RMPrepUSB - Bootable USB format = utility

"=20 = src=3D"http://www.boot-land.net/forums/style_images/fatenglish/nav.gif"=20 border=3D0> Boot=20 Land > Groups<= /A> > Project= =20 forge > USB=20 FORMATTING utilities: RMprepUSB, fbinst, etc.

27 Pages 1 2 3 > =BB =20

RMPrepUSB - Bootable USB format utility, A = new=20 Windows USB tool to replace HP Format = Utility

External=20 links 3DV=20

Rating=20

Your rating: N/A

Total rates: 2

Options=20 3DV=20

=20

Apr 15 2009, 09:15 AM

Post #1=20

steve= 6375=20

View = Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Frequent Member = 3D*=20

Group: Developer

Joined:=20 31-August 08 From: UK

Posts: 251
Thank(s):=20 90

United= =20 Kingdom

Note: See end of = this post for=20 downloads.
RMPrepUSB is similar to the HP Format = utility, but=20 much more flexible and should be better at creating a USB = Flash=20 memory drive that will boot on most systems successfully. = See below=20 for details of these utilities.
Let me know if it works = for you=20 please (or even if not)!
See=20 a demo on YouTube

What are=20 these=20 = utilities?

RMFormat=20 - Windows GUI allows you to format any partition under = Windows XP+=20 as FAT16, FAT32 or NTFS (no Windows FAT32 size limit - e.g. = can have=20 a 40GB FAT32 partition). Originally developed as a test = program to=20 test the FormatEX API on Windows systems for NTFS = formatting. Only=20 default Windows cluster size, etc. is = possible.
RMBootSect=20 - Windows command line utility that changes the boot sector = on any=20 disk (similar to MS BootSect). Not all filesystems are=20 supported.
RMPartUSB - a command line Windows app = used by=20 RMPrepUSB - allows you to partition and format any USB = storage=20 device as FAT16, FAT32 or NTFS from Windows = XP,2K3,Vista,Win7,2K8.=20 Can be used in scripts/batch files.
RMPrepUSB.exe = - a user=20 friendly front-end Windows x86 (32-bit) GUI for the command = line=20 tool RMPartUSB.exe. When you set the options in RMPrepUSb = and click=20 the Prepare Drive button, it will display the command line = that it=20 is going to use to run RMPartUSB and then run RMPartUSB. If = you have=20 selected a folder, it will then copy the entire contents of = that=20 folder over to the new partition when RMPartUSB has finished = formatting the USB Flash Drive (UFD). You can then use the = Eject=20 button and disconnect the UFD when you have=20 finished.

WARNING: RMFormat and RMBootSect = will work=20 on ANY drive, including your Windows PC hard disk - you have = been=20 warned!

Details=20 on=20 = RMBootSect
Usage:
RMBootSect=20 [/nt52 | /MSDOS] <drive_letter>: [/debug] [/nowrite]=20 [/ZIP]
Examples:
RMBootSect D: (to write a Vista = compatible=20 boot sector)
RMBootSect /nt52 D: (to write an XP = compatible boot=20 sector)
RMBootSect /MSDOS D: /ZIP (to write an MSDOS = FAT16=20 compatible boot sector)

Details on=20 RMPartUSB and=20 RMPrepUSB:

RMPartUSB makes a single user partition = of any size=20 and is primarily intended for USB Flash Drive (UFD) memory = sticks=20 although it can be used on USB hard drives to create a = single=20 partition.
The utility also places boot code on the USB = device=20 for either XP/WinPEv1 (ntldr), Vista/WinPEv2/Win7 (bootmgr), = MS-DOS=20 (io.sys) or FreeDos (kernel.sys).
RMPartUSB does not = place any=20 files on the UFD - you must copy these over yourself or set = the=20 option in RMPrepUSB to copy over the contents of a folder of = your=20 choice.

There are some options that allow the UFD to = boot=20 either as a super-floppy (ZIP) drive or a Fixed disk (HDD). = Thus DOS=20 or FreeDos can boot from a UFD as either the A: drive or the = C:=20 drive depending on how you partition and format it using the = options=20 available.

