Forum: UltraISO
Topic: Bootable ISO file
started by: djoy88
Posted by djoy88 on Mar. 30 2007,12:39
Hi..  I'm using WinXP SP2.  My version of UltraISO is 8.6.1.1985

I'm trying to create a file with all the information needed to burn a bootable Dell Reinstallation disk c\w SP2.  
1. I first start by creating a data file WinXPSP2.iso (575054 KB) from the original CD.
2. I then extract the boot image file from the original CD to WinXPSP2.bif (2048 ?)
3. I set the boot image by locating the WinXPSP2.iso data file and clicking on the proper icon (a wheel or sun).  I presume this is the file referred to because it can't be the .bif boot image file.
4. I then save the boot image file as WinXPSP2Boot.iso (575054 KB)
5. I then Clear Boot Information by clicking on Bootable\ClearBootInformation.
6. I then click on the floppy icon to Save ISO File.  This step puzzles me because I've already saved this file in Step 4.

I then Burn this WinSPSP2Boot.iso file.  The disk is not bootable.  What am I doing wrong?
Posted by xoben on Mar. 30 2007,22:04
Dell Reinstallation disk is a bootable CD. Please do it this way:
1) Start UltraISO
2) Image the original CD to an ISO (WinXPSP2.iso) by prtessing F8
3) Open WinXPSP2.iso, press F7 to burn a new disk
Posted by djoy88 on Mar. 31 2007,12:21
Thank you xoben.  That was so simple it's embarrassing.
As an excuse all I can say is that I thought UltraISO would function as Nero Ultra Enhanced.  If you duplicate a disk using NUE, there is no ISO file you can save.  If you create a compilation using NUE, then you are given the option of creating an ISO file.  Problem is, when you try to use that ISO file, you're asked to insert the disk used to create the compilation.  This defeats my purpose, since I've been trying to create an ISO file I could use when my Dell Reinstallation disk becomes unreadable for whatever reason.

Just that feature makes UltraISO worth the price of admission.  I'm sure I'll  discover many more features as I get more familiar with the program.
Posted by djoy88 on Apr. 07 2007,14:19
Returning to my first post in this thread.  I had created an ISO file that was not bootable.  Xoben told me how to create a bootable ISO file by simply duplicating my Dell Reinstallation Disk.  That created an ISO file which allows me to create a bootable Reinstallation Disk.  

After having read a post on this forum I decided to try something.  I opened that WinXPSP2.iso file that was not bootable.  I then added a Dell.img file that I extracted from my Dell Reinstallation disk by using ISOBuster.  I then burned this file and got a Dell Reinstallation disk that is bootable. :D

How can I extract this Dell.img file from my Dell Reinstallation Disk without using ISOBuster?  Can I use UltraISO to extract this file?
Posted by djoy88 on Apr. 07 2007,18:08
I've been working further on this problem.  The image file extracted from the Dell Reinstallation disk by ISOBuster is named Dell.img (2kB).  If I use UltraISO to Extract Boot File from the same CD, the .bif file which I named Dell.bif is saved to My Documents.  If I then add this Dell.bif (2048 bytes) file to a compilation of the contents of my Dell Reinstallation disk and then burn this ISO file the resulting disk is not bootable.
Posted by xoben on Apr. 07 2007,21:39
Hello djoy88, please post the two boot file (dell.img and dell.bif) here for checking.
Posted by djoy88 on Apr. 07 2007,22:00
I can't figure out how to insert a file in this forum, or any forum for that matter.
Posted by djoy88 on Apr. 07 2007,22:28
What is more puzzling to me is that the Dell.img file extracted by ISOBuster that I added to the ISO image of my Dell Reinstallation disk, this Dell.img file was renamed XPSP2.bif by UltraISO.  This ISO image is bootable.  This is a screenshot of that ISO image:



In other words, the Dell.img extracted by ISOBuster and renamed XPSP2.bif by UltraISO makes the Dell Reinstallation ISO image bootable, but the boot file extracted by UltraISO and added to the Dell Reinstallation ISO image does not make that ISO image bootable.
Posted by djoy88 on Apr. 08 2007,09:37
This topic is closed as far as I'm concerned.  

Following is the email I sent to Support:
Hi Xoben..  You asked me on the forum to post Dell.img and Dell.bif files.  As mentioned, I don't know how to post files on forum.  I am attaching these files to this email message.  I am also including the XPSP2.bif file.

