LastOS AIO (WIP)

I tried Ventoy and it worked ok on some systems (not all), it refused to work with Secure Boot in my tests. So to make a AIO USB I thought about seeing what I could do with multiple install.esd's;

Turns out that you can use Y:\sources\setup.exe /installfrom Y:\Last10\install.wim, but this didn't seem to want to work with .esd files (bugger), so back to the testing...

The 2nd solution was so simple that it made sense... it will use the install.esd from the folder the setup.exe is in, so if you have multiple copies of the setup.exe in multiple folders it will just use the one in with it.

Then I thought(Maybe Microsoft's documentation was wrong:

It's actually

such a simple fix, so now I can make multiple installers on the desktop with Windows WIM files (LTSC will still require the different setup.exe folder to include the ei.cfg as this file screws up PRO versions and without it LTSC wont install... so the solution is a combination of both my methods, but I'll only need the 2 lots of setup files (one for LTSC and one for Pro/HOME etc).

Just the thought of one PE that has all Windows on the one USB is a handy idea IMO.

 

I have had some secure boot systems require the USB be FAT32 formatted before it would boot, a work around for this might be to put the \sources\boot.wim and boot files onto a fat32 partition and simply put all the rest of LastXX onto the 2nd partition, it works fine like this. If I decide to do a AIO I'll be sure to make a ISO that will be installable to a single partition, but this solution may suit some people and is an easy mod.

 

I just had another thought, the Y:\ drive is in fact writable on USB disks, so it would be easy to make a ei.cfg file using a script, but I am happy to include 2 lots of setup files

 

I am making the MakeShortcuts in ppAppsLive make the Icons on the desktop with the correct location/images.

I'll make the FirstLogon.cmd open the correct $Scripts folder based on the Selected OS, this will allow custom $PostInstall etc to be set in them too. So it'll be a AIO solution.

 

Here is the results so far

-EDIT-

LTSC is still being a pain, I might have to change it to be in the sources and move the pro to sources_Pro instead.

-EDIT-

My Bad the key I provided was not right - working fine

-EDIT-

Also you can include ei.cfg in the same sources folder and the Pro images work too, bonus, never used to work in win 8.

-EDIT-

Yep, tested as working now, you can have AIO in the one source folder and include ei.cfg and all version will install Pro or LTSC

 

Ventoy also uses linux to load ISO,WIM etc. But like I said it fails to secure boot, making it not work right on Surfaces or other locked down hardware (if you can call it that).

I know Trouba hates the SetMaxResolution in VM's, but I really like it in real hardware as it allows me to do the backups etc a LOT easier than a 800x600 screen allows, anyways, the newer Win10XPE project files break it from working at all, so I have to figure out why and/or revert my builder back to an older version.

Instead of having xml's for every language I may look at making it ask which Language you want before making the shortcuts - if more than one language is detected, this will allow only one icon per OS.

I don't think it's worth including Windows 8, but a windows 7 may be worth messing with to include? been a LOOONG time since I played with that beast, but Trouba has a nice fresh Win 7 image I can try it with.

 

I think Freezer has a Windows 9 (ie 8) that he likes that might be worth including, just to have all the options available.

 

I got the SetMaxRes fixed and I made the selector for picking the install Locations (it defaults to All), Not the prettiest thing, but it's opened sourced so if anyone wants to make it prettier or I get motivated later, it can be improved... It just makes less Icons on the desktop - so not a huge reason to have it, I haven't tested but if you only have one location it will not show the Locations Selector and just make shortcuts.

 

AutoUnattend XML addition:

Code:

<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>9</Order>
                    <Description>Set OS Installed</Description>
                    <Path>reg add &quot;HKLM\SOFTWARE\ssTek&quot; /v &quot;OSInstalled&quot; /t REG_SZ /d Picnic10 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>

This is how I am detecting which OS you install, without a lot of messing about... then I should be able to grab it out using FirstLogon.cmd and run the correct scripts for the end OS to do the $PostLogon, $Tweaks etc for each OS.

