Add wimboot support for GRUB2 EFI (GRUB2 linuxefi bzImage / UEFI binary check) about grub

[steve6375]

See www.rmprepusb.com tutorial 145

[a1ive]

Download binary version for windows: https://github.com/aIive/builds
run build_grub.bat to build grubx64.efi.
create grub2 menu file /boot/grub/grub.cfg
add this to menu:

menuentry "wimboot" {
  wimboot @:bcd:/path/to/bcd @:boot.sdi:/path/to/boot.sdi @:bootmgfw.efi:/path/to/bootx64.efi @:boot.wim:/path/to/win10.wim
}

[a1ive]

This should not happen.
You should rename it to "bootx64.efi" if there are no preloader or shim efi files.
Or you should rename and copy grubia32.efi to flash drive if the uefi firmware is 32bit.

[steve6375]

Change the order so that wim file is first, then bcd then sdi.

[steve6375]

re. Secure Boot. You would have to use a Shim and MokManager which doesn't always work and also programs the target systems NVRAM. So basically I recommend always disable Secure Boot.
re. mapping ISO - yes, I already gave you tutorial for direct boot from ISO - See www.rmprepusb.com tutorial 145
https://www.rmprepusb.com/tutorials/145-grub2winiso

[Sporesirius]

I'm not familiar with linux kernel, so maybe it will require a lot of work.

I don't know how complicated such a check would be.

Actually, porting wimboot as a grub module should be a better solution, and someone has implemented this feature.

Yeah, a GRUB2 module would be the best.

grub2x64.zip
Here you can try it.
For example:
runudm @bcd=/test/bcd @boot.sdi=/test/boot.sdi @bootx64.efi=/test/bootx64.efi @boot.wim=/test/win10.wim

Okay thanks, i'll take a look.

Unfortunately, the author refused to publish the source code.
http://bbs.wuyou.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=373513

:(

[a1ive]

I can't make the module work properly. I hope someone can help me.

[jamefane]

I think we should first try to port wimboot to grub2 bios and then to UEFI.

[a1ive]

I think we should first try to port wimboot to grub2 bios and then to UEFI.

I don't know assembly languages. I would very appreciate it if you could help me.

[jamefane]

Hello,
I'm sorry, but I don't have much time to help.
Anyway isn't it easier to fix GRUB2 EFI to start wimboot EFI instead of porting wimboot?

[a1ive]

0ee7eb8
801e63f
The "wimboot" module is working now. I've tested on VmWare & my PC.
a modified version of ipxe-wimboot is embeded in the module.
modified wimboot source code: https://github.com/a1ive/wimboot

[a1ive]

Usage:

wimboot [--gui] [--rawbcd] [--rawwim] [--pause] [--index=n] @:boot.wim:/path/to/test.wim @:bootmgfw.efi:/path/to/test.efi @:bcd:/path/to/bcd @:boot.sdi:/path/to/boot.sdi
   * params:
   *         --gui or -g  Display graphical boot messages.
   *         --rawbcd or -b Disable rewriting .exe to .efi in the BCD file.
   *         --rawwim or -w Disable patching the wim file.
   *         --pause or -p
   *         --index=n or -i n Use WIM image index n.

[steve6375]

Can extra files such as winpeshl.ini be inserted into X:\windows\system32 in the same way that can be done with iPXE wimboot ? This would be essential if trying to directly boot from Windows Install ISOs for instance.

[a1ive]

Can extra files such as winpeshl.ini be inserted into X:\windows\system32 in the same way that can be done with iPXE wimboot ? This would be essential if trying to directly boot from Windows Install ISOs for instance.

yes

[guimenez]

Please, can you help me how to make wimboot work in UEFI mode?
Thank you.

[guimenez]

Thank you.
I will try it in the weekend.
Still can't boot floppy images in UEFI mode?
I have a program to test disks that work in dos mode and I can't find any that works in UEFI :(

[steve6375]

Dos , xp and other real mode os's that depend on a BIOS will never work under uefi !!!

[guimenez]

I was thinking that it can be emulated has a BIOS.
But I think it will be impossible.
Let's hope that developers make HDD diagnostics tests with UEFI support.
Thanks

[a1ive]

Why not boot a tiny linux kernel and emulate a BIOS machine through QEMU (KVM)?

