Booting and using windows xp from a USB stick

pumaz · 22 Nov 2009 at 16:14

I have a 4GB ATV USB stick. With high speed read and write times. I would like to install windows xp and a handfull of apps as well as needed drivers. I've heard it can be done but have only ever seen reference to tiny xp's with enough on to diagnose problems and that's about all.

Does anyone know if and how to make a propper windows xp boot and run from a USB Stick?

Thanks

ps

I've tried Linux and while it does work very well I just can't get the apps I need or good substitutes.

snowdog · 22 Nov 2009 at 16:19

The problem with that is that windows XP BSOD's on many major chipset changes, however you get can it to work if you first install if on an nforce chipset, then move to intel, then boot in safe mode on a VIA and it should work on most nforce/intel/via chipsets, I haven't found SiS compatible...

alex24 · 22 Nov 2009 at 16:20

I don't think it's easy, or that it can be done properly at all. Something to do with the way XP detects USB devices and that it resets the disk, so crashes. I might be wrong.

Have you looked at portableapps.com? Lots of stuff on there that's useful, though not quite sure what you're trying to accomplish.

Hotwired · 22 Nov 2009 at 16:24

"boot xp USB" returned this as the first search result:Clicky

Not sure why you'd want to but hey, I'm just a google monkey ^^

mod1fied · 22 Nov 2009 at 16:28

I did this to boot a FULL (Not BartPE) Windows XP off an external HDD:

http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

Should work for a flash drive, keep in mind the drivers for the system as snowdog said.
Basically, you edit a bunch of files from the XP disc, then burn them as a new disc. Then unplug other HDD's to not affect the bootloader then install to the drive you want.

Speed wise i used an old IDE 120GB HDD, Read/Write of 35/25 MB/s and took about 5 minutes to boot to desktop. :\ not really worth it tbh.

pumaz · 22 Nov 2009 at 16:38

Thanks guy's

I'm aware of the BartPe method and it's not the way I want to go because a s far as I'm aware it's not a proper installation and more of a mounted image.

d.chatten · 23 Nov 2009 at 00:34

Try this > http://wintoflash.com/home/en/ it worked for me, and it's realy easy to use, you will have to add drivers to the CD or ISO before you create the XP bootable flash drive.

Hope this helps.