What do the options in RMPrepUSB = actually=20 do?
Boot as FDD - No MBR or partition table is = used,=20 floppy disk drive number is used in PBR.
Boot as = Zip -=20 Changes some bytes in the Volume Boot Sector Bios Parameter = Block=20 table to indicate that the device is a floppy disk and not a = hard=20 disk and uses 64hd/32spt translation if = poss.
64hd/32sec if=20 poss.. - if the partition is not too large (<1GB) = then use=20 64hds and 32 sectors per track for the partition table = values,=20 rather than the standard 255hds/63spt values used in modern = LBA=20 (Logical Block Address) systems. Select this option or the = ZIP=20 option (which also uses this 64/32 option) is often = successful in=20 booting a UFD as a ZIP device (A:). If the partition is = larger than=20 1GB then the next translation up is used (e.g. if 1.5GB then = 128hds/32spt is used).
Boot as HDD (2PTNS) - adds = a second=20 hidden very small partition to the partition table. Some = BIOSes,=20 when they see a UFD with two partitions, automatically = assume that=20 the device must be a hard disk (as ZIP removable devices are = defined=20 as having a single partition). Selecting this option = increases the=20 chances that any BIOS will boot the UFD as a fixed disk = rather than=20 as a ZIP disk. Many thanks to online for this=20 discovery!
Set drive as non-bootable - Does not = set the=20 Active flag on the first partition - useful if you just want = to make=20 a non-bootable UFD so that if left in a system, the system = will not=20 try to boot from it when you switch it on.
Size - = by=20 default the maximum size for the UFD will be used. If you = want a=20 smaller size then change this (e.g. 500)
Volume = Label -=20 change this text box to set the volume label (11 characters=20 max).

I highly recommend a Lexar 512MB JumpDrive or = Netac=20 512MB U2C as being the 'most compatible' UFD. Some older = BIOSes will=20 not boot from devices larger than 512MB.

P.S. I = forgot to=20 mention that using Bootit.exe to make your Lexar UFD a = 'Fixed disk'=20 rather than a 'Removable Disk' also increases your chances = of it=20 booting as a hard disk for WinPE/XP/Vista. This also makes = it=20 partitionable in XP - you can then have more than one = partition on a=20 USB flash drive.

QUOTE

RMPrepUSB, RMPartUSB, = RMBootsect=20 and RMFormat are free to use for private use only for anyone = . Commercial use however is = forbidden and you=20 need to contact RM for licensing costs if you wish to use it = or=20 re-distribute it as part of a commercial solution - = support@rm.com