Dell.img extracted by ISOBuster, renamed XPSP2 by UltraISO.  This file when added to the ISO image of my Dell Reinstallation disk will burn to a bootable Reinstallation disk.

Dell.bif extracted my UltraISO when added to the ISO image of my Dell Reinstallation disk will not burn to a bootable Reinstallation disk.

This is the answer I received:
Hello,

Thanks for your sample boot files.

It is confirmed that ALL THREE FILES are exactly the same file, so this is not a problem for burning bootable CDs.

Regards
Xoben
Posted by xoben on Apr. 14 2007,21:10
Hello djoy88, a possible problem may be that you are using early versions of Nero 7, which has a bug with burning some ISO images. Please upgrade to latest version 7.8.5.0 and try again.
Posted by djoy88 on Apr. 16 2007,14:02
Thank you xoben for having the patience to persevere with this problem.  I was ready to throw in the towel.

I am using Nero 7.8.5.0.  My burner is a Lite-on LH-20A1H  LL05 which I purchased in Jan of this year.  I am using Sony CD-RW and Maxell CD-RW disks.  I am burning at 4X(602 KB/s).

Recapping, the Dell.img boot file was extracted by ISOBuster and renamed by UltraISO as XPSP2.bif.  The boot file extracted by UltraISO I named Dell.bif.

This morning I tried again to create a compilation of my Dell Reinstallation Disk using UltraISO.  I then added the boot file XPSP2.bif.  When I burned this image I got a non-bootable CD.  I deleted the XPSP2.bif file from the compilation and added the Dell.bif file.  I then tried burning this image and again got a non-bootable CD.  I then tried burning the compilation I had created on April 8 as posted on this forum (with the XPSP2.bif boot file).  This time I got a disk that was bootable.

I then tried creating a bootable disk using Nero Burning ROM with the CD-ROM(boot) tab and the Dell.bif boot image as extracted by UltraISO.  Following is my configuration:



As can be seen I'm using the boot file extracted by UltraISO (Dell.bif).  With this I get a bootable disk.

What I can conclude is that the boot files extracted by ISOBuster and by UltraISO are identical.  Burning a compilation that includes these boot files using UltraISO is sometimes successful, sometimes not.  Burning a compilation that includes these boot files using Nero is successful.

As a final remark I am having problems with Maxell CD-RW disks which have been erased by Nero when trying to burn same with UltraISO.  I get the error that the burn cannot be calibrated.
Posted by xoben on Apr. 16 2007,21:45
Thank you djoy88 for your feedback.

Just checked your operation detailes posted above, it should be:.  
QUOTE
1. I first start by creating a data file WinXPSP2.iso (575054 KB) from the original CD.

OK. It is recommanded to burn this ISO directly if it is already bootable.

QUOTE
2. I then extract the boot image file from the original CD to WinXPSP2.bif (2048 ?)

OK.

QUOTE
3. I set the boot image by locating the WinXPSP2.iso data file and clicking on the proper icon (a wheel or sun).  I presume this is the file referred to because it can't be the .bif boot image file.

Wrong. It should be:
  - Add files and folder by
    Open WinXPSP2.iso,
    or choose 'Actions'->'Add Directory', and select drive letter of the original CD to add files from there
  - Load boot file by
    Choose 'Bootable'->'Load boot file', select WinXPSP2.bif and click 'Open'
    or set the boot image by locating the WinXPSP2.bif data file and clicking on the proper icon (a wheel or sun)

QUOTE
4. I then save the boot image file as WinXPSP2Boot.iso (575054 KB)

OK

QUOTE
5. I then Clear Boot Information by clicking on Bootable\ClearBootInformation.
6. I then click on the floppy icon to Save ISO File.  This step puzzles me because I've already saved this file in Step 4.

Wrong. Step 5 and Step 6 are not needed.

Posted by djoy88 on Apr. 16 2007,23:53
Thank you so much xoben.  I think I've finally got it now.  For those who have been following this thread, this is what works:

1. Create a compilation by opening  the Dell Reinstallation Disk from the Local Directory and clicking on the ADD icon to transfer all files to the Image Directory.

2. Extract the boot file from the Dell Reinstallation Disk and save as Dell.bif.

3. Load the boot file by
   a)  Choose 'Bootable'->'Load boot file', select Dell.bif and click 'Open' or
   b) Set the boot image by locating Dell.bif and clicking on the SetBootFile icon (a wheel or sun).

4. Burn the compilation.

Note: My error was to add the Dell.bif file to the compilation by Action>AddFiles.  This works sometimes, but does not always work.