WBoot, Boot existing installation of Windows Vista+ from USB storage

Hello everybody,

I'm going to release a new project PWBoot today.

So, what is PWBoot project ?
PWBoot stands for Portable Windows Boot project, this project aims to be make your Windows operating system to boot from USB storage media easily.

Supported platforms: Windows version 6.0+ (Vista or higher).

Tested media type: USB HDD (2.5inch; SATA, IDE), USB Flash (Kingston DataTraveler 100 - 8G)
Notes on tested media:
Kingston DataTraveler 100:
FDD very slow, so I tweaked it by:

1. Install Hitachi Microdrive (Enable multiple partition capability)
2. Install EWF (Faster boot up)
3. Use 2 partitions (C: - Windows(EWF protected), D: Data (writable))
4. Edit registry to make some folder redirect to D: such as - desktop, user's data, etc.

How to use it?
Very easy, just open the program and click on Patch button - everything done.

Screenshots:







Quick tutorial:
Method 1: Virtual machine (OS: Windows Vista, VM: VMware Workstation)

1. Download Vmware Workstation and install it.
   
2. Create a new virtual machine for Windows, choose Custom then pick LSI Logic as SCSI card, use physical DVD-ROM or ISO image as where do you want to install Windows from.
   
3. Have your USB drive plugged in. Use physical disk (Advanced) of your USB drive in VMware. Make sure that you choose the correct physical drive (drive 1 usually) or else you might wipe the current OS drive.
   
4. Use entire disk.
   
5. Click advanced on disk in virtual machine settings. Click on Independent and persistent changes for the disk.
   
6. Now, please remove all assigned letters in disk management(diskmgmt.msc) for the USB drive.
7. Also make sure you format the drive during Vista installation inside VMware. If it is already formatted you still need to format during Vista installation (or else u might get corrupt boot as crcdisk error).
8. Vmware will show that drive as SCSI disk under LSI Logic controller, this is fine as Vista will install on a SCSI disk.
   
9. Boot and go through the Vista install procedure in Vmware.
   
10. Let Vista boot into the desktop for the first time in VMware, after that just launch PWBoot program (you need to copy it to your virtual machine first).
    
11. Click the Patch button on the main PWBoot program.
    
12. Shutdown Windows Vista inside the Vmware.
    
13. Close Vmware.
    
14. Now reboot your machine and select USB boot drive from BIOS boot. Machine should now boot to Vista desktop.

**Tutorial based on: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/204022-v...hard-drive.html


Method 2: Physical machine (OS: Windows Vista, HDD: SATA; 2.5 inch)

1. Plug the Hard disk drive into the physical machine (SATA or IDE).
2. Insert Windows Vista installation DVD and boot from it.
3. Install Windows as usual, to your portable HDD.
4. After installation finished, apply PWBoot Patch.
5. Shutdown Windows and turn off your machine.
6. Take out the HDD and then plug it with interface converter: SATA -> USB, IDE -> USB, etc...
7. Now reboot your machine and select USB boot drive from BIOS boot. Machine should now boot to Vista desktop.

Change Logs:
Version 1.0:
- Initial release.

Version 1.1:
- Core improvement
- Main GUI changes



Download Link:
Version 1.1
http://dhilip89.boot-land.net/files/projec...1.1//PWBoot.exe