[Tutorial]Windows 8 to Go without Enterprise Edition

[+Warwagon MVC]

Great tutorial. Here is a video about it on technet

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/jj737992.aspx

[Peter Heiligenbrunner]

Hi,

thanks for the great tutorial.

I have a big problem: I tried to create this usb-device with 6 different windows8 images.

And not one of these worked.

Everytime I try to boot from the usb-device I get a blue-screen which tells me that winload.exe is missing or corrupt. No matter if I use a 16gb or a 32gb usb-stick. I tried some Bios setting combinations like AHCI/IDE but that also didn't work. Repair console from rescue disk tells me that it can't repair the usb device.

Any suggestions?

[ingramator]

Hi,

thanks for the great tutorial.

I have a big problem: I tried to create this usb-device with 6 different windows8 images.

And not one of these worked.

Everytime I try to boot from the usb-device I get a blue-screen which tells me that winload.exe is missing or corrupt. No matter if I use a 16gb or a 32gb usb-stick. I tried some Bios setting combinations like AHCI/IDE but that also didn't work. Repair console from rescue disk tells me that it can't repair the usb device.

Any suggestions?

Hmm not entirely sure actually! Considering its a BSOD winload.exe I'm going to point the finger at the process where you copy the boot files to the root of the USB, so steps 11 through to 13. However having said that, I do believe I have seen that error on systems which don't properly support USB boot. Have you been successful at loading other images like a Live Linux or Windows Installation install?

[Peter Heiligenbrunner]

Thanks for the fast answer :)

Yes ubuntu, xubuntu, mint, windows installation are working from same usb-devices.

I tried all those things on 2 different Pc configurations with different chipsets. One is socket Am3 and the other one socket 1155. In the last step of the tutorial I also tried to copy files from my windows installation on hard drive to the stick - but that also didn't work. I also started the command line with administrator rights.

It's always the same bluescreen.

Oh and I am working with windows 8 prof (x64) and want to put windows 8 enterprise(x64) on the usb-device if that is important. I also tried the image you posted at the beginning of the tutorial after several tries with other images. I also always started the x64 instance of gimageix.

Is there maybe a image of a ready testversion of windows8 which I can download and try?

[ingramator]

Thanks for the fast answer :)

Yes ubuntu, xubuntu, mint, windows installation are working from same usb-devices.

I tried all those things on 2 different Pc configurations with different chipsets. One is socket Am3 and the other one socket 1155. In the last step of the tutorial I also tried to copy files from my windows installation on hard drive to the stick - but that also didn't work. I also started the command line with administrator rights.

It's always the same bluescreen.

Oh and I am working with windows 8 prof (x64) and want to put windows 8 enterprise(x64) on the usb-device if that is important. I also tried the image you posted at the beginning of the tutorial after several tries with other images. I also always started the x64 instance of gimageix.

No worries! :) Since you've booted before then its definitely the part where the boot files are copied! When you run the commands as admin what do they say?

[Peter Heiligenbrunner]

As expected I get the message:

"Die Startdateien wurder erfolgreich erstellt" which means "the start files were created successfully"

[Quang Nguyen]

I Do this step:

: Open up CMD from this location (or change directory to the above folder) and enter

bcdboot.exe X:\Windows /s X: /f ALL

buit I all fail:

n:\Windows\System32>bcdboot.exe n:\Windows /s n: /f ALL

Failure when attempting to copy boot files.

:( :(

I tried open CMD with administrator. I use WD passport 1TB with 3 partitions with N:\ for windows to go.

any advice for me?

[ingramator]

I Do this step:

: Open up CMD from this location (or change directory to the above folder) and enter

bcdboot.exe X:\Windows /s X: /f ALL

buit I all fail:

n:\Windows\System32>bcdboot.exe n:\Windows /s n: /f ALL

Failure when attempting to copy boot files.

:( :(

I tried open CMD with administrator. I use WD passport 1TB with 3 partitions with N:\ for windows to go.

any advice for me?

