Windows 64-Bit: Create bootable ISO

[jwoegerbauer]

As shown here

a bootable CD/DVD for 64-Bit Windows versions must be GPT-formatted.

Instead of following now Microsoft's step-by-step instructions how to manually create such an ISO, I preferred to use freeware tool to create such a bootable ISO, one can burn onto CD/DVD.

HTH

[Philquad]

was going to ask you to write a tutorial about this joey, but theres more to it than that
i use
as explained here
theres a few tricks like, turning off secure boot & fast boot in bios or you wont be booting to anything
then if you do boot with a normal disk & you get to the partitions you will find you cant install to whats there unless you have a gpt install ready
you can though if you delete all partitions, which in some cases unwanted as they have data or recovery partitions.
but using rufus takes around 10 minutes to make a gpt install from a 7 or 8 dvd & the usb install is over in about 20 minutes
pretty quick
i have 4 usbs now, 7 & 8 uefi & 7 & 8 normal x64

sorry mate, didnt realize you were talking about booting without a install

[jwoegerbauer]

sorry mate, didnt realize you were talking about booting without a install

The reason why i occupied with bootable CD/DVDs is simply explained: I wanted to have a bootable CD/DVD which shows me an options dialog from which I can select an utility/installer to be run, ex. EasyUEFI, 7z-File Manager, etc,pp. This is possible via Window's inbuilt CD/DVD Autorun feature. Of course one also can add the Windows installer, i.e. Setup.exe.


FYI:

I extended the ISO's files and folder structure as follows.

AUTORUN.INF
AutoRun.mscr
AutoRun.exe
MortScript.exe
\support [DIR]
	\tools  [DIR]
		\EasyUEFI
			\bin
				\EasyUEFI.exe
	\tools (x86)  [DIR]
		\CCleaner
			\CCleaner.exe
		\7-Zip
			\7zFM.exe

Contents of file "AutoRun.inf" is:

[Autorun]
open=AutoRun.exe
icon=AutoRun.exe,0

The options dialog I want to be shown I realized with "MortScript". Script example:

// © 2013 jwoegerbauer
// GPL v2
//
Local()
title="AutoRunMenu"
// determine path
pth=systempath("ScriptPath")
pthtools=pth\"support\tools"
// adjust path to tools provided if NOT running a Windows 64-Bit version
if(NOT direxists("C:\Windows\Boot\EFI"))
pthtools&=" (x86)"
endif
if(NOT direxists(pthtools))
bigmessage("^NL^Folder^NL^"&pthtools&"^NL^is missing.^NL^Exiting...","["&title&"] Error")
// quit
exit
endif
// add here all the tools
tools=array(pthtools\"ABC\ABC.exe",pthtools\"XYZ\X YZ.exe")
// create options menu
opts=array()
// populate options menu
idx=0
foreach tool in array(tools)
if(fileexists(tool))
idx+=1
opts[idx]=filebase(tools[idx])
endif
endforeach
if(0=idx)
bigmessage("^NL^Folder^NL^"&pthtools&"^NL^seems to be empty.^NL^Exiting...","["&title&"] Error")
// quit
exit
endif
// loop the menu until cancel button pressed
hint="Please select tool be run ...^NL^"
idx=1
while(idx<>0)
idx=choice(title,hint,0,0,opts)
if(wndexists(title))
close(title)
endif
if(idx<>0)
// run the tool selected
runwait(tools[idx])
endif
sleep(1)
endwhile
// done
exit


BTW:

You can download my files/folders structure of a bootable Windows x64 ISO from . Of course you have to create with an appropriate tool an ISO from this and then burn it to CD/DVD with low speed. i.e. 4x

[lsemmens]

That looks to be quite useful, I have been playing with bootable external drives and multiple installation and OS options using GRUB and Linux, but am not as adept at Linux to make it all work as I want. I might have a go at this if I have the time.

[Philquad]

can you make one that has GPT & mbr install on 1 usb or disk?

[jwoegerbauer]

can you make one that has GPT & mbr install on 1 usb or disk?

DIY -> Use , a multiboot creator.

[Philquad]

i dont think it does gpt partitions

[jwoegerbauer]

( => NOT tested so far, because don't work with USB-sticks, but DVD-RAMs. )

You GPT-format an USB-stick for example with freeware - a portable x86 app. Then you transfer MBR-formatted boot image (ex. created by SARDU) by means of SARDU onto the USB-stick.

FYI: GPT Fdisk tutorial is here:

[jwoegerbauer]

Final version of the "AutorunMenu" I have published here:

[Philquad]

think i'll just spend $4 & put different ones on each usb
saves a lot of reading

[sidd230]

I heard the MS is making Windows 8 more USB boot friendly. That is why newer flash drives are detected as local drives. Gives a lot of headaches while trying to make a USB windows install disk.

[jwoegerbauer]

I heard the MS is making Windows 8 more USB boot friendly. That is why newer flash drives are detected as local drives. Gives a lot of headaches while trying to make a USB windows install disk.

My Windows 8 machine recognizes the USB-stick - as expected - as USB-drive (drive letter F).

Which storage media you decide to boot a Windows computer from is independent from OS. It's a matter of the BIOS. You even can boot a Windows computer via network (Topic: Windows Deployment Services).

[Philquad]

just use
& make a usb bootable with mbr or uefi or watever the F it is
making the bios see the usb with this uefi crap is hardest problem
once you work that out, its easy
20 yrs of using keyboard to navigate a bios, now you can use a mouse
only difference i can see