It is strange. Mine is 4 KB. You can find the file in a Win8 ISO or DVD (not Win8.1). Replace your file with the 4 KB file but this might not be the answer.
Maybe there is a problem with v2.88. Is that your version of Image for Windows? Maybe I should get someone to send me that file.
Same as yours. 2.88. Try this download... http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/wp/tbwinre.zip It doesn't contain the two efi files but that shouldn't matter.
I just searched for etfsboot.com and found a 4 KB version. I copied and pasted it into: C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Unlimited\Image for Windows\V2\TBWinRE than ran TBWinRE, and it failed again with the same INSTANT message. And now etfsboot.com is 0 KB again.
The contents looks correct. The problem is the etfsboot.com file is empty (0 bytes). I can recreate the problem by changing mine to a zero size. This file is copied either from the installed system (Windows 8.1 doesn't include it) or from the winre.wim file when mounted. Can you test the following: Delete the etfsboot.com file in the tbwinre folder. Run the TBWinRE script (select option 2 to build ISO). After it finishes, check the etfsboot.com file in the tbwinre folder and see what the size is. If it has the proper size (4.00KB) try creating the ISO or CD. If it's still zero bytes, please check the following: Open Windows Explorer and browse to the "C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT" folder. If the etfsboot.com file exists make note of the size. Normally, the file will not exist at this location. However, if it does and it's zero bytes it would cause the problem. Next, check the file in the winre.wim file. To do this, proceed as follows: Edit the TBWinRE.cmd script file using Notepad and enable the pausebuild option. This option is located just a little ways into the file and you'll just be changing the 0 (zero) to a 1 (one) so the line looks like "set pausebuild=1" (without the quotes). Note that you may have permission issues when trying to save the file since it's in the "Program Files (x86)" folder. If this happens, you can just copy the file to a normal location (like your Documents folder), make the change, save the file, and then copy it back to the tbwinre folder. (This is one reason I prefer using a normal folder for builds instead of a system folder.) Run the TBWinRE script and select option 2. When the script pauses, open Windows Explorer and browse to "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Unlimited\Image for Windows\V2\tbwinre\mount\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT" folder. The etfsboot.com file should exist there and should have a size of 4.00KB. If the file looks correct copy it into the tbwinre folder. Close the Windows Explorer window. Don't skip this step. If you leave the Explorer window open in the mount path the wim file won't be able to unmount cleanly. Go back to the paused TBWinRE script window and press any key to finish the build. Try creating the ISO or CD. Let me know what you find out.
Do you have any security or anti-virus software that may be blocking files being copied into the tbwinre folder? You might check the logs and see if anything shows up. Otherwise, copy the entire tbwinre folder to a normal user location (like C:\TBWinRE) and try building it there.
is there any particular reason why the OP insists on running a Windows disk? it takes much longer than a IFL disk to load and IFL itself is faster than IFW. it sure seems to be a bloody headache getting all this sorted out.
Probably not. However, I'd like to find out what's causing the problem if he's willing to help. I haven't seen that problem before. I generally use TBWinRE because I like it better. Otherwise, I usually use IFL GUI. Doesn't bother me if one take several seconds longer.
Stigg. I hope you will be able to help out with the cause of this issue. I'm interested in a resolution too.
OK. So far, I have done this. I can do the other stuff you suggested after I post this. I did steps 1,2 & 3. I deleted etfsboot.com from the TBWinRE folder and TBWinRE replaced it with another 0 KB copy. I do have a copy of eftsboot.com in "C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT" and it is 0 KB. I have attached an image of all the locations on my computer that eftsboot.com is at. By the way. It is strange that the USB TBWinRE passes validation.
Please let me know if you still need me to proceed with editing TBWinRE.cmd script and enabling the pausebuild option.
Delete (or rename) the etfsboot.com file in C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT. The zero byte size is not valid. Also delete the file from the tbwinre folder. Then run the TBWinRE build again and see if it works to create an ISO or CD. The etfsboot.com file is only needed for the ISO and CD creation (it's one of the booting files). It's not used for creating a UFD.
Thanks. So far, so good. TBWinRE just transferred to etfsboot.com at 4 KB. I'll continue on. What was the 0 KB etfsboot.com file doing in C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\PCAT and why was TBWinRE getting it from that folder?
How did you know to look there then and why was TBWinRE getting it from there? Sorry for the questions. I am inquisitive. Edit: This is why it was getting it from there. So, if it didn't get it from there, where does it get it from?
Those are the two places checked by the script: the installed system path and the mounted WIM path. If it finds it on the installed path it doesn't copy it from the WIM. However, in this case, that didn't work since the file on the installed path was invalid.