
Using QEMU or Virtual Box for testing
TEST USING A REAL SYSTEM IF A VM DOES NOT APPEAR TO WORK AS EXPECTED.ALWAYS RE-TEST USING A REAL SYSTEM TO ENSURE IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY IN REAL LIFE!
If testing Windows Install ISOs using a Virtual Machine, ensure that you set 2GB RAM or more in the VM.
QEMU_MENU_TEST (run as admin).cmd
- You can use this to select a .imgPTN file from the E2B menu and switch to it (or just use \SWITCH_E2B.exe). If Windows Explorer does not show you the new USB drive contents after switching to a .imgPTN image, unplug and reconnect the E2B USB drive.
- 64-bit OS's cannot be run.
- Because QEMU emulates a CPU, it is quite slow to run.
- File writes to USB are temporary - e.g. any files that are changed whilst running under QEMU will not be permanently changed.
QEMU (in RMPrepUSB)
Oracle Virtual Box
I highly recommend using Virtual Box v5.2 + VMUB (I use this for all my E2B boot testing!).
Setup VBox using these instructions --> How to use Da vidB's Virtual Machine USB Boot application.
Download VMUB h e re.
Tip: Create an Administrator shortcut on your TaskBar for VMUB. Always launch Oracle VBOX Manager using the button on VMUB.
First make a VM in Oracle VBox with just one SATA virtual hard disk at SATA Port 1 and leave SATA Port 0 free. Then run VMUB and create a new entry and set your E2B USB drive as the First USB drive. When you click on Start in VMUB, the USB drive will be dismounted and the VM will then gain full read/write access to the USB drive.
Make sure you run VBox and VMUB with Administrator privileges - I suggest you set up shortcuts for each one with the Run as Admin box ticked.
I reccomend you do not use VBox v6 until a new version of VMUB is available, use VBox v5.Workaround for VBox v6 (--startvm error):
VMUB - Options - VirtualBox - Exe Path = C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VMUB.cmdSee blog post here.
UEFI
Running E2B under VBox+VMUB or QEMU
- The E2B USB drive will appear as Drive 0 even after booting to Windows or Linux.
- The E2B USB drive will appear as a IDE\SATA\RAID drive in the VM and not as a USB drive
- The E2B USB drive will appear as a Fixed disk and not as a Removable device.
- XML files will not be automatically used by Windows Install ISOs because the USB drive is not seen as a 'Removable' drive by WinPE ('CD/DVD drive driver required' message is seen). If E2B uses WIMBOOT however, the XML file will be used (E2B v1.A8).
- Add set NOHELPER= to the end of the MyE2B.cfg file
- The QEMU\VBox virtual BIOSes do not have the 137GB USB access BIOS bug - but some real systems do!
VMWare
Do not use Plop! - Plop! uses a read-only USB driver stack. Unless you have write access under the VM, E2B will not work, which is why Plop! is not suitable to use to boot from an E2B USB drive - see FAQ for more details.
If you boot to E2B using Plop! then hold down the SHIFT key as E2B boots to load the grub4dos USB 2.0 driver or see here for more details on using Plop!
Windows Vista/7/8/10 Installs under a VM
- The system should contain more than 1300MB of RAM (system memory).
- The ISO must be a standard Microsoft Windows Install ISO.
4. Now run loadiso by typing E:\_ISO\e2b\firadisk\loadiso.cmd - a blue console window should open - if then prompted to Repair Windows, just hit ENTER.
Note that the XML file contents will be ignored in this case.
Note that Windows may overwrite the MBR and PBR of the E2B USB drive if it is HDD0 in the VM.
Installing Windows 7/8/10 using XML files
If you want to use a Product Key or unattended install settings, please see this page.
If using a 'DiskWipe' automated unattend XML file, when the virtual hard disk is configured as HDD1 and the USB drive as HDD0 (as with VBox+VMUB) you will need to use a 'WipeDisk1' XML file because a 'WipeDisk0' XML file will cause the E2B drive to be erased by Windows Setup!
Recommended for Easy2Boot (fastest flash drive!)
