bootprep.exe problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ryan Riel
  • Start date Start date
R

Ryan Riel

I am trying to install a windows XP embedded system on a
flash drive for use on a PC 104 system. Apparently I have
to format the flash drive through DOS and then run a
bootprep.exe on the flash drive. My problem is that I
can't get DOS to recognize the flash drive or any other
drive for that matter, and therefore unable to perform any
of the actions. Does anyone know of a DOS system that
will recognize a USB flash drive and be able to format
it. I am thinking about partitioning my system and trying
to install a full version of MS-DOS, but I am reluctant
because I don't know if the necessary drivers exist
through DOS to recognize the USB flash drive.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks

Ryan
 
Welcome to living hell.
USB Flash support is well, tricky at least.
It is possible to boot from USB, but it is unsupported by MS and can't be
done with regular methods using TD only (al least I was not able to find
easy solution).

The easiest work around I was able to find is to do RAM boot from SDI file
that is located on USB Flash. You will waste some RAM memory but it will
work.
As long as your BIOS can do USB boot it is not enough just to see that it
can boot in BIOS, but you need to try this.

bootprep should work on Win 98, and you probably have drivers for W98.

Before you start installing w98 check CD that came with USB Flash or
manufacturers site for tool that will allow you to mark flash as
nonremovable.
I got this util on CD with my USB disk.
If you can find this then you can make partitions and use NTFS so you wont
need bootprep.

And if or when you make XPE boot from USB then you can try to switch to FAT
if you want.

Regards,
Slobodan
 
I am giving up on using the FAT format and bootprep. I
read your response to "Micha" and I am trying that
approach. However I don't have Win 2k disk manager and I
need to find a way to mark the CF as active or non-
removable. I searched for Win 2k disk manager but can't
seem to find it. Do you know where I can get it or
another way to mark the CF as active.

Thanks,

Ryan
 
Do you have CF or USB Flash Disk?

They are totally different things.

USB Introduces it's own problems.

If you have CF buy IDE converter.
So don't use USB CF reader, you will have problems related to USB.

The best way is to tell us what model exactly (manufacturer and model) you
have.

Also if it is CF, you will need to contact your CF manufacturer for such
utility( to mark disk nonremovable), they are all different.

For USB Flash Disk some manufacturers provide this tools by default with
driver CD.

Best regards,
Slobodan
 
It is a CF disk. I was using a USB flash reader to copy
files to it. I have contacted the manufacturer but
nothing back yet. Thanks a lot for your help.

Ryan
 
Hi,

I worked with them before and I think the fastest way is using NTFS file
format and as you know with NTFS file format, you don't need to use
bootprep.exe, for more information check out this link
:http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/xpehelp/ht
ml/xeconBootPrepexe.asp
And it is important to know that whether your embedded system boots from
flash or not?
There are 3 kinds of flashes:
Compact Flash
Flash Drive
USB CF

I worked with them and I understand that some embedded systems such as ADL
(Advanced Digital Logic) can not support booting from compact flash properly
but Advantech doesn't have any problem.
Flash Drive which has the similar architecture to Hard disk is easier to use
but it is expensive.
USB CF has two problems:
First) Your Pc104 should support them in BIOS as a BOOT option
Second) USB CF should be bootable and compatible with XP,2000

Amir Ahani
Software Developer
Motion Metrics Inc
http://www.motionmetrics.com
 
I am using an Advantech system with a Compact Flash card.
I wrote an email to SanDisk and they are going to send me
a utility program that will mark the card as non-
removable. Thanks for the info

Ryan
 
Back
Top