[k0nsp1ra70r]

So, if I wanted to install Windows XP from a USB 2.0 flash drive, how would I have to set the USB drive up?

I currently have a problem with HDD, IDE, and SATA, and have the necessity to know exactly how to do so. Anyone know how to or done it before?

 

[this n00b again]

installing xp from a flash drive? burn the xp image to the flash drive (or get the image to the flash drive some how) and boot off the flash drive on start up.

go bios and make sure boot from usb is enabled.

i don't recommend you do it though

 

[[email protected]]

Wouldnt it be bad for the USB?

 

[DuckieHo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by this n00b again installing xp from a flash drive? burn the xp image to the flash drive (or get the image to the flash drive some how) and boot off the flash drive on start up. go bios and make sure boot from usb is enabled. i don't recommend you do it though

FTL! 5-25MB/s USB read speed...

 

[mikeguy3086]

I was wondering the same thing. I have a dying HD, and all of my windows files go to a seperate HD, so is there a way to run XP off of the USB Drive?

 

[this n00b again]

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected] Wouldnt it be bad for the USB?

i don't recommend you do it because USB stick has a limited number of read / write cycles. and installing a OS off the USB stick will take a chuck out of that life cycle.

then like duckie said, the performance

 

[DuckieHo]

Performance is huge issue as well. If you want an OS on a thumb drive, get DamnSmallLinux. (www.damnsmalllinux.org)

 

[MadBan]

Installing the OS off of a flash drive should work.
We use a flash drive to boot into Ghost for restoring drive images. Just plug in the USB and enter the Boot Menu... on a Dell it is F8. Then select Boot from USB device.
After that it should be just like installing off of a CD/DVD.
And this_n00b_again is right, if you do not see the USB in the Boot Menu, then you need to make sure it is enabled in the BIOS.

 

[mikeguy3086]

Okay so how do I do this? I just bought a 2gig thumb drive. My bios recognizes it. I found a guide from Tims hardware, but it isnt helping much. What I'm trying to do is literally use the stick as the hardrive that windows will run and sit on. Not just as an emergency boot thing.

I formatted it to FAT and when I tried to just install windows on it, I got an error screen and also the "can't find boot device". I don't understand why it won't just install and everything....

Please Help.

 

[this n00b again]

what you're wondering is different. he wanted to install windows FROM the usb stick, not ON the usb stick.

ok so now this is a different story. but i still don't recommend you do it. but if you must.

to install windows on it. you need to have a working cd drive, put the windows cd in it and goto the bios and somewhere it will have something in the order of "boot sequence" or "first boot device" or something along those mannors, you must boot from the cd drive with the windows disk. then restart. then when it says press any key to continue, then follow the steps from there.

and 2gigs? can windows even be installed on 2gigs? this installation may take you a LONG time.

 

[MadBan]

Taking a look at the article, I see there are some requires that must be met for this to work, i.e. a newer motherboard.

Do you meet all these requirements?

 

[mikeguy3086]

Yea it can, I had tons of space on it. It didn't take that long. I'll get back to you on the status, lol, just please don't go anywhere so I can get through this.

 

[mikeguy3086]

Yes, I do, my system is all up to date.

 

[this n00b again]

Quote:

lol, just please don't go anywhere so I can get through this.

LOL that is funny

 

[mikeguy3086]

Alright, it copied all the files over, then i saw the XP loading bar screen, then I got the blue error screen again. Sooooooooo, I don't even know.

 

[this n00b again]

ok once all the files copy over to the usb, it will restart.

now when its restarting make sure the 2nd boot device is the USB stick. (1st boot device is the cd rom still)

when it says press any key to continue, don't press anything

it will start loading xp and attempt the start the install.

if you get an error what is the error message

there will probably be several reasons why it will error so you gotta be specific.

 

[MadBan]

What is the STOP code you get when it blue screens? Make sure you get the numbers after the code.

 

[Y3K]

First of all, Is this going to be on ONE computer or more then 2 computers? Because heres the first thing thats going to happen right when you install XP from the one computer and stick it into an other computer...your going to get the "BSOD" (blue screen of death). Why? Because:
1. Copy protection,
2. Installing mixed types of hardware will cause the installed image of XP to become unstable.

If i were you id install Linux onto a flash drive.