-EDIT-

Example Script:

Code:

@echo off
for /F "tokens=3" %%A in ('reg query "HKLM\Software\ssTek" /v "OSInstalled"') DO set "OSInstalled=%%A
IF "%OSInstalled%"=="Last11-v2" goto :Last11v2
IF "%OSInstalled%"=="Picnic10" goto :Picnic10
IF "%OSInstalled%"=="Picnic11" goto :Picnic11
goto :End

:Last11v2
echo Here is Last11-v2
Goto :End

:Picnic10
echo Here is Picnic10
Goto :End

:Picnic11
echo Here is Picnic11
Goto :End

:End
pause

Actual Script: sources\$OEM$\$$\Setup\Scripts\FirstLogon.cmd:

Code:

@ECHO OFF
MODE CON COLS=80 LINES=2
title LastOS Installer
for /F "tokens=3" %%A in ('reg query "HKLM\Software\ssTek" /v "OSInstalled"') DO set "OSInstalled=%%A
IF "%OSInstalled%"=="Last11-v2" goto :Last11v2
IF "%OSInstalled%"=="Picnic10" goto :Picnic10
IF "%OSInstalled%"=="Picnic11" goto :Picnic11
goto :End
:Last11v2
rem ** Run FirstLogon.cmd from C: **
FOR %%i IN (Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C) DO IF EXIST "%%i:\sources\$Scripts\FirstLogon.cmd" (SET CDROM=%%i:& goto DONECD)
Goto :End
:DONECD
IF "%CDROM%"=="" (goto dudend)
rem ** Run FirstLogon.cmd from DVD/USB **
%CDROM%
cd\
cd %CDROM%\sources\$Scripts
%CDROM%\sources\$Scripts\FirstLogon.cmd
goto :realend
:dudend
echo Unable to find X:\sources\$Scripts\FirstLogon.cmd > "C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Automation_Failed.txt"
echo did you remove your USB or DVD before setup had completed? >> "C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Automation_Failed.txt"
Goto :End
:Picnic10
rem ** Run FirstLogon.cmd from C: **
C:
cd\
cd C:\Windows\Setup\LastOS\$Scripts
C:\Windows\Setup\LastOS\$Scripts\FirstLogon.cmd
Goto :End
:Picnic11
rem ** Run FirstLogon.cmd from C: **
C:
cd\
cd C:\Windows\Setup\LastOS\$Scripts
C:\Windows\Setup\LastOS\$Scripts\FirstLogon.cmd
Goto :End
:End
:realend

As I'd already separated out the Scripts in the PicnicOS's, I was able to just bypass the USB/DVD one and only call them when picking Last11-v2 to install.... Testing it now, but it should work as expected.

PicnicOS's already point directly to the C:\Windows\setup\LastOS\FirstLogon.cmd, so I'll leave them alone, but my script really doesn't need it for those 2 as it never gets ran, but any other OS's can make use of the methods, so I'll leave it for examples.

 

Drat the MaxRes isn't playing on real hardware, it's temperamental, I am gonna ignore it for now and keep working on other things... annoying but.

-EDIT-

Seemed to work fine on my main system, just not the Surface Tablet... Still doesn't seem to let you change the res post boot, but does at least change it on logon.

-EDIT-

Last7 Added, testing up all right so far.

 

Just thought I'd share my day of working on this and making it work for me.

I am curious if anyone else needs such a USB AIO (is it worth me sharing any of the files etc?) I know that most of us have our preferred OS and not all of us are installing 10's of machines and generally only have under 10 to maintain ourselves, but if anyone does want this I'm willing to share the ISO or just the skeleton to add your existing LastOS images... I am not sure, but I wanted to document it as I have got to the stage in my life where things don't stick around in my memory anymore and it's better to write it down.

 

Of course, do share, if it isn't too much/complex to create a template for it (and maybe some pointers).

 

Here is the builder/overlay tool, comes with a readme.

It does require you have my later releases and if you don't include a ISO it'll delete the xml so they wont be shown, you really do require Last11_v2 though as it populates the whole ISO with the setup files etc it needs.

