Windows 7 VHD installed and used on USB Key?

Is it possible to boot from a usb pen and use a VHD inside it?

To be completely indipendent from specific computer disk boot

I would say "YES"

As once you have the \Boot folder on the key.

AND If you have already followed previous steps in creating a bootable PE / Win7 Instal from a KEY then.... the step should be....

first delete all contents of the key after it can boot except the \boot folder... Here you will have the BCD. File where the boot config is stored, then the bootfile will have to be edited... This is our main problem....

Other than size... As with the gui bcdeditor tool. you cannot edit the usbkey bootfile or with bcd edit..... Hmm... Maybe you cant.... give me a couple of days and i will figure out how to get into this file....

Actually You cant edit the BCD FILE.. All the editors only edit the MAIN BCD FILE on the Hidden system Partition....

There maybe another way... BUT >>>


I DONT THINK SO!

I know Microsoft Dont Want you to either, BUT... We can only try

OK HERE IT GOES . LOLOLOOLOLOLOLOL VERY HAPPY

Firstly,
SET UP THE USB KEY/HDD DEVICE With The Windows PE 3.0 (Win7)
Then Either Boot up into the PE Environment Or Windows 7 Environment
Open evelated as Adminstrator CMD PROMPT

Here i setup my variables ---- I keep all little scripts in text files as REUSABLE CODE ----

set drive=I: /// enter drive where vhd is stored
set VHD=\Win7_RC1x64.vhd /// enter vhd file name
set description="VHD BOOT"

bcdedit /store i:\boot\bcd /enum
bcdedit /store i:\boot\bcd /copy {default} /d %description%
Bcdedit /store i:\boot\BCD /set <GUID> device = vhd=[%drive%]%VHD%
Bcdedit /store i:\boot\BCD /set <GUID> osdevice = vhd=[%drive%]%VHD%
Bcdedit /store i:\boot\BCD /set <GUID> detecthal yes

syntax used:

BCDEDIT /STORE <DRIVE><PATH OF STORE> /Other normal bcdedit cmds

With this you can have a dual boot USB device If you just want the VHD BOOT then just delete the entry.

bcdedit /store i:\boot\bcd /delete {GUID} <<< old PE:

and delete the relevent <old PE stuff>

REMEMBER TO KEEP \BOOT <<<<< This is where the BCD files are <<<

>>>> Thanks for the journey <<<
I had been wondering how to do this then after some carefull thought...
IF you can boot PE / Windows Install IT MUST BE POSSIBLE! Only constraint is the size of the key must be able to HOUSE the VHD...

Im not sure if microsoft want you to boot off a usb key... But If its possible YOU CAN....

Soorry If i've not replied before, but i'm testing it only now

I'll reply soon to tell about esit, thankx a lot !

A problem:

C:\Windows\system32>bcedit /store I:\boot\bcd /set <GUID> device=vhd=%drive%]%VHD%

Unable to find specified file

I tried to echo %drive% and %VHD% and both are rights.. so, whats?

1) I have not copy&pasted the GUID of newly created os entry

2) beetween device and vhd MUST NOT BE A '=' !

A problem: after succesfully created bcd entry on usb key, and copied vhd file into it ...

when booting

"BOOTMGR missing"

Sigh...... but my WHD is bootable ... It was originally a virtualbox vid file and i converted it.

Waht could be the problem? The bootloader has been found, and when vhd is loaded the boot loader cannot find BBOTMGR but my boor folder is here .. sigh.. what's the problem?

Code:

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identificatore          {bootmgr}
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {globalsettings}
displayorder            {bcf89438-a22f-11de-aeab-000d6113bcb4}
toolsdisplayorder       {memdiag}
timeout                 30

Caricatore di avvio di Windows
-------------------
identificatore          {bcf89438-a22f-11de-aeab-000d6113bcb4}
device                  vhd=[I:]\Win7.vhd
path                    \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe
description             VHD Boot
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
osdevice                vhd=[I:]\Win7.vhd
systemroot              \windows
detecthal               Yes
winpe                   Yes
ems                     Yes