Hey! Yes, some advice, could you try copying the bcdboot.exe to the desktop and executing the command there? Both of you guys that is. I remember solving that problem before with another guy I was helping!

[Quang Nguyen]

Hey! Yes, some advice, could you try copying the bcdboot.exe to the desktop and executing the command there? Both of you guys that is. I remember solving that problem before with another guy I was helping!

thanks for your advice.

but the problem is not solved :(

it's still:

C:\Users\West\Desktop>bcdboot.exe c:\users\west\desktop /s n: /f ALL

Failure when attempting to copy boot files.

my current OS is Windows 7. is there the problem?

[ingramator]

thanks for your advice.

but the problem is not solved :(

it's still:

C:\Users\West\Desktop>bcdboot.exe c:\users\west\desktop /s n: /f ALL

Failure when attempting to copy boot files.

my current OS is Windows 7. is there the problem?

Haha ok yes there is a major problem there bro! the C:\users\west\desktop needs to change to the USB's Windows folder. For example if the USB was drive F:\ then it would be

bcdboot.exe F:\Windows /s F: /f ALL
[/CODE]

So in your case, if it bcdboot.exe was on your desktop and you had CMD elevated at Admin you would type

[CODE]
C:\Users\West\Desktop\bcdboot.exe F:\Windows /s F: /f ALL
[/CODE]

Hope this helps! Let me know if it fixes it!

[Growled Member]

I haven't seen this before. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks.

[ingramator]

I haven't seen this before. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks.

No worries man! Happy to help!

[Quang Nguyen]

Hope this helps! Let me know if it fixes it!

Perfect help! :)

I tried:

C:\Users\West\Desktop\bcdboot.exe F:\Windows /s F: /f ALL
[/CODE]

it's perfect for me...

thank you many time for giving me an advice :)

have a nice day :):):)

[JoaoP_Afonso]

I'm having problems with the step 13:

Open up CMD from this location (or change directory to the above folder) and enter

bcdboot.exe X:\Windows /s X: /f ALL

where "X" is your Windows To Go drive letter

So, as said, I went to the F:\Windows\System32 (F:\ is my windows to go usb drive), searched for the CMD file and as I tried to open it an error ocurred:

F:\Windows\System32\cdm.exe is not a WIN32 valid application

Can anyone please help me?

PS: I'm using the iso from WIndows 8 enterprise edition, I think.

[ingramator]

Perfect help! :)

I tried:

C:\Users\West\Desktop\bcdboot.exe F:\Windows /s F: /f ALL
[/CODE]

it's perfect for me...

thank you many time for giving me an advice :)

have a nice day :):) :)

No worries man!! Happy to help and give advice :) Hope you are enjoying your live install :)

I'm having problems with the step 13:

So, as said, I went to the F:\Windows\System32 (F:\ is my windows to go usb drive), searched for the CMD file and as I tried to open it an error ocurred:

Can anyone please help me?

PS: I'm using the iso from WIndows 8 enterprise edition, I think.

Hey bro! First off you are not starting CMD off the Live install, just start it off your PC by going to explorer-> file -> open command prompt-> open command prompt as admin

Hope that helps! Let me know how you go!

[razoric]

C:\Users\Razoric\DesktopC:\Users\Razoric\DesktopC:\Users\Razoric\DesktopC:\Users\Razoric\DesktopC:\Users\Razoric\DesktopIm having a problem with bcdboot. This is my error:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

Copyright ? 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>bcdboot.exe J:\windows /s J: /f ALL

Bcdboot - Bcd boot file creation and repair tool.

The bcdboot.exe command-line tool is used to copy critical boot files to the

system partition and to create a new system BCD store.

bcdboot <source> [/l <locale>] [/s <volume-letter>] [/v]

[/m [{OS Loader ID}]]

source Specifies the location of the windows system root.