SanDisk Extreme SDCZ880-128G-G46
- Home
- Start & Intro
- Quick Setup Guide >>>
- DOWNLOADS >>>
- YouTube videos
- Tutorials and How To's
-
Make a USB drive >>>
- Make a multi-partition E2B USB drive using RMPrepUSB
- Use an existing USB HDD for E2B
- Use LINUX to make an E2B drive + defrag
- How to Update E2B
- How to make a WINHELPER USB Flash Drive (fix 'Required DVD drive driver is missing')
- Multiple partitions on a USB Flash drive
- Using other partitions or drives
- Backup/Restore/Copy (clone) any E2B USB drive
- Make and burn an E2B DVD
- Using E2B with a Zalman/IODD
- Add E2B to your own grub4dos USB drive
- How to remove E2B
- E2B Menu system
- UEFI booting from E2B
-
Adding Payload Files and Using E2B >>>
- Make files CONTIGUOUS
- File Extensions recognised by E2B
- UEFI+MBR and how to make .imgPTN files
- MakePartImage and how to change the CSM Menu
- UEFI-Multiboot and rEFInd
- Using SWITCH_E2B with .imgPTN files
- Using the \_ISO\AUTO folder
-
WINDOWS payloads >>
- E2B USB HDD - Installing Windows with a 'WinHelper' drive
- Windows XP Install ISOs
- Install XP 32-bit + disk drivers (DPMS)
- Install XP using WinPE (one step process)
- Add XP Install ISOs using WinSetupFromUSB
- Windows Vista/7 Install ISOs
- UEFI boot from Windows 7 Install ISOs
- Windows 8/10 Install ISOs
- Unattended Installs
- XMLtoE2B.exe (Unattend.XML files)
- Adding >4GB Windows Install ISOs using .imgPTN files
- Automating Windows Installs from .imgPTN files
- Split_WinISO
- Add Windows ISOs to partition 2
- Windows AIO ISOs
- WindowsToGo
- WinNTSetup
- WinLite10 XML files
- SDI_CHOCO (install drivers, apps and updates) >>
- .VHD and .WIM files
- PassPass (bypass the Windows Password)
- Hack into Windows OS (UtilMan.exe)
- Windows 2000
- Multipoint Server
- Add the latest XP drivers (DPMS)
- Add a Windows Install menu entry
- LINUX payloads >>
- MSDart ERD ISOs
- WinBuilder, Medicat, Gandalf and WinPE ISOs
- Hirens/Strelec/DLC/F4 ISOs
- DOS (MS-DOS and FreeDOS)
- HAIKU
- MAC OS X
- FreeBSD
- MOVE_IMGPTN
- List of tested ISOs\payloads (with instructions)
-
Configure E2B >>>
- Menu settings (quick reference)
- E2B Menu Demo
- E2B_Editor
- E2B files and folders explained
- MyE2B.cfg - E2B configuration file >>
- Change the payload menu entries and help text using a .txt file
- Change the order of the menu entries
- Change the background wallpaper
- Different background wallpaper for each menu
- Default Menu and Timeout
- Change the Language, Headings, Menu and text
- Changing the default E2B menu entry order
- 'Change File Extension' prompt (Auto-Suggest)
- Change the Keyboard Layout
- About .mnu files
- Sample .mnu files
- PimpMyDrive.cmd
- Reduce the E2B messages
- Add a new Sub-Menu folder
- Stamps, Animation and Tunes
- Draw lines and boxes on the screen
- Write text to the menu screen
- Global Hotkeys
- Themes (Skins)
- Fonts
- Speeding up E2B (inc. FASTLOAD)
- One Single Menu
- The E2B F1 Help menu
- Add your own Help Menu
- Add Help text files (.help)
- Add Windows Install ISOs to the Main Menu
- Change the Windows Install Menu
- Passwords and Security
- Hide Payloads and Menu Entries
- Guest Mode
- GFX Boot Menus
- Dual Booting
- Change the CSM .imgPTN Menu
- Configure Clover
- Right-to-Left Languages
- Create new language files
- How to modify LOADISO.CMD (Repair message)
- UEFI - things you should know!
-
FAQ, Info, TroubleShooting, QEMU and Virtual Machines >>>
- 'File Not Contiguous' and 'Too Many Fragments' Errors
- 137GB 'BAD BIOS' bug
- TroubleShooting E2B
- E2B Error Messages
- Grub4dos Error Numbers
- Common problems with payload files
- Repair a corrupt E2B drive
- Known Issues and Bugs
- Slow and buggy BIOSes
- How E2B Works
- QEMU and Virtual Machines >>
- Using VBOX with a WinHelper USB drive
- Debugging E2B
- CONTIG.ISO
- ISOBOOT
- WIMBOOT (iPXE)
- grub4dos
- Useful resources
- Removable v. Fixed
- Gallery
- Guestbook
- Forum
- Blog
- Grub2 Menu System (UEFI_GRUB2_PTN2)
- Site Map
- eBooks
- Contact Me >>>
- Donate
- Licensing
- Privacy policy (GDPR)
- Bespoke design service