We can't explain the universe, just describe it; and we don't know whether our theories are true, we just know they're not wrong. >Harald Lesch
At work I have a stupid simple problem (or so I've thought):
I want to create a bootable CD or USB Stick that automatically (no user input or just a security warning that needs to be acknowledged) formats the first partition ( C:\ drive ).
So far all my attempts have either failed to create a working boot medium (Hiren's / Bart's) (wrong burning settings? -- I'm using CDBurnerXP but can use any free burner) or are not detecting the hard drive (Free DOS) or are only free for personal use (NTFS4DOS).
I guess if I get to a command prompt I can easily find some format.com that can be run from autoexec.bat, so I mainly need instructions which OS bundle to download and exactly with which settings I have to burn it / put it on the stick.
Heck I'd even take a linux solution as long as you add instructions how to automate the format command.
It should be possible to put in a hiren's boot USB, add a custom .cmd script, and go, but I don't know how to automatically format the first hard drive.
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd-on-usb-diskthis is how to get a bootable usb disk.
"Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman - do we have to call the Gentleman a gentleman if he's not one?"
As far as a Windows-based boot disk, that would have diskpart on it, which can be scripted. I would be careful about doing this automatically if it is going to be used for computers where the partition layout is unknown, unless the intention is to completely wipe any and possibly all drive(s) in the system. The layout can appear different when booting from another device or OS in a multi-drive or multi-partition system. In a multi-drive system, specifically the device order of the drives may be different when booting from a different drive. As for partitions, they can be in a different order than the drive letters that Windows assigned, and that same drive letter order is unlikely to be picked up automatically by an OS on another drive or partition.
None.
We can't explain the universe, just describe it; and we don't know whether our theories are true, we just know they're not wrong. >Harald Lesch
As far as a Windows-based boot disk, that would have diskpart on it, which can be scripted. I would be careful about doing this automatically if it is going to be used for computers where the partition layout is unknown, unless the intention is to completely wipe any and possibly all drive(s) in the system. The layout can appear different when booting from another device or OS in a multi-drive or multi-partition system. In a multi-drive system, specifically the device order of the drives may be different when booting from a different drive. As for partitions, they can be in a different order than the drive letters that Windows assigned, and that same drive letter order is unlikely to be picked up automatically by an OS on another drive or partition.
I'm aware of that. The PCs that would be treated with the CD are all exactly the same, so I would just need to find out the drive letter of the Windows C:\ drive when booted from the respective medium and could just format it.
It's 2 or 3 partitions, some hidden, so it's likely either C:\ or D:\ .
I'll try your tutorial, rockz, and then report back.
EDIT:
It boots into a menu, not into a command prompt. So I need instructions on what to do to go around and into a command prompt that (hopefully) runs an autoexec.bat.
Post has been edited 2 time(s), last time on Aug 8 2013, 9:35 am by NudeRaider.
edit isolinux.cfg
There might be a way to only use 1 item and automatically press enter for you. Otherwise, it's just f12, boot to usb, enter.
"Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman - do we have to call the Gentleman a gentleman if he's not one?"
We can't explain the universe, just describe it; and we don't know whether our theories are true, we just know they're not wrong. >Harald Lesch
I'd like to revive this as I'm going to give it a shot again.
Gonna try my luck with hirens + altered isolinux.cfg but I'd prefer a simpler solution. Seems overkill to download several hundreds of megabytes of tools that won't ever be used just to get into a ntfs command prompt that can format a drive.
Isn't there something like in the old DOS/FAT times where I make a disc bootable, put the OS files on it and have it run an autoexec.bat?!
EDIT:
Ugh... okay I delved deeper into that matter and now I at least understand why it's so difficult. DOS simply wasn't made for USB CD drives / pen drives and doesn't speak NTFS so for every "feature" I need an extra driver which may or may not work depending on my hardware. So there's many roadblocks to overcome and if just 1 checkpoint fails it won't work at all.
Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Oct 18 2013, 4:22 pm by NudeRaider.
you can delete all of the extra hiren's stuff. Once you get it working, you make a CD as well and then if you have USB issues, you use the CD.
"Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman - do we have to call the Gentleman a gentleman if he's not one?"
We can't explain the universe, just describe it; and we don't know whether our theories are true, we just know they're not wrong. >Harald Lesch
Had trouble finding the the download for the .iso on Hiren's homepage so I went with this first:
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootablecd (create a MS-DOS boot CD)
But despite using ntfs4dos which enabled access to the HDD I couldn't format because any format.com I used either was wrong OS or refused to format the NTFS drive (even though I'd only need it to be formatted as FAT).
Downloading the full CD from another site now. Already sifting through documentation on how to alter the menu.
Wish me luck.
Apparently he doesn't host it himself.
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/Mini XP is not technically legal I think.
"Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman - do we have to call the Gentleman a gentleman if he's not one?"
We can't explain the universe, just describe it; and we don't know whether our theories are true, we just know they're not wrong. >Harald Lesch
Mini XP is not technically legal I think.
Not even when I provide a valid key?
I never knew minixp actually took a key. I always use it for like a day.
"Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman - do we have to call the Gentleman a gentleman if he's not one?"
We can't explain the universe, just describe it; and we don't know whether our theories are true, we just know they're not wrong. >Harald Lesch
Not sure how to let it "take" the key either but I always thought the CD was independent from the actual license. E.G. that it'd be legal to install XP from a backup of your corporate edition (volume license key) CD despite it being a copy.
Or in other words it doesn't matter where you got the CD from (MS now lets you dl Windows for free anyway) as long as you have a valid key.
