 20 seconds to finish)
Pretty good result with the "old" Gzip and reliable as well.
Above shows you win approximately 5% but takes extremely long time before finished.
Is it worth it?
Yes if using compress level -5!
I'm going to test an beta-version of script that use command-line-tool 7-zip to create g-zipped ISO-files.
If I'm satisfied with result I'll upload updated scripts.
And I can tell you that I'm already now to 96% convinced to use 7-zip as an alternative to gzip.
Thanks for pointing me to 7-zip and its options
regards balder
Posted by EB1000 on Sep. 04 2011,14:32
Thanks for all the info and efforts. I think foe most user compression time isn't the issue, as long the launch time remains reasonable. I noticed that a Live XP takes twice the time to launch when re compressed using 7zp gzip ultra mode.. I thing I"ll stick with the old method. maybe it is time to drop compression and move to a 8GB double-layer DVD for my project.. I wonder what new problems this could bring on booting... I"ll keep you updated in the original thread..
Thanks
Posted by balder on Sep. 04 2011,14:38
@EB1000You may have missed the last updated EDIT in post nr; 20 (read especially the last bold lines)
EDIT:
Did some tests...
Using 7-zip and compress level -4 file down to 84MB (took less than 10 seconds to finish)
If setting 7-zip to compress level -5 file down to 81.3MB (took 20 seconds to finish = pretty interesting)
Using 7-zip and compress level -9 file down to 80.2MB (took 3 minutes and 10 seconds to finish)
Used my "standard-script (gzip with default compress) file down to 83 MB (took less than 20 seconds to finish)
Pretty good result with the "old" Gzip and reliable as well.
Above shows you win approximately 5% but takes extremely long time before finished.
Is it worth it?
Yes if using compress level -5!
I'm going to test an beta-version of script that use command-line-tool 7-zip to create g-zipped ISO-files.
If I'm satisfied with result I'll upload updated scripts.
And I can tell you that I'm already now to 96% convinced to use 7-zip as an alternative to gzip.
Thanks for pointing me to 7-zip and its options
Quote: "I noticed that a Live XP takes twice the time to launch when re compressed using 7zp gzip ultra mode.. I thing I"ll stick with the old method."
Hmmm... interesting discover what happens....
Quote: " I wonder what new problems this could bring on booting... "
He, he you never now
regards balder
Posted by balder on Sep. 06 2011,06:32
To whom it might concern... Changes done to script: "EasyBoot-HIREN_v14*"
Script is now able to integrate earlier versions of Hiren, but only the "full integration" of Hiren.
Unfortunately users CANNOT take advantages of option: "Only integrate Hiren MiniXP into EasyBoot " to earlier versions than Hiren_v14.1 and later
Improvements\updates is done to script: "easyboot-iso.script" that now use a different expand\compress utility (7-zip) - (thanks @EB1000
)Compression is close to 4% better = faster copying to USB as example, without slowing down performance of ISO-files.
You can simply download zip-file and extract\overwrite existing folder "balder"
EDIT:
Found tiny bug in "easyboot-grub-iso.script" - testing ISO failed when allocating RAM to qemu.
Users are advised to simply download updated zip-file and extract\overwrite existing folder "balder"
regards balder
Posted by balder on Sep. 09 2011,02:13
Attention!Balder is away from his "keyboard" from 9 September to 16 September
I can only participate sporadically a few ours during this whole time
See you 16 September
Warm greetings to users of EasyBoot
Posted by dziubek on Sep. 09 2011,05:52
Happy holidaysSee you soon