 

Let me know if you have trouble making the bootable ISO, I could make it use the ISO creator from Win10XPE as a separate script.

 

Okay, will do. I'll download the .iso overnight. Been going through intensive training, having very little time right now so it may take a few days.

 

You could put any OS that uses WIM/ESD, there is ways to get Linux installable too, but I really don't feel Linux users care about using a WinPE to install from

 

https://forums.mydigitallife.net/th...t-winpe-boot-image-x86-and-x64-support.80549/

I found this cool script that allowed me to include a Standard boot.wim and our WinPE boot.wim... this means it can be used to install a OS on a PC with less than 2GB of ram, or even to offer a AIO with x86 and x64 PE/OS's etc

Anyway, thought I'd share it as I'll be using it myself for the Low RAM PC installs.

 

Code:

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: Automatically check & get admin rights
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
@echo off
CLS
ECHO.
ECHO =============================
ECHO Running Admin shell
ECHO =============================
:checkPrivileges
NET FILE 1>NUL 2>NUL
if '%errorlevel%' == '0' ( goto gotPrivileges ) else ( goto getPrivileges )
:getPrivileges
if '%1'=='ELEV' (shift & goto gotPrivileges)
ECHO.
ECHO **************************************
ECHO Invoking UAC for Privilege Escalation
ECHO **************************************
setlocal DisableDelayedExpansion
set "batchPath=%~0"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
ECHO Set UAC = CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^) > "%temp%\OEgetPrivileges.vbs"
ECHO UAC.ShellExecute "!batchPath!", "ELEV", "", "runas", 1 >> "%temp%\OEgetPrivileges.vbs"
"%temp%\OEgetPrivileges.vbs"
exit /B
:gotPrivileges
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::START
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
setlocal & pushd .
REM put here code as you like
@ECHO OFF
TITLE WinPE Dual Boot - LastOS
COLOR F0
pushd "%~dp0"
SET BCDSTORE=%~dp0Boot\BCD
SET LAST11=sources\boot.wim
SET WIM64=sources\bootmin.wim
if not exist %BCDSTORE% goto END
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /enum | find "osdevice" > GUID.txt
For /F "tokens=2 delims={}" %%i in (GUID.txt) do (set _NEWGUID=%%i)
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /set {default} device ramdisk=[boot]\%LAST11%,{%_NEWGUID%}
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /set {default} osdevice ramdisk=[boot]\%LAST11%,{%_NEWGUID%}
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /set {default} description "Last11"
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /copy {default} /d "Standard PE" > GUID2.txt
For /F "tokens=2 delims={}" %%i in (GUID2.txt) do (set _NEWGUID2=%%i)
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /set {%_NEWGUID2%} device ramdisk=[boot]\%WIM64%,{%_NEWGUID%}
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /set {%_NEWGUID2%} osdevice ramdisk=[boot]\%WIM64%,{%_NEWGUID%}
bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /deletevalue {default} bootmenupolicy
if exist GUID.txt DEL GUID.txt
if exist GUID2.txt DEL GUID2.txt
:END
pause
exit

I put this on my USB stick with Last11_v4 and run it
I then copy a standard (slightly modded boot.wim to the sources folder renamed to "bootmin.wim"
I then used EasyBCD to enable a 5 seconds countdown (script could be modded to do this, but I just figured it all out and wanted to share it. Always wanted a compatible DUAL boot menu USB key.. this is how.

-EDIT-

Code:

bcdedit /store %BCDSTORE% /timeout 5

I added this just above the "If exist GUID.txt" line, I've not confirmed it's correct yet, but assume it'll work.

 

Pretty huge download, will see what it is once it's in

-EDIT-

I see, it is a modern Hirens boot CD, but has a lot, it offers UEFI and CSM boot methods, so would work as a good option for 2 USB sticks (32GB+).

I am building one to test on a laptop, will see how it performs, if the Ventoy causes any slowdowns I'll probably stick to my Dual boot method I currently use as my work is more about backups and unlocking and then installing, not so much recovery and virus removal - I prefer to keep what I need and start fresh than to spend ages trying to get an existing OS working again.