How can i make USB HDD with multiple windows installations.

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  1. Posts : 4
    Windwos 8 32bit
       #1

    How can i make USB HDD with multiple windows installations.


    Hi everybody,

    if the title doesn't make much sense, ill try to explain it here, and sorry if my English is bad, its not my native language.


    Here is my problem, i have an 160gb USB HDD, which i intend to use to install windows at work. since we have different PC setups (i.e. old desktops, old laptops, new laptops) i have to use different versions of windows, (7, 8, XP).


    On my USB HDD, i want to make 4 partitions, one for XP, one for Windows 7, one for Windows 8 and the last one for drivers and utilities. I want to do it this way cause its allot easier to carry a single drive instead of 4-5 flash drivers which can be misplaced or lost.


    Thanks in advance.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #2

    You want the installationset of winxp on 1 partition, installationset of win7 on anorher partition and so on?
    Drivers can be put on seperate partition easily: Make folders name winxp, vista, and win7 and put the drivers there.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,379
    Win7 Pro 32-bit, Win8 Pro 32-bit
       #3

    AndreiV said:
    ... I have an 160gb USB HDD, which i intend to use to install windows at work. since we have different PC setups (i.e. old desktops, old laptops, new laptops) i have to use different versions of windows, (7, 8, XP).


    On my USB HDD, i want to make 4 partitions, one for XP, one for Windows 7, one for Windows 8 and the last one for drivers and utilities. I want to do it this way cause its allot easier to carry a single drive instead of 4-5 flash drivers which can be misplaced or lost.


    Thanks in advance.
    Sounds like you want to use the USB drive as a way of INSTALLING any of four different Windows versions, right?

    If that's the case, you do NOT want to install TO the USB drive; instead, you want installation media COPIED to the USB drive.
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  4. Posts : 740
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #4

    you will need to modify the boot.ini of the partition thats active to allow the other setup entries to be selectable
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  5. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #5

    That may end up being a lot of work. As far as I know each OS uses it's own particular version of the Pre-installation Environment. Google
    Also have a look here, http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
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  6. Posts : 4
    Windwos 8 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    thx for the replies,

    i found YUMI, and it almost works.

    i can place the iso`s in a folder on the usb drive with YUMI and the instalations all start from the menu, the only problem, when installing after the 1st screen a window pops up asking for "media driver", anybody have any ideeas what those drivers are ?


    http://joeyfoo.files.wordpress.com/2...rror.jpg?w=624

    the screen shot says it all.


    thx
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #7

    It may be asking for the SATA driver? One way around it is to go into the BIOS and switch to IDE mode for the install then switch back to AHCI.
    AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 740
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #8

    AndreiV said:
    thx for the replies,

    i found YUMI, and it almost works.

    i can place the iso`s in a folder on the usb drive with YUMI and the instalations all start from the menu, the only problem, when installing after the 1st screen a window pops up asking for "media driver", anybody have any ideeas what those drivers are ?


    http://joeyfoo.files.wordpress.com/2...rror.jpg?w=624

    the screen shot says it all.


    thx
    That message can be caused by a corrupt image. Download the correct image from digital river and replace it.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4
    Windwos 8 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    they are not corrupt, i use the same images on flash drives, and work just as intended.


    edit:

    downloaded another iso from digitalriver ... same thing.

    and also , in the bios on the laptop im am trying it on, i don't have option for ahci/sata
    Last edited by AndreiV; 17 May 2013 at 06:37.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #10

    AndreiV said:
    they are not corrupt, i use the same images on flash drives, and work just as intended.


    edit:

    downloaded another iso from digitalriver ... same thing.

    and also , in the bios on the laptop im am trying it on, i don't have option for ahci/sata
    Does ISO work when extracted to usb and boot from it? I mean you don't see the error you described?
      My Computer


 
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