How to Boot Windows 7 System Repair Disc from USB Pen Drive/Hard Disk Using Grub4Dos
Requirements:
1. MultibootISO > Install Grub4Dos easily into USB Flash Drive/External Hard Disk
Get it here: Boot Multiple ISO from USB (MultiBoot USB) | USB Pen Drive Linux
or here: YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux
2. Windows 7 System Repair Disc - How to Create Windows 7 System Repair Disc
3. Notepad++ > To edit menu.lst
Get it here:Notepad++ | Download Notepad++ software for free at SourceForge.net
or here: Download Notepad++ 5.6.8 - FileHippo.com
Lets Start
Step 1: Follow this tutorial to create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc.
Step 2: Convert the Repair Disc into an ISO file. To avoid confuse later, we rename the file as w7repairdisc.iso in this tutorial. There are many ways to convert a CD into ISO file, Google it "Convert CD to ISO". Alternatively, you can use Format Factory.
Step 3: Run MultibootISO, install MultibootISO into your USB Storage Device(ie.pendrive, External Hard Disk). This will install Grub4dos in USB Storage.
Step 4: Copy w7repairdisc.iso into your USB Storage.
Step 5: Look for the file menu.lst in your pendrive/External Hard Disk, edit it with Notepad++.
Add in the below command line:
Code:
title Windows 7 System Repair Disc
find --set-root /w7repairdisc.iso
map /w7repairdisc.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)If you have no idea where to insert the above command line, just insert it at the end of the file.
Done. The pendrive is ready to boot & run Windows 7 System Repair Disc.
If you are confused and don't know how to edit menu.lst, then, open it with Notepad++, delete all the command lines and replace by the following command lines. Save the file and exit.
Code:
timeout 30
root=(hd0,0)
color NORMAL HIGHLIGHT HELPTEXT HEADING
splashimage=(hd0,0)/splash.xpm.gz
foreground=FFFFFF
background=0066FF
title Windows 7 System Repair Disc
find --set-root /w7repairdisc.iso
map /w7repairdisc.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)
Note
There are 2 types of Windows 7 Repair Disc - 32 bit & 64 bit. Windows 7 32 bit can only create 32 bit Repair Disc and too can only be used to restore 32 bit system image. This same with 64 bit System Repair Disc.
Boot from Pendrive
Restart the computer. Configure BIOS to boot from Pendrive/External Hard Disk.
A boot menu will appear. You will be able to see the boot option Windows 7 System Repair Disc.
Use arrow key on keyboard to select Windows 7 System Repair Disc and press enter.
About Menu.lst
Menu.lst is a boot menu of Grub4Dos. After install MultibootISO into pendrive/External Hard Disk, it support for booting many OS or programs. There are many entries ready made by default after installing MultibootISO. You may delete any of the entries if you don't need them.
For more info about MultiBootISO, please visit: Boot Multiple ISO from USB (MultiBoot USB) | USB Pen Drive Linux
Advantages of using Grub4Dos
By using Grub4Dos, many other bootable OS or Softwares (ie, Linux, Ubuntu, Ultimate Boot CD, Partition Wizard...) are supported in one single pendrive/External Hard Disk. To view the list of supported software, you may refer the official site of MultiBootISO. If the bootable software you owned is not listed, doesn't mean it is not supported.
For example, you can install Windows 7 within the same USB Pen Drive or External Hard Disk too (Read here). With Grub4Dos, you can make your USB become a Super System Maintenace & Emergency Rescue Tools. (i.e, recover/copy files when Windows cannot startup/lost partition/formated partition, reset or recover system/windows password, testing tools)
Below are some of the highly recommended bootable software for System Maintenance & Emergency Rescue Tools:
1. Partition Wizard - Site - Download
2. Hiren's Boot CD - Site1 - Site2 - Download
3. Ultimate Boot CD - Site - Download (scroll down at link to download from within "Mirror Sites" list)
4. AntiVirus Rescue Disk (ie, AVG, Bitdefender, Avira) - Link
5. Windows 7 Installation DVD - Tutorial
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