= RMPrepUSB=20 Version History=20
v1.9.70 download = also=20 includes the extra standalone RMBootSect and RMFormat = utilities=20 which are not used by RMPrepUSB or RMPartUSB (the other = downloads do=20 not include these two utilities).
v1.9.75 - added=20 randomised disk signature and patched boot code for better=20 compatibility.
v2.0.602:
FORCELBA option and = Format as=20 USB-FDD (large floppy) function. (512MB ZIP radio button=20 removed)
USBtoFile and FiletoUSB image functions added. = USBInfo=20 and FileInfo (displays bytes and partition = info).
QuickTest USB=20 Drive for bad/duplicate blocks - use on new USB drives = bought from=20 dodgy eBay sellers!
Extensive context sensitive help = added and=20 PDF help file.
Uses MiB rather than MB.
Includes Vista = manifests to run with admin rights and FreeDos boot=20 files.
v2.0.710/2.0.720/2.0.730
Added syslinux = and grub=20 support
Desktop now minimized and restored to prevent = file copy=20 and cmd windows being obscured.
Quicktest improved - now = suggests=20 maximum usable good memory. Tests 1GiB in 4 seconds.
To = quicktest=20 a Flash drive
1. Run Quicktest (if you get write errors = CLEAN the=20 drive first and try again)
2. If it suggests a usable = size of say=20 1098MiB, then reformat using RMPrepUSB to 1098Mib size
3. = Now=20 test with H2TESTW to ensure all bytes are readable in the=20 volume.
If you re-partition the drive, remember to set = the size=20 to the 'good' size.
Also remember that the memory may = develop bad=20 blocks with age!
v710 removed - replaced with = v720=20 as NTFS format in 710 was unreliable.
v720 = removed -=20 replaced with v730 (fixed fat32 format hanging bug on = large=20 >16GB drives, fix NTFS format sometimes reports errors, = GUI=20 improved + 1-6 steps numbered, improved volume locking and = speed.=20 Lots of small GUI tweaks.
v2.0.733 includes = support for=20 BartPE (PEtoUSB type function).
Two steps to make = BartPE:
1.=20 Use PE-Builder.
2. Use RMPrepUSB - you can have FAT16, = FAT32=20 (any size) or NTFS.
Also added improved syslinux options = and=20 force-mba-test grubinst cmd line parameter added. Looks for = up to 26=20 drives.
Only called 'Beta' as PEtoUSB function is new.=20
v2.0.734- few small bug fixes around BartPE = function when=20 cancelling, etc., removed winbom.ini file, new PDF help=20 file.
v2.0.735
Include the TESTMBR files and=20 instructions on how to use them
Suppresses the 'format = drive' and=20 'Autoplay' pop-ups that Windows displays during=20 partitioning.
Changed RMPartUSB to v735
Change grdldr = to=20 version 0.4.5a (fixes bug in 'write' function to --mem=20 images)
Small doc changes.
v2.0.735a =
Changed=20 RMPartUSB to v736 - Now wipes first 100 sectors when it = partitions=20 and formats a drive to remove any old=20 PBRs.
v2.0.736
RMPrepUSB version number changed = to=20 match RMPartUSB. TESTMBR files and instructions changed as = RMPartUSB=20 now wipes sectors!
No need to upgrade to this version = unless you=20 want to use the new TESTMBR files.
v2.0.737=20 Recommended
Added quotes around app path so can use a = folder=20 with spaces in the pathname - e.g. Desktop
v2.0.800=20 multi-language support Beta - see below for=20 details.

DOWNLOADS

P.S. = If you like these utilities, please click on the ad link = below and I=20 will get a few pennies as a reward and it costs you=20 nothing!

If download link = for 2.0.737=20 is not working, please try http://www.mediafire.com/?y24kjj2xyyo

Calling all = bi-lingual=20 boot-landers - can you = help? I=20 am looking for someone to translate RMPRepUSB into other = non-English=20 languages. See post http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?s=3D&showto= pic=3D7739&view=3Dfindpost&p=3D99260=20 for details and the new Language-enabled version. Please = upload your=20 translation ini file and remember to put your name in the = ini file=20 if you want some fame and recognition!

Attached = File(s)=20

=20 RMPREPUSB_1.9.70.zip ( 869.4K ) Number of downloads: 1838
3D"Attached

=20 RMPrepUSB_1.9.75.zip ( 776.39K ) Number of downloads: 3131
3D"Attached

=20 RMPrepUSB_2.0.602.zip ( 1.08MB ) Number of downloads: 3163
3D"Attached

=20 RMPrepUSB_2.0.737_REL.zip ( 1.33MB ) = Number of downloads: 708

--------------------

Steve
Try=20 RMPrepUSB=20 for partitioning, = formatting=20 and making bootable your USB Flash Drive under Windows = (supports=20 FAT16/FAT32/NTFS, MSDOS/FreeDOS/XP/Vista, boot as Hard disk = or=20 floppy disk).

34 = user(s) said "Thank=20 you!" to steve6375 for this fantastic post:

7ekn0= 0,=20 amalux= ,=20 BeatZ= ero,=20 brwne= yezjay,=20 by_rom= ,=20 deder= ,=20 Digger= P,=20 Esqui= lax,=20 filis= etti2578,=20 Gertr= ude,=20 Gorzki = Tom, ilko,=20 ireneus= zp,=20 IvanH= orvat,=20 jefim= ija,=20 john3= voltas,=20 Kano<= /A>,=20 kDn,=20 lifer= ,=20 Luke = Filewalker, mi.t<= /A>,=20 Michae= l=20 McStarfighter, mirec= ek1965,=20 mose<= /A>,=20 Nuno=20 Brito, nutcr= acker53,=20 online= ,=20 patsc= h,=20 stran= ger87,=20 TheK<= /A>,=20 TiMiN= 8R,=20 tstad= don,=20 vmbra= y,=20 Voicu= =20 Stanese