[guimenez]

Does the QEMU will recognize the physical HDD from machine to make hdd diagnostics?

[guimenez]

Download binary version for windows: https://github.com/aIive/builds
run build_grub.bat to build grubx64.efi.
create grub2 menu file /boot/grub/grub.cfg
add this to menu:

menuentry "wimboot" {
  wimboot @:bcd:/path/to/bcd @:boot.sdi:/path/to/boot.sdi @:bootmgfw.efi:/path/to/bootx64.efi @:boot.wim:/path/to/win10.wim
}

I've compile the grubx64.efi and copy it to EFI/BOOT
but when i start my flashdrive it says "can't find command wimboot"
I'm missing something?
Thanks

[guimenez]

This should not happen.
You should rename it to "bootx64.efi" if there are no preloader or shim efi files.
Or you should rename and copy grubia32.efi to flash drive if the uefi firmware is 32bit.

Ok, It's booting and it find the 4 files needed to boot but after loading to memory i'm getting Windows 0X0C000000F error :(

[guimenez]

Change the order so that wim file is first, then bcd then sdi.

Amazing, works like a charm.
Only 2 question please:

• Can i boot with secure boot option? Or i need always to disable it in UEFI firmware.
• Is it possible to map to an ISO without extracting to get access to the 4 files?

Thank you once again.

[neps4u]

I'm not familiar with linux kernel, so maybe it will require a lot of work.
Actually, porting wimboot as a grub module should be a better solution, and someone has implemented this feature.
grub2x64.zip
Here you can try it.
For example:
runudm @bcd=/test/bcd @boot.sdi=/test/boot.sdi @bootx64.efi=/test/bootx64.efi @boot.wim=/test/win10.wim
Unfortunately, the author refused to publish the source code.
http://bbs.wuyou.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=373513

do the same but getting Windows 0X0C000000F error
tried steve6375 advice but still not succeed. if anyone knows proper code let me know. thanks

[steve6375]

0xC000000F usually means the BCD is not pointing to the correct path/file.

[neps4u]

0xC000000F usually means the BCD is not pointing to the correct path/file.

Thanks steve6375 for quick reply. used default windows 10 bcd with custom
path. any advice

[a1ive]

0xC000000F usually means the BCD is not pointing to the correct path/file.

Thanks steve6375 for quick reply. used default windows 10 bcd with custom
path. any advice

What configuration (grub.cfg and bcd)/commands did you use ?

[neps4u]

grub.cfg -

menuentry "Win-PE" {
wimboot @:boot.wim:/sources/boot.wim
@:bootmgfw.efi:/boot/bootx64.efi
@:bcd:/EFI/BOOT/bcd
@:boot.sdi:/boot/boot.sdi \

}

BCD-

[Sporesirius]

Hello again, @neps4u you can take a look at: https://github.com/Sporesirius/YAMS/blob/60fea72f6ce7b4d984d16325b9b950e9ae9fdda5/YAMS/grub/configs/windows_based/win-bootmgr.d/generic.cfg#L48
and https://github.com/Sporesirius/YAMS/blob/master/YAMS/Tools/WSL/wsl.bat.
Maybe this is helpful.

[neps4u]

Hello again, @neps4u you can take a look at: https://github.com/Sporesirius/YAMS/blob/60fea72f6ce7b4d984d16325b9b950e9ae9fdda5/YAMS/grub/configs/windows_based/win-bootmgr.d/generic.cfg#L48
and https://github.com/Sporesirius/YAMS/blob/master/YAMS/Tools/WSL/wsl.bat.
Maybe this is helpful.

thanks for the reply.. doesn't work.. any other help appreciated. thanks

[a1ive]

Hello again, @neps4u you can take a look at: https://github.com/Sporesirius/YAMS/blob/60fea72f6ce7b4d984d16325b9b950e9ae9fdda5/YAMS/grub/configs/windows_based/win-bootmgr.d/generic.cfg#L48
and https://github.com/Sporesirius/YAMS/blob/master/YAMS/Tools/WSL/wsl.bat.
Maybe this is helpful.

thanks for the reply.. doesn't work.. any other help appreciated. thanks

I recommend using wimboot-bcd to create bcd.