Is it possible to combine Linux ISOs with Windows 7 ISO?

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  1. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
       #1

    Is it possible to combine Linux ISOs with Windows 7 ISO?


    This may sound like a strange question, but basically what I want to do is make a DVD that's an "essential Windows reinstall kit".

    I do freelance computer repair and most of the computers I have worked on have had some nasty viruses that screw up Windows to the point where it's easier to just reinstall it.

    Problem is, simply deleting the partition isn't enough most of the time since viruses can infect the MBR and boot sector.

    My essential tools are DBAN to wipe the hard drive, GParted to make a partition that fills the drive (to avoid that stupid System Reserved nonsense) and then the Windows installation disc.

    DBAN is only about 2MB and GParted is like 120, both of those should fit on a single layer DVD along with the Windows install files.

    I am familiar with tools like XBoot and other Linux multiboots that use syslinux or GRUB, but the problem is that Windows 7 is a tricky bugger and will crash if you try to load it using one of those.

    Anybody know if there's a way to take a Windows 7 ISO and successfully launch it from a multiboot so I can combine it with DBAN and GParted?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #2

    Hello mate, you don't need any of those 3rd party tools, have a look through this first tutorial linked below, the Windows installer will do everything you need.


      My Computer


  3. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #3

    That's a lot more complicated than just typing "autonuke" in DBAN, LOL

    It's not that I don't trust Windows' partition handling, I've just found that using Linux to make partitions has done a better job in the past.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #4

    If you say so mate.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Just because I'm anal and like doing things the way I'm used to, do you know if it's possible to combine the Windows 7 disc with other ones to have a multi-boot menu?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #6

    I'm not sure if anyone has gotten this to work yet for what you want, I haven't fooled with it personally though I've been seeing posts about it.



      My Computer


  7. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #7

    Yes, it is.

    Grub4dos works fine for me.

    Example menu.lst

    Code:
    default 0
    timeout 10
    gfxmenu /Boot/GFX-BOOT.GFX
     
    title SIW2PE
    chainloader /BOOTMGR
    
    title MemTest86+ 4.20
    kernel /Boot/IMG/MEMTEST.BIN
    lock
     
    title Parted Magic
    find --set-root /pmagic_2012_3_24.iso
    map /pmagic_2012_3_24.iso (hd32)
    map --hook
    root (hd32)
    chainloader (hd32)
      
    title Boot from internal Hard Disk
    rootnoverify (hd0)
    chainloader +1
     
    iftitle [if exist (hd0,0)/bootmgr] Load Vista/Win7/Win8 from HD
    root (hd0,0)
    chainloader (hd0,0)/bootmgr
     
    iftitle [find /ntldr] Load NTLDR NT/2K/XP
    find --set-root /ntldr
    chainloader /ntldr
      
    iftitle [find /sbin/init] Find and Boot Linux with menu.lst already installed
    find --set-root /sbin/init
    configfile /Boot/grub/menu.lst
     
    iftitle [if exist (fd0)+1] Floppy (fd0)
    chainloader (fd0)+1
    rootnoverify (fd0)
     
    title CommandLine
    commandline
     
    title Reboot
    reboot
     
    title Halt
    halt




    drfsupercenter said:
    Just because I'm anal and like doing things the way I'm used to, do you know if it's possible to combine the Windows 7 disc with other ones to have a multi-boot menu?
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hm, interesting.

    YUMI doesn't really work well for me, but XBoot does. I can try using XBoot in grub4dos mode instead of syslinux to see if that works...
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #9

    Put as may iso's as you like.

    Use this entry - replace bolded with exact name of each .iso, which must be on the root of the drive.

    title Parted Magic
    find --set-root /pmagic_2012_3_24.iso
    map /pmagic_2012_3_24.iso (hd32)
    map --hook
    root (hd32)
    chainloader (hd32)

    They need to be contiguous, so defrag each .iso first with wincontig, or similar.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #10

    What do you mean by contiguous? When I've used XBoot it was never a problem just putting them all in a folder.
      My Computer


 
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