Apr 15 2009, 10:04 AM

Post #2=20

wimb=20

View=20 Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Silver Member = 3D*=20

Group: Advanced=20 user

Joined: 10-July=20 07
Posts: 597
Thank(s): 168

Netherlands= =20

QUOTE (steve6375 @ Apr 15 2009, 10:15 = AM)

I have uploaded current = version=20 RMPrepUSB v1.8.

I am = NOT=20 able to use the program. 3Dsad.gif=20

It is NOT a GUI but trying = from cmd=20 window the simple

CODE

RMPARTUSB = LIST

almost freezes my system (68% cpu)=20 with NO further result. 3Dscared9.gif=20

=20 =

--------------------

Guide boot.ini - U-XP-SET<= /SPAN>

FAQs - USB-MultiBoot - IMG-XP =

MBR-Backup - Make-PE3<= /SPAN>

--------------------

1 = user(s) said "Thank=20 you!" to wimb for this fantastic post:

brwne= yezjay

Apr 15 2009, 11:16 AM

Post #3=20

steve= 6375=20

View = Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Frequent Member = 3D*=20

Group: Developer

Joined:=20 31-August 08 From: UK

Posts: 251
Thank(s):=20 90

United= =20 Kingdom

re. = RMPREPUSB

I have=20 tested this on XP and Vista systems (not Server=20 2003).

RMPrepUSB is a GUI which calls RMPartUSB. You = must=20 have the vb6 dll in the same folder (or in = system32).

Sorry=20 it is not working for you.

Steve=20 =

--------------------

Apr 15 2009, 12:01 PM

Post #4=20

was_jacla= z=20

View=20 Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Finder

Group: Advanced=20 user

Joined: 14-July=20 06 From: Gone in the mist

Posts: = 7,226
Thank(s):=20 558

Italy=20

QUOTE (steve6375 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:16 = PM)

re. RMPREPUSB

I = have tested=20 this on XP and Vista systems (not Server = 2003).

RMPrepUSB is=20 a GUI which calls RMPartUSB. You must have the vb6 dll in = the same=20 folder (or in system32).

Sorry it is not working for=20 = you.

Steve

On my=20 XP (Italian) a further file is required VB6IT.DLL, but still = in=20 depends.exe it stops here:

CODE

LoadLibraryA("kernel32") = returned=20 0x7C800000.
GetProcAddress(0x7C800000 [KERNEL32.DLL],=20 "CloseHandle") called from "MSVBVM60.DLL" at address = 0x6600A0D8 and=20 returned 0x7C809B77.

In task = manager, it=20 uses 50% of CPU cycles and does = nothing.

RMPARTUSB.EXE LIST=20 as well lists correctly my stick (as E:) then freezes with = 50%=20 CPU.

CODE

LoadLibraryA("kernel32") = returned=20 0x7C800000.
GetProcAddress(0x7C800000 [KERNEL32.DLL],=20 "CloseHandle") called from "MSVBVM60.DLL" at address = 0x6600A0D8 and=20 returned 0x7C809B77.

jaclaz =

--------------------

Light Blue Ribbon Campaign for Freedom of=20 Skin

But ... = then, why?

Apr 15 2009, 12:14 PM

Post #5=20

steve= 6375=20

View = Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Frequent Member = 3D*=20

Group: Developer

Joined:=20 31-August 08 From: UK

Posts: 251
Thank(s):=20 90

United= =20 Kingdom

This is strange - I = assume we are=20 all using 32-bit versions of OS?

