Copying the files into primary stick whether FAT32 or NTFS no longer seems to work, so I used UltraISO to write them in. Guess it also writes the 7 bootsect as well. Anyway, it boots fine and lets me copy my other apps in alongside the Win7 files.
Thanks guys for helping me sort it out. Now I wonder if I was remembering wrong just copying the files into the root a year ago - seems to need bootsecting.
XP bootsect seemed to disappear when the drive was zeroed with Clean All.
Suddenly it didn't hold up the OS boot any longer with flashing cursor, but neither did it boot files merely copied into root, whether formatted Primary NTFS or Primary FAT32.
Only after using the 7Forums tut method to write 7 ISO to stick using UltraISO did it boot, which means it must require 7 bootsector being written now whether it did before of not - could be remembering wrong. Also have carried stick in pocket for a couple years.
Yeah, whaddya think happen?
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