Installing XP to a USB Drive...

goosy22 · 11-01-2006, 06:51 PM

i wanted to do it so i can take it to houses to test computers without worrying about if their OS is corrupt or if they even have one... and i thought USB would be a nice small alternative to carrying Hard Drives around...

but i'm having problems installing it... it says during install that if you want to choose device/partition and i always check it, but i never get the chance to choose, it always installs it to the Hard Drive... any ideas how to fix this? or should i try and ghost my HDD to the USB Drive?

Bootup05 · 11-01-2006, 07:16 PM

Im not sure how to fix your problem, but surely, installing XP to a USB drive isn't going to work as the setup installation will configure itself to your system.

So, when you go to try and load it on any other system, the boot agent will automatically start loading files for the system it was first installed on.

I'd be surprised if you even got anywhere near the Welcome screen!

**apj101** · 11-01-2006, 07:20 PM

Quote:

I'd be surprised if you even got anywhere near the Welcome screen!

it can be done

there are stacks of guides on google

goosy22 · 11-01-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apj101

it can be done

there are stacks of guides on google

good idea... i'll see what i can find...

EDIT: if anyone is looking for help on my problem... read THIS... i'm going to try it...

Dngrsone · 11-02-2006, 01:20 AM

I find it much easier to use DSL on a stick.

goosy22 · 11-02-2006, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

I find it much easier to use DSL on a stick.

[sarcasm]hmm... well good for you [/sarcasm]

... actually i'll probably use that anyways, i guess i could install ubuntu on the stick even... thanks for the link, that looks a lot easier than trying to install windows on a stick...

tlarkin · 11-02-2006, 01:37 AM

what exactly are you trying to accomplish here? There are many Knoppix based linux distros (damn small linux is only one of them) out there that have lots of cool tools and utilities.

Maybe what you want is a Windows XP PE (preinstall enviroment) which basically is a live version of windows similiar to the live versions of Linux listed.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

You can load tons of 32bit windows applications and use them on a live cd. Then use a thumb drive to carry around the latest definitions if you are going to be running anti-spwyare/malware/virus/etc applications.

Is it just basic diagnostics, or do you want network diagnostics as well?

Calibretto · 11-02-2006, 01:41 AM

Oh yes, installing XP on an external device can be done. Some newer motherboards have an option in the BIOS where you can boot from USB and use your ext. HDD as your master and the original HDD in the computer as a slave.

goosy22 · 11-02-2006, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlarkin

what exactly are you trying to accomplish here? There are many Knoppix based linux distros (damn small linux is only one of them) out there that have lots of cool tools and utilities.

Maybe what you want is a Windows XP PE (preinstall enviroment) which basically is a live version of windows similiar to the live versions of Linux listed.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

You can load tons of 32bit windows applications and use them on a live cd. Then use a thumb drive to carry around the latest definitions if you are going to be running anti-spwyare/malware/virus/etc applications.

Is it just basic diagnostics, or do you want network diagnostics as well?

here's the breakdown of my scenario: lately i've been troubleshooting/repairing/buying computers that are missing either operating software or bootable devices, and i'm tired of carrying around hard drives in my pocket to and from the sites... i just want to find an OS that's installable on a USB drive to be bootable (i thought windows was but it's a pain in the ass to get it to work, look here) so i don't have to carry around HDD's anymore...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calibretto

Oh yes, installing XP on an external device can be done. Some newer motherboards have an option in the BIOS where you can boot from USB and use your ext. HDD as your master and the original HDD in the computer as a slave.

yes i know it can be done... but when i try to install it, the option to choose device and partition always seems to be skipped...

tlarkin · 11-02-2006, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calibretto

Oh yes, installing XP on an external device can be done. Some newer motherboards have an option in the BIOS where you can boot from USB and use your ext. HDD as your master and the original HDD in the computer as a slave.

Only problem with that is that if the computer he brings his drive out to does not support USB booting, then its pretty much useless. Every Computer though supports booting off of CD/DVDs

11-01-2006, 07:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bootup05 Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Essex, UK Age: 17 Posts: 1,266	Im not sure how to fix your problem, but surely, installing XP to a USB drive isn't going to work as the setup installation will configure itself to your system. So, when you go to try and load it on any other system, the boot agent will automatically start loading files for the system it was first installed on. I'd be surprised if you even got anywhere near the Welcome screen! __________________ Main System Proccy - Intel E6400 @ 3440 \| Mobo - P5B DLX \| RAM - 2GB TwinX 6400 C5 \| GPU - 96GT HDD - WD 400GB Caviar SE - WD 320GB Caviar SE - 160GB Seagate Ext Monitor - Asus 19" Wide LCD \| PSU - Tagan 600W Dual Engine \| Soundcard - SB Live Ext 24 Heatsink - S Infinity \| Optical - Pioneer DVDRW \| OS - Vista Ult64 SP1

11-02-2006, 01:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dngrsone VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Centrally located far from everywhere Posts: 544	I find it much easier to use DSL on a stick. __________________ Dngrsone Saving lives, one protein at a time. Team 12912

11-02-2006, 01:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
Calibretto Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Indiana, USA Age: 19 Posts: 2,437	Oh yes, installing XP on an external device can be done. Some newer motherboards have an option in the BIOS where you can boot from USB and use your ext. HDD as your master and the original HDD in the computer as a slave. __________________ - Gigabyte P35-S3G - Q6600 @ 2.40GHz \| Cooler Master GeminII - 4GB OCZ Platinum @ 800MHz - XFX 9800GT \| Zalman VF1000 Cooler - Antec Three Hundred Case \| Antec NeoPower 380W PSU - Best 3DMark06 Score: 15109 Winner of Photo Comp: Computer Peripherals Visit and Subscribe to my blog! Tech Olive

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11-02-2006, 01:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 6,204	what exactly are you trying to accomplish here? There are many Knoppix based linux distros (damn small linux is only one of them) out there that have lots of cool tools and utilities. Maybe what you want is a Windows XP PE (preinstall enviroment) which basically is a live version of windows similiar to the live versions of Linux listed. http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ You can load tons of 32bit windows applications and use them on a live cd. Then use a thumb drive to carry around the latest definitions if you are going to be running anti-spwyare/malware/virus/etc applications. Is it just basic diagnostics, or do you want network diagnostics as well?