How to boot PC using mobile phones USB storage

Paul_H · 10-09-2007, 22:42

Hi All

I have a samsung D900 phone and able to use the MicroSD memory card as a USB storage key by connecting the phone to the PC with a data cable.
At work I use a USB key to boot up PC's for various reasons and want to transfer this function to my phone instead.

To test I have transfered the io.sys, dos.sys and command.com from win98se dos boot disk to the root of my phones MicroSD card.
I then tried to boot from the phone but my PC's boot menu doesn't find any attached USB storage device. I performed the same action with my USB key and it booted without any problem.

Anyone any ideas. Is it possible.

prking · 11-09-2007, 07:31

Possibly the phone is identifying itself as a Samsung D900 with various devices such as memory card, internal memory, modem etc and this is confusing the BIOS.
I'm not familiar with Samsung phones, however on some phones you can set the data cable connection type so that it will pretend to be just USB storage.
For example on Nokia Series 60, you can set PC Suite Mode; IP passthrough or USB Storage.

BoBaDoB · 11-09-2007, 11:36

i would imagine initially that the phone is not detected as a USB mass storeage device as it requires extra drivers to be detected.

That is not 100% however as i have not attempted it myself

planetnokia · 12-09-2007, 15:18

Your PC's BIOS should indicate if your computer is capable of booting from a USB Device.

prking · 12-09-2007, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by planetnokia

Your PC's BIOS should indicate if your computer is capable of booting from a USB Device.

As the OP says his PC boots from his USB key then obviously it is capable.

planetnokia · 12-09-2007, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

As the OP says his PC boots from his USB key then obviously it is capable.

Thought OP was talking about two PCs...one at work and one at home.

prking · 12-09-2007, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by planetnokia

Thought OP was talking about two PCs...one at work and one at home.

If you read it, you'll see he does it at work, but wants to use his phone. So at home he tries it with his phone, doesn't work so tries it with his USB key and it works.

Therefore his PC is capable of doing it. That's why he has been offered the advice he was from me and the other posters.

Adam D · 12-09-2007, 17:27

This should work.

Go to Settings on the D900 and then Connectivity somewhere in there, I think its in Phone settings and Usb Settings.

Change it to mass storage and then plug it in and boot up. See what happens

It should work, and you have to do the same thing every time to get it to work (ie settings, phone etc..)

Paul_H · 12-09-2007, 20:34

Hi Adam

I tried setting the phone for USB mass storage before making the first post. When the setting is enabled, the phone shows in windows exactly the same as any other USB key but I was unable to boot from the phone
Perhaps this is down to some kind of emulation by the drivers and the phone doesn't properly identify itself as USB a mass storage device to the system bios.

10-09-2007, 22:42	#1
Paul_H Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 115	How to boot PC using mobile phones USB storage Hi All I have a samsung D900 phone and able to use the MicroSD memory card as a USB storage key by connecting the phone to the PC with a data cable. At work I use a USB key to boot up PC's for various reasons and want to transfer this function to my phone instead. To test I have transfered the io.sys, dos.sys and command.com from win98se dos boot disk to the root of my phones MicroSD card. I then tried to boot from the phone but my PC's boot menu doesn't find any attached USB storage device. I performed the same action with my USB key and it booted without any problem. Anyone any ideas. Is it possible.

11-09-2007, 07:31	#2
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Possibly the phone is identifying itself as a Samsung D900 with various devices such as memory card, internal memory, modem etc and this is confusing the BIOS. I'm not familiar with Samsung phones, however on some phones you can set the data cable connection type so that it will pretend to be just USB storage. For example on Nokia Series 60, you can set PC Suite Mode; IP passthrough or USB Storage.

11-09-2007, 11:36	#3
BoBaDoB Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Stoke On Trent/Staffordshire Posts: 1,556	i would imagine initially that the phone is not detected as a USB mass storeage device as it requires extra drivers to be detected. That is not 100% however as i have not attempted it myself

12-09-2007, 15:18	#4
planetnokia Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 14,808	Your PC's BIOS should indicate if your computer is capable of booting from a USB Device.

12-09-2007, 15:26	#5
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by planetnokia Your PC's BIOS should indicate if your computer is capable of booting from a USB Device. As the OP says his PC boots from his USB key then obviously it is capable.

12-09-2007, 16:12	#6
planetnokia Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 14,808	Quote: Originally Posted by prking As the OP says his PC boots from his USB key then obviously it is capable. Thought OP was talking about two PCs...one at work and one at home.

12-09-2007, 16:22	#7
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by planetnokia Thought OP was talking about two PCs...one at work and one at home. If you read it, you'll see he does it at work, but wants to use his phone. So at home he tries it with his phone, doesn't work so tries it with his USB key and it works. Therefore his PC is capable of doing it. That's why he has been offered the advice he was from me and the other posters.

12-09-2007, 17:27	#8
Adam D Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK, Posts: 4,939	This should work. Go to Settings on the D900 and then Connectivity somewhere in there, I think its in Phone settings and Usb Settings. Change it to mass storage and then plug it in and boot up. See what happens It should work, and you have to do the same thing every time to get it to work (ie settings, phone etc..)

12-09-2007, 20:34	#9
Paul_H Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 115	Hi Adam I tried setting the phone for USB mass storage before making the first post. When the setting is enabled, the phone shows in windows exactly the same as any other USB key but I was unable to boot from the phone Perhaps this is down to some kind of emulation by the drivers and the phone doesn't properly identify itself as USB a mass storage device to the system bios.

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How to boot PC using mobile phones USB storage