It also works under = WinPE=20 (32-bit) with no extra files needed.=20 =

--------------------

Apr 15 2009, 12:17 PM

Post #6=20

steve= 6375=20

View = Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Frequent Member = 3D*=20

Group: Developer

Joined:=20 31-August 08 From: UK

Posts: 251
Thank(s):=20 90

United= =20 Kingdom

Try renaming my dll = so system=20 will use your one which may already be present. =

--------------------

2 = user(s) said "Thank=20 you!" to steve6375 for this fantastic post:

hubla= n,=20 mylog= ic

Apr 15 2009, 12:19 PM

Post #7=20

was_jacla= z=20

View=20 Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Finder

Group: Advanced=20 user

Joined: 14-July=20 06 From: Gone in the mist

Posts: = 7,226
Thank(s):=20 558

Italy=20

QUOTE (steve6375 @ Apr 15 2009, 02:14 = PM)

This is strange - I = assume we are=20 all using 32-bit versions of OS?

It also works under = WinPE=20 (32-bit) with no extra files = needed.

Maybe there is=20 something with non-English versions.

When I check = dependencies,=20 VB6IT.DLL is NOT shown, but as soon as I start profiling the = app, it=20 comes out as needed.

There is also an unresolved (on = my=20 system) dependency on MSJAVA.DLL, but that is quite common = and=20 usually it is a "false alarm". 3Ddubbio.gif=20

jaclaz

--------------------

Light Blue Ribbon Campaign for Freedom of=20 Skin

But ... = then, why?

Apr 15 2009, 12:29 PM

Post #8=20

wimb=20

View=20 Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Silver Member = 3D*=20

Group: Advanced=20 user

Joined: 10-July=20 07
Posts: 597
Thank(s): 168

Netherlands= =20

QUOTE (steve6375 @ Apr 15 2009, 01:17 = PM)

Try renaming my dll so = system will=20 use your one which may already be = present.

Did NOT work.

My msvbvm60.dll is from = 14-04-2008=20 (XP-SP3 32bits)
Yours is 23-02-2004=20 =

--------------------

Guide boot.ini - U-XP-SET<= /SPAN>

FAQs - USB-MultiBoot - IMG-XP =

MBR-Backup - Make-PE3<= /SPAN>

--------------------

Apr 15 2009, 12:40 PM

Post #9=20

steve= 6375=20

View = Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Frequent Member = 3D*=20

Group: Developer

Joined:=20 31-August 08 From: UK

Posts: 251
Thank(s):=20 90

United= =20 Kingdom

AS it runs under = WinPE, I don't=20 see that any extra files should be needed, but you could try = the vb6=20 run pack
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290887=20

--------------------=

Apr 15 2009, 01:11 PM

Post #10=20

wimb=20

View=20 Member Profile

Add=20 as Friend

Send=20 Message

Find=20 Member's Topics

Find=20 Member's Posts

Silver Member = 3D*=20

Group: Advanced=20 user

Joined: 10-July=20 07
Posts: 597
Thank(s): 168

Netherlands= =20

Did NOT work

Do you have Internal = cardreader=20 ?

I have for cardreader 4 empty removable = drives,
may be=20 this is the problem ....=20 =

--------------------

Guide boot.ini - U-XP-SET<= /SPAN>

FAQs - USB-MultiBoot - IMG-XP =

MBR-Backup - Make-PE3<= /SPAN>

--------------------

Topic=20	Replies=20	Topic = Starter=20	Views=20	Last Action
RMPr= epUSB=20 =E2=80=93 Amazing USB Formatting Tool!	0	agni<= /A>	188	12th April 2010 - = 03:59=20 PM Last=20 post by: agni<= /A>
Boot= able=20 CD Issues when using WimBoot Cannot boot the created CD on most=20 machines!	13	Chunk= Dog	712	9th April 2010 - = 11:20=20 PM Last=20 post by: Galapo
USB = Stick booting on Laptop but not on Deskop PC	5	911CD= .net	502	9th April 2010 - = 01:56=20 PM Last=20 post by: Wonko= =20 the Sane
Usb = booting	0	asadb= ooting	559	29th March 2010 - = 06:05=20 PM Last=20 post by: asadb= ooting
USB = boot stick	3	TheoS= an	1,032	21st March 2010 - = 09:15=20 PM Last=20 post by: steve= 6375