Multi Boot - EWF ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stefan Bernögger
  • Start date Start date
S

Stefan Bernögger

Hi there,

I have an embedded system with 2 HDDs (IDE-0 = Master) which have
the same partitioning.

Now I want an image (RAM EWF) on IDE-0 and a backup image
on IDE-1.

I created the boot.ini for both HDDs, and set the target to C: for the 1st
system and to D: for the second system.

The installation of IDE-0 is no problem, but for IDE-1 I get
a Windows Product Activation Error !!

Since I select the boot device in BIOS and I do not have any selection
in boot.ini there should be no connection between the systems.

Or is there any check and the other system is somehow detected and
causes troubles then?

Thanks for help

Best regards,

Stefan Bernoegger
 
For many BIOS-es when you select to boot from some disk it has arc path
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0).
So you need to use two exact boot.ini and builds on both disks. Since BIOS
swaps drives, then you must not do the same.

You can even copy post FBA C: to D:. But before that you will need to
reassign drive letters or to delete all registry keys from.
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices\
You can use regedit.

Read:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/community/tips/xp/runtimepartition
..asp

Regards,
Slobodan
 
Dear Slobodan,

But why do I have to reassign all the letters ?

If I boot with IDE-0 in BIOS then guess the system does not know about the
other
system and the primary partition of IDE-0 should be c:

If I boot from IDE-1 then the primary partition of IDE-1 should be my c: ?!?

I am not sure about the assignment of the drive letters anymore. I thought
the first letter (c:)
will be the primary of the master disk IDE-0, second then the primary of the
slave disk IDE-1
and then there are all the other partitions...

BUT somehow I think now that this order changes somewhere during the reboots
of the FBA etc.

Is there any fix rule about these drive letters?

Stefan
 
But why do I have to reassign all the letters ?
You don't have to but it will depend on your installation scenario. How do
you plan to install XPe on both HDD's exact procedure?
If I boot with IDE-0 in BIOS then guess the system does not know about the
other
system and the primary partition of IDE-0 should be c:

If I boot from IDE-1 then the primary partition of IDE-1 should be my c:
Click to expand...
?!?

You are correct. But this letter assignment is result of disk swap I
mentioned previously.
Letters are assigned during FBA phase based on many (not so many but still
there are priorities and overrides) rules.

If everything is ok with your device you should be able to do two separate
FBA installations of same build on each HDD separately.

But if you want to copy post FBA image from one HDD to other you will need
to reassign letters.

Regards,
Slobodan
 
Dear Slobodan

Thanks a lot for the help. Your information about the
HKLM/System/MountedDevices ... (in another posting
and article) has been the solution.

AND I don`t even need the regkeys in TD because I just delete everything, XP
is using the order
I need.

Stefan
 
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