Sean-Ward.com

At work, we use a tool called Ultimate Boot CD for Windows (UBCD). What this does is allows us to place the CD into a computer that isn’t booting, such as with malware issues, missing .dll files, etc, but not hardware issues, and boot up a version of Windows that is loaded into the system’s memory. By doing this, we can then edit the registry, even if there is malware that would hide the registry entry via a rootkit, delete problem causing files, such as worms that have a known file name, and even back up the files to an external USB HD, so that a client’s information can be saved prior to a format of an otherwise dead system.

I had been asked by my boss, as well as searching independently prior to his asking, for a way to laod the UBCD version of Windows off of a USB drive instead. I had found some sites that gave ways to attempt it, such as Windows In Your Pocket off of Tom’s Hardware, but for whatever reason, that method proved to not work. Earlier this week I decided to give it another go, and I managed to find a program that would make a USB drive bootable and then load a BartPE (Bart Preinstalled Environment) installation onto it. BartPE is what the UBCD is built around, with the UBCD adding many more plugins and other tools to BartPE.

In order to do this, you will need the items listed below. I’m am going to mention the items needed to create the UBCD build as well.

1. Follow the directions on how to build the UBCD4Win:
   1. A Windows XP CD, with at least Service Pack 1. I know that at BGSU, the bookstore is selling Windows XP on DVDs. I imagine that it really doesn’t affect the process, but don’t quote me on that. If your CD does not have Service Pack 1, you could the service pack and create a bootable CD.
   2. BartPE, UBCD4Win, and the UBCD4Win drivers, from the UBCD4Win download page.
2. Download PeToUSB and extract it to a folder on your hard drive.

Now that’s left is to follow the directions for building the UBCD4Win and then the readme file for Boot BartPE from USB, and eventually, you’ll have a bootable USB ready to go. I personally used a 512MB Cruzer Titanium. The only downside was that I ended up only having 70MB free once everything was said and done. As UBCD4Win has more on it than BartPE, you could remove items you don’t need from UBCD4Win, or just use BartPE, to get more available room on the USB. Prior to placing UBCD4Win on the USB drive, I had placed BartPE on it, and it worked no problem.

Yes, not every computer out there can boot from USB, but most computers made in the last couple years can. So, if you are going to be working on older computers, you should make sure you have a actual UBCD around.

Now I have a bootable version of Windows with me on my keychain where ever I go.