Using DISKPART

Hi,

I want to install Vista via USB Drive, when I followed the instrucitons to do DISKPART, it tried to enter "list part", but apparently, it only shows my hard drive as disk #0, my USB Drive does not even show up at all. Anyone would kindy help me with this problem? Thank you.

 

I don't knwo what causes the problem in diskpart, but there is another way to get the install files to the USB-stick. What you really do in disk part is to format the disk in FAT32 and then copt all files from the Vista DVD to the USB. You can do all this through explorer. Start by right-clicking your USB-stick and choose format.. the do a complete format and after that copy the files with simple ctrl+c -> ctrl+v.

 

Thx! I actually did that, but the problem is, my AA1 will not book from the USB DISK...so I cannot install Vista via this method.

I guess I should try with another USB Disk :|

Thx!

 

While that will copy the files to the USB drive, it doesn't make the USB drive bootable. That's what the 'active' command in diskpart does.

I'm not sure why some USB devices work and others don't - whether it has to do with the size or something else. What kind of drive are you using (flash drive, USB HDD, etc.)?

 

Ok, that was the only command I hadn't figured out what it really did.
Strangely enough my stick worked without it!

 

See my tutorial at http://jblarg.blogspot.com/2008/08/inst ... ndows.html

To make a USB device bootable, you need to insert your Vista/Win2008 DVD into another computer, load cmd.exe and type x:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 y: /mbr

 

You should be able to use the HP USB Format Tool, right?

 

In WIn XP diskpart only shows the hdd as drive number 0, not the usb stick. In order to get it working, boot from the Vista DVD - Press next - Select Computer repair options (something like that, I use a German VIsta)- Next - Select console (or run dialog).

There you can use "diskpart" - "select disk 1" - detail disk to check if it is the usb drive - "clean" - "create partition primary" - "select partition 1"- "active" - "format fs=fat32"
"detail disk" (to see which letter assigned, mine was g under windows and f there) - "exit"

console again- "robocopy E: F: /MIR /W:O /R:O" - where E: is your dvd drive and F: the usb stick - "exit". That takes a while..

Now stick the usb stick into the One and install just like from cd.

I recommend formatting the usb stick before using the vista dvd (I got an error message saying not enough space to create partition first time.
If you use the One with the SSD, you have to use a lited version as I got the error message something like at least 8192 MB of disk space needed for installation.

Hope that helps.

(found the instructions on chip.de, a German computer magazine)

EDIT: I think this post should be added to the thread: Vista Installation using USB stick. But it is closed.