Warning this WILL DELETE ALL DATA on the drive
Format Your USB Key
1. Run cmd.exe as administrator
2. Type diskpart
3. Type list disk
4. Type Select Disk #
5. Type Clean
6. Type Create Partition Primary
7. Type Select Partition 1
8. Type Active
9. Type Format FS=Fat32 to format the drive Fat32 or type Format FS=NTFS for NTFS
10. Type Assign
11. Type Exit
Next just copy what ever software on the drive that you want to boot to. I use the above to format a usb drive before I copy the install files for Windows 7 or Windows 8. This comes in handy when you need to load windows on a laptop that does not have a CD Rom drive.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
BIOS Upgrade on DELL Computers WITHOUT a WINDOWS Install
I needed upgrade the bios on a Dell system that didn't have an OS installed on it yet. Came across the below post on how to upgrade the bios without the OS installed. This worked great for me.
Most DELL (or any other brand) of machines have BIOS updates/upgrades from time to time. There have been several projects attempting to solve the issue that arises when attempting to upgrade the BIOS of a DELL computer with no MS Windows O/S on it. However, most of them are defunct (not working anymore).
BTW: You CANNOT upgrade the BIOS from a VirtualBox or a VMWare install - Please DO NOT try this - you need to be running an MS O/S or FreeDOS natively - i.e. on the bare metal.
Therefore, what is the solution? Here's one that I came across that is very easy and straightforward and makes use of the native *.exe BIOS file from DELL.
(This method will also work for any other brand of computer that provides it's BIOS files as *.exe format).
***Dangerous Step is Now Over***
Most DELL (or any other brand) of machines have BIOS updates/upgrades from time to time. There have been several projects attempting to solve the issue that arises when attempting to upgrade the BIOS of a DELL computer with no MS Windows O/S on it. However, most of them are defunct (not working anymore).
BTW: You CANNOT upgrade the BIOS from a VirtualBox or a VMWare install - Please DO NOT try this - you need to be running an MS O/S or FreeDOS natively - i.e. on the bare metal.
Therefore, what is the solution? Here's one that I came across that is very easy and straightforward and makes use of the native *.exe BIOS file from DELL.
(This method will also work for any other brand of computer that provides it's BIOS files as *.exe format).
1) Install unetbootin from Synaptic or CLI.
2) Plug in a USB stick (it does not need to be erased, just to enough room for the FreeDOS and the bios (*.exe) file).
3) Create a FreeDOS bootable USB stick (on the USB stick you just plugged in).
4) Download the latest and greatest DELL_BIOS_MODEL.EXE file for YOUR specific machine from the DELL SUPPORT website from your Ubuntu install.
5) Transfer the DELL_BIOS_MODEL.EXE file to your USB stick.
6) REBOOT your computer and enter the BIOS options (F8 or F12 - usually).
7) Select BOOT from USB before booting from anything else. Hit .
8) Wait for the USB with the FreeDOS to boot.
***THIS NEXT STEP IS IMPORTANT***
9) DO NOT choose to install the FreeDOS - this will erase your HDD and wipe-out your Ubuntu install.
Also, do not choose any of the other special memory boot options.
Just choose boot FreeDOS with no extras.
10) You will get a couple or warnings/errors - its okay to ignore them. When presented with the A:\ prompt, type C: and hit .
11) Type dir and you should get a list of all directories and files on your USB stick.
12) Type DELL_BIOS_MODEL.EXE and hit to execute the BIOS update/upgrade file.
13) DO NOT touch the power (make sure your are plugged in with an A/C adapter if your are using a laptop); follow the on-screen instructions.
14) If necessary after the update/upgrade, enter the BIOS (again, usually F8 or F12) and return the first boot device to what was before (usually the CDROM or HDD).
Original Post: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1901977
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Windows 7 on hyper-v Black Screen
After loading Windows 7 on hyper-v the system would only show a black screen after much searching I found this link with instructions on how to fix the issue. This worked great for me.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/systemcenter/en-US/f324ff98-25ba-4732-87a6-1dada4e8b5e4/windows-7-dont-boot-after-install-hyperv?forum=virtualmachingmgrhyperv
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/systemcenter/en-US/f324ff98-25ba-4732-87a6-1dada4e8b5e4/windows-7-dont-boot-after-install-hyperv?forum=virtualmachingmgrhyperv
1. Create a new Virtual Machine on your Hyper-V (Server 2008 R2).
2. Install Windows 7 from a DVD or an ISO file, whatever makes you happy.
3. On the final reboot of the install, you will, of course, get the above mentioned black screen.
4. Reboot the VM, but this time press a key to boot from the Windows 7 DVD (or boot from your ISO) so that you can get into the repair mode (recovery console/DOS prompt).
5. Type C: to go to the C (boot) drive of your Windows 7 VM.
2. Install Windows 7 from a DVD or an ISO file, whatever makes you happy.
3. On the final reboot of the install, you will, of course, get the above mentioned black screen.
4. Reboot the VM, but this time press a key to boot from the Windows 7 DVD (or boot from your ISO) so that you can get into the repair mode (recovery console/DOS prompt).
5. Type C: to go to the C (boot) drive of your Windows 7 VM.
Here's the magic:
6. Simply type the following command at the recovery console DOS prompt:
bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force
7. type EXIT and then reboot the machine.
7. type EXIT and then reboot the machine.
ENJOY!
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