Booting Windows7 on FAT32

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  1. Posts : 14
    Windows7
    Thread Starter
       #11

    OK Let me make this simple. Before even we look into FAT32 problem I think the issue is on a step before. I am creating a trimmed version of Windows 7 for my client. In this process everything goes well till I create the trimmed version on a DVD and it also boots from the DVD. But the requirement is to copy the trimmed version OS files to a server and then it will be downloaded at some other location. I am facing an issue once I copy the trimmed os files on a hard drive using 'Beyond Compare' it no longer remains bootable. Any idea behind such behavior of Windows 7? Any help is highly appreciated. I hope this simplifies. I guess once we pass this then we might get a clue to boot those files on FAT32.
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  2. Posts : 14
    Windows7
    Thread Starter
       #12

    OK Let me make this simple. Before even we look into FAT32 problem I think the issue is on a step before. I am creating a trimmed version of Windows 7 for my client. In this process everything goes well till I create the trimmed version on a DVD and it also boots from the DVD. But the requirement is to copy the trimmed version OS files to a server and then it will be downloaded at some other location. I am facing an issue once I copy the trimmed os files on a hard drive using 'Beyond Compare' it no longer remains bootable. Any idea behind such behavior of Windows 7? Any help is highly appreciated. I hope this simplifies. I guess once we pass this then we might get a clue to boot those files on FAT32.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #13

    You want it to boot from the Network? Or you want to copy it to a hard drive from the network and then boot that hard drive?
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  4. Posts : 14
    Windows7
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Yes I just want to copy all the OS files on a hard drive and boot from that hard drive. I used a tool called as 'Beyond Compare' for that. But as soon as I boot from that hard drive nothing happens. It seems like even Beyond Compare tool is failing to copy few files or Windows 7 has something inherent that prevents to boot from copied files. We did this process for Vista and we dint run into any issues.
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  5. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #15

    I use Beyond Compare all the time, I am sure it is working correctly. The problem is that Beyond Compare cannot copy, partition information, MBR etc.

    The instructions below are for USB drives but work for a hard drive as well, I have done this many times. I would get a blank drive and follow the instructions completely even doing the NTFS format. Then test that drive, make sure it boots and loads Windows 7 the way you want. If that is good then follow the instrcutions and re-build the drive formatting with FAT32 format. This way if you run into problems you will know it is directly related to FAT32 because that will be the only part that changed.

    You can try the following:

    http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-in...working-guide/
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  6. Posts : 14
    Windows7
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Yes you are right. The steps you suggested worked fine for NTFS but not for FAT32. For FAT32 its says
    Non-System disk or disk error
    replace or strike any key when ready
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  7. Posts : 5,642
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
       #17

    Create a 100 MB NTFS partition to hold the boot files like Windows 7 currently makes?
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  8. Posts : 14
    Windows7
    Thread Starter
       #18

    In my hard drive I have 32GB for FAT32 and rest 218GB for NTFS. Should I change it?
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  9. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #19

    Win7Junkie said:
    Yes you are right. The steps you suggested worked fine for NTFS but not for FAT32. For FAT32 its says
    Non-System disk or disk error
    replace or strike any key when ready
    I have not been able to verify from Microsoft however it looks like Windows 7 will only boot from NTFS. This may have to do with how Microsoft completely changed Windows 7 and the boot process. You may be able to create the 100Mb boot partition and then put the custom Windows 7 Install on a separate partition as FAT32??? Boot the 100Mb partition and have the install run off the FAT32 partition. I have not tried that so I have no idea if it will work. However doing all this may still result in a Windows 7 install that was installed from FAT32 but put on the target drive as NTFS.

    Again if you could shed some light on what requires FAT32 you may find that there are workarounds for your issue or someone has a wonderful solution. Many of the people here have been working with computers for a long time some for 40 years. We may have seen your particular problem or had experience with it in some form.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 14
    Windows7
    Thread Starter
       #20

    OK while I am trying your solution all I can share is our client is a computer manufacturing giant. In their assembly line they have some legacy applications that supoort only FAT32. They can't afford to change that as its implemented worldwide. Our project is to provide trimmed Win7 OS piece to them that should boot on FAT32. I hope that helps.
      My Computer


 
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