/l Specifies an optional locale parameter to use when

initializing the BCD store. The default is US English.

/s Specifies an optional volume letter parameter to designate

the target system partition where boot environment files are

copied. The default is the system partition identified by

the firmware.

/v Enables verbose mode.

/m If an OS loader GUID is provided, this option merges the

given loader object with the system template to produce a

bootable entry. Otherwise, only global objects are merged.

Examples: bcdboot c:\windows /l en-us

bcdboot c:\windows /s h:

bcdboot c:\windows /m {d58d10c6-df53-11dc-878f-00064f4f4e08}

i also tried C:\Users\Razoric\Desktop\bcdboot.exe J:\Windows /s J: /f ALL

What am i doing wrong? It's like ive left something out?

[Khennett E Chan]

i did everything in the instructions perfectly. i also manage doing the cmd part. but the problem is when im trying it, when restarted the computer on boot it says error loading operating, its stuck there. i did some research and some forum said its because of lack of space. im using a 8gb flash drive but you said that an 8 gb would work. please help

[JoaoP_Afonso]

Hey bro! First off you are not starting CMD off the Live install, just start it off your PC by going to explorer-> file -> open command prompt-> open command prompt as admin

Hope that helps! Let me know how you go!

So, I went to F:\Windows\System32, opened the CMD from this location but then when I tried to:

F:\Windows\System32>bcdboot.exe F:\Windows /s F: /f ALL

I got this error:

Failure when attempting to copy boot files.

I'm so sorry for being such a trouble.

[spider-x]

Less then 30 minutes depending on your hardware, really? So, why does GImageX say it's going to take nearly 248 minutes

to complete? This is on a Core i3 based laptop with 4GB RAM installed. Less than 30 minutes is a nonsense, unless you do

this on a very high spec system with at least 10 quad core CPU's and over 32GB of enterprise grade RAM installed!

Does have you fixed it? If yes, how ? I don?t know how to change the temporary folder.

[smweb]

^ that issue might be related to the USB drive you are using. For me the process (Step 9-10) took less than 15 minutes

[smweb]

And step 13 is different for Win 8 and Win 7 systems:

http://www.triballabs.net/2012/03/step-by-step-guide-to-install-windows-8-to-go-on-a-usb/

If using a Windows 7 machine type ?bcdboot.exe #:\windows /s #:?, if Windows 8 then type ?bcdboot.exe #:\windows /s #: /f ALL?.

# = USB Drive letter

[sneyder02]

When i try to do the step 13 it says error copying boot files, so what can i do?

[gdinfo]

good day

I'm trying to make a boot for my hd with Hirens

euu have a 750 hd with two partitions (one with 3GB multiboot Hirens edited by me, and other partitions, one for data, where are my other tools and complete images but OS drivers)

then follow the tuto but I put the installation on the data partition and wanted inside the menu.lst boot installation on the second partition of the disk.

Can anyone help me?

[nitrobg]

I've just registered to say that I've found a solution to the "Failure when attempting to copy boot files." message.

 

The solution is incredibly simple. Run cmd.exe as administrator.

 

Detailed instructions:

1) Go to X:\Windows\system32

2) Find cmd.exe

3) Right click and select Run as administrator

4) Type bcdboot.exe X:\Windows /s X: /f ALL

 

X is the letter of the flash drive.

[Azies]

I've just registered to say that I've found a solution to the "Failure when attempting to copy boot files." message.

 

The solution is incredibly simple. Run cmd.exe as administrator.

 

Detailed instructions:

1) Go to X:\Windows\system32

2) Find cmd.exe

3) Right click and select Run as administrator

4) Type bcdboot.exe X:\Windows /s X: /f ALL

 

X is the letter of the flash drive.

 

Oh my god, how many people ran bcdboot.exe from the flash drive after the OP specifically said NOT TO, if you guys can't follow simple instructions, then don't do it. Run the thing from your installation of Windows on your hard drive, not your flash drive.