Windows 7: creating a 2 OS thumb drive

fafhrd · 25 Mar 2011

Despite the Pendrivelinux site name, the program requires windows:

YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

I still use an older version to install XP, Windows 7, and load UBCD and Linux mint Live:

It loads a grub4dos bootloader to boot from the usb, then you can edit the menu.lst to boot into linux, or Windows install iso images:

default 0
timeout 30
color NORMAL HIGHLIGHT HELPTEXT HEADING
splashimage=/splash.xpm.gz
foreground=FFFFFF
background=000000

# Suggested by Erhan Sohail
title Boot First Hard Drive (HDD)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0)+1
rootnoverify (hd0)

title Restart
reboot

title Shutdown
halt

title --- Custom MultiBoot Entries ---
root

title Linux Mint 10
find --set-root /linuxmint-10-gnome-cd-i386.iso
map /linuxmint-10-gnome-cd-i386.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
kernel /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/mint.seed boot=casper persistent iso-scan/filename=/linuxmint-10-gnome-cd-i386.iso floppy.allowed_drive_mask=0 splash
initrd /casper/initrd.lz

title XP
find --set-root /xp.iso
map --mem /xp.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)

title Windows 7-SP1 ISO
find --set-root /en_win7_sp1_x86.iso
map /en_win7_sp1_x86.iso (hd32)
map --hook
chainloader (hd32)

title Ultimate Boot CD
find --set-root /ubcd.iso
map /ubcd.iso (hd32)
map --hook
chainloader (hd32)

You can load as many iso entries as your usb drive has space for.

darkhorse · 25 Mar 2011

@SIW2

Many thanks for the reply.

derekimo · 29 May 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by SIW2

You inspired me. I just did it.

1. Copy the contents of the x86 dvd/iso onto a partition. I used partition G. So I had a folder G:\GRM.... ( or a similar long list of letters). Rename the GRM... folder to x86 - that makes it easier. You now have G:\x86 as the folder.

2. Copy ONLY the install.wim from the x64 installation media onto the same partition. You now also have G:\install.wim. Rename that to Win7x64.wim. You now have G:\Win7x64.wim

Like this: Attachment 47641

3. Put a copy of Imagex in Windows\System32 of the o/s ( Vista or 7) you are booted into.

Attachment 47636

Attachment 140866

4. Open an elevated command and type the following - press enter after each line and wait for it to complete ( it's quick) : [obviously, replace G: with the letter of the partition you have the files on ]

Imagex /export "G:\Win7x64.wim" 1 "G:\x86\sources\install.wim" "Windows 7 Home Basic (x64)"

Imagex /export "G:\Win7x64.wim" 2 "G:\x86\sources\install.wim" "Windows 7 Home Premium (x64)"

Imagex /export "G:\Win7x64.wim" 3 "G:\x86\sources\install.wim" "Windows 7 Professional (x64)"

Imagex /export "G:\Win7x64.wim" 4 "G:\x86\sources\install.wim" "Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)"

5. Delete the ei.cfg file from the x86\sources folder.

6. You can now use the contents of the x86 folder to create a bootable flash in the usual way . All editions of 32 and 64 bit can installed from it.

Or make a bootable .iso from the x86 folder.

The .iso is only 3.65gb

Have fun.

This works perfectly, Thanks SIW2.

Ztruker · 26 Aug 2012

I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be a good idea to let people know the .iso using Win 7 with SP1 downloaded from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life is now 3.997GB and no longer fits on a 4GB flash drive.

I used Win 7 Pro X86 as the base and Win 7 Pro X64 to add to it. After an hour and 40 minutes it died when it ran out of space on the flash drive.

Guess I need to get an 8GB flash drive, bummer.

Hmmm, are the Home Premium .iso files smaller perhaps? Shouldn't be, since each one contains all version, right?

Britton30 · 26 Aug 2012

Thanks for the info Rich, I think all versions will be the same size. The bloating is probably due to have 88 more updates in the iso.
Good news is flash drives have dropped a lot in price. After you have the bootable drive made it can be used for storing more files and not affect the Windows 7 installer.

SIW2 · 26 Aug 2012

You can reduce the size of install.wim substantially by removing the languages you don't need - all of them , if you just want english.

Can't remember how much it takes off - near 1gb iirc.

You have to do it for each edition - takes a while if you are bothering with more than one edition.

Oddly, vlite does it very well.

Britton30 · 26 Aug 2012

Now there's a good idea Simon! Thanks.

Ztruker · 27 Aug 2012

I took the easy way out and just ordered two 16GB SanDisk Cruzer flash drives for $9.95 each, no shipping.

I did burn a DVD with the new Win 7 + SP1 Universal iso I built for this. That will do until the new flash drives arrive.

Ztruker · 24 Oct 2012

Can this process be used for Vista? I don't see a ei.cfg file in Vista.

I still have to reinstall Vista at the shop for people who bring their computers in and having a single, universal Vista install flash drive like I have for Window 7 would be great.

SIW2 · 24 Oct 2012

Yes, same process - there is no ei.cfg in Vista from memory.

It will be quite big though, Vista editions had different contents - not purely incremental like Windows 7.

Windows 7: creating a 2 OS thumb drive

creating a 2 OS thumb drive problems?