Boot into Windows Vista via USB-stick / CD/DVD

[jwoegerbauer]

I think everyone knows the problem (which I had some days ago too):
The computer crashes for unexplained reasons and you can no longer start. Where the Windows logo should appear normally, is either nothing or an error message. Of course, one wants to save its data like. Just like?
The solution: You create on an external storage medium a completely free, portable Windows Vista.

Here I try to explain you how to copy a free-of-charge Windows Vista version on a USB-stick and/or CD/DVD to boot Windows Vista from this. What do you need for this:

A: Requirements

1. A working Internet connection

2. PC
Operating system: Windows XP Service Pack 2 or higher
Memory: at least 512MB
Boot order: USB and/or CD/DVD devices before the hard disk

3. Storage media
A working USB flash drive and/or CD/DVD drive
Notes:
Your USB flash drive storage should have at least 300 MB.
If intended to burn an ISO I recommend you to use a CD-RW disk, so you always at anytime can add Windows utilities/tools of your choice to the DVD template.

4. Softwares
a) The automated installation Kit (short AIK) for Windows Vista
FYI: From this 72-hours-valid Windows Vista you later on are referring to all the necessary files needed to boot Windows Vista.

Download AIK from .

b) WBICreator
This freeware program will copy the necessary files from the AIK and create the ISO.

Download WBICreator from .


Should all requirements be met, you now can continue with the

B: Installation instructions

1. Download the Windows AIK
The downloaded file is an ISO ( CD image ), which you preferably mount as described here:

2. Download the WBICreator
The downloaded file is an executable. Create in a place (partition/hard disk), where there is as much space, folder named WBICreator and move downloaded WBICreator.exe there to, because here the ISO file produced will be later.

3. Install the Windows AIK
In the mounted Windows AIK ISO run StartCD.exe. In the menu shown at left-hand select Install Windows AIK. It is advisable to keep the installation path as it is dictated.
FYI: Regardless whether Windows 32-Bit or Windows 64-Bit edition in <systemdrive>\Programs subfolders \Windows AIK and \Windows Imaging should be created.

C: Prepare the USB-stick and/or CD/DVD

Run the WBICreator
The executable is named WBICreator.exe. Run it.
If you are asked for Vista's source path, input C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\x86. You are asked for the output path, input C:\Program Files\WBICreator



After WBICreator has finished, the ISO's contents should look something like this:

boot [DIR]
efi [DIR]
bootmgr [FILE]
BootSect [EXE]
winpe.wim [THE COPY OF VISTA]


5. Add your preferred Windows tools to the disk, too
You additionally might put tools/utilities to the disk before burning the ISO. But this requires you add to the ISO an additional folder, like myAPPS or similar
Examples:
TestDisk
This freeware software automatically reads the necessary information from PC's BIOS and then analyzes the hard disk structure. It follows a review of the partition tables.
If errors are found, it repairs the affected areas by itself or creates new partition tables.
DL:
CCleaner
This is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner.
DL:
Firefox 26 Portable
DL:
etc,pp

6. Copy the files, burn the ISO
You almost got it! You have to just stick the files from inside the ISO on your USB drive and/or burn an CD/DVD from the ISO.

D: Boot computer using a USB stick and/or CD/DVD

Self-explanatory I think ...


E: Disclaimer

This worked for me, may of course for what reasons ever not work for you. I am not willing to assist you if you have any issues with WBICreator. Thanks for your understanding.

[jwoegerbauer]

For the experts among you, guys: Next follows a quick intro on "How To Modify Contents Of A .WIM File"

1. Open the Windows Desktop and click the "Computer" icon.

2. Open the "C:" hard drive.

3. Right-click an open area of the explorer window and select "New" and then "Folder." Name the new folder "Image" and press "Enter." Drag the WIM file to this folder. Note that you can name the folder anything you like; if you give the folder some other name, modify the subsequent steps in this article accordingly.

4. Right-click an open area of the explorer window and select "New" and "Folder." Name this folder "Working" and press "Enter." Windows will store the contents of the WIM image in this folder while you read and modify the image.

5. Open the "Start" menu and type "cmd" in the search field at the bottom. When the shortcut for the command prompt appears, right-click it and select "Run as Administrator." Depending on your security settings, you may need to enter an administrator password to continue. Windows opens an elevated command prompt.

6. Type "cd\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\" and press "Enter." This brings you to the folder with the ImageX utility.

7. Type "imagex /mountrw C:\Image\file.wim 1 C:\Working" and press "Enter." Replace "file.wim" with the name of the WIM file you want to open. Note that some WIM files store more than one complete drive image; if the file you are opening has multiple volumes, replace "1" with another number to open the correct volume.

8. Navigate to the "Working" folder that you created in step 4 to read and modify the contents of the image. Keep the command prompt window open while you do this. You must unmount the image and save your changes when you are finished.

9. Return to the command prompt window when you are ready to save your changes to the WIM image. Type "imagex /unmount /commit C:\Working" and press "Enter."