What is the minimum possible WinXP installation ?

[Patches Forever]

I have been experimenting with different boot managers. One called GRUB and
one called XOSL. I think XOSL is buggy. GRUB is very interesting - I have
a lot to learn. I am interested to tinker with WinXP boot loader
capabilities. Possibly there is some minimum way to install WinXP and use
the boot files without needing to have the software activated. I've never
let an installation go for 30 days without activating. What does it do ?
If it still boots then maybe that's enough. But I don't know what it will
do. Also, is there some way to get just the XP file system set up so the
boot files can be accessed? Just that and nothing more. Is there some real
bare bones boot up?

You know what I mean? Like Win9x you could get there if you just had the
bootsector and file system set up on the disk and had IO.SYS waiting there.
But Win9x could just boot IO.SYS

Maybe I just need to format a partition for NTFS and copy the appropriate
WinXP boot loader files there.

I know my question is ridiculous - but I am interested just the same.

Please help.

Bill S.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below.

I have been experimenting with different boot managers. One called GRUB and
one called XOSL. I think XOSL is buggy.

No, it is not if you know how to use it. I have used it with
great success for years.

GRUB is very interesting - I have a lot to learn. I am interested
to tinker with WinXP boot loader capabilities.

It is extremely basic.

Possibly there is some minimum way to install WinXP and use
the boot files without needing to have the software activated. I've never
let an installation go for 30 days without activating. What does it do ?
If it still boots then maybe that's enough. But I don't know what it will
do.

Once the activation period has expired, you cannot logon unless
you active Windows.

Also, is there some way to get just the XP file system set up so the
boot files can be accessed?

What do you mean?

Just that and nothing more. Is there some real bare bones boot up?

No, there is not. It's the GUI or nothing, unless you boot into the
Recovery Console.

You know what I mean? Like Win9x you could get there if you just had the
bootsector and file system set up on the disk and had IO.SYS waiting there.
But Win9x could just boot IO.SYS

This would give you a DOS Prompt because Win98 was built on
DOS. WinXP is not built on DOS, hence no DOS prompt.

Maybe I just need to format a partition for NTFS and copy the appropriate
WinXP boot loader files there.

Won't work.

I know my question is ridiculous - but I am interested just the same.

Please help.

Bill S.

It would help if you stated clearly your ultimate aim.

You can access the WinXP file system without running WinXP by
booting the machine with a Bart PE boot CD.

 

[Patches Forever]

one called XOSL. I think XOSL is buggy.

No, it is not if you know how to use it. I have used it with
great success for years.

XOSL can be sensitive to the BIOS in your PC. XOSL doesn't seem to like
certain keyboards and mice. I know that from experience with a variety of
(mostly old) hardware and from reading extensively in the XOSL users group.

No, there is not. It's the GUI or nothing, unless you boot into the
Recovery Console.

I haven't done that yet. I don't have much experience with XP.

It would help if you stated clearly your ultimate aim.

My aim is to learn by tinkering and experimenting.

You can access the WinXP file system without running WinXP by
booting the machine with a Bart PE boot CD.

I will look into that. Is that Bart like in Bart's SCSI Tools?

Thanks. Bill S.

 

[John Wunderlich]

I will look into that. Is that Bart like in Bart's SCSI Tools?

Bart PE as in "Pre-installed Environment".
<http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BartPE>

Also of interest is the "Ultimate Boot CD for Windows" which is
built on Bart PE:
<http://www.ubcd4win.com/>

HTH,
John