I just joined the forum so I could post this link as it might interest quite a few of you.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/09/windows_in_your_pocket/index.html
Essentially it's a guide to installing windows on a usb flash drive with the intent of it working like a live CD. There are loads of obvious uses for this, like fixing a computer that won't boot, or even running windows on a computer with no hard drive in it. Just thought it might be interesting!
You are here
Portable Windows
December 16, 2005 - 10:11am
#1
Portable Windows
Visit the Community page
Join our forums
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Subscribe with RSS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on BlueSky
sadly it doesn't work for my BIOS
and my other pc which does have BIOS support gets stuck on txtsetup.something
is it txtsetup.oem ?
hundred of portable applications:
http://standalone.atspace.org/index.html
no it was txtsetup.l**
i cant remember the rest
Some products out there (NASLite from serverelements.com is one I know of) that recommend a "kicker" floppy disk on those PCs that can't boot from USB. The PC boots the kicker disk which then boots the image on the USB. I haven't tried this but users in their forums swear it works well.
I will just quote what I've written in other topic:
there are some problems:
legality: Microsoft's EULA says you can have one Windows per 1 computer (hardware specifications)
read-only: That kind of Windows is running in read-only mode, it starts in ram disk drive, so you cannot change visual style and having it after restart ...
Personaly I could see SkyOS system on my pendrive, but no matter what the system will be, it needs a work of those system developers to maximal minimalization reading and writing process
Embrace your dreams
your pc wont be in its normal windows if you're booting off your USB windows...
generaly you CAN'T boot from USB drive
it's too slow, and Windows will show BSOD, not mentioning that will run only on 1 computer (Windows is tied with one hardware sspecification)
you could make some kind of detour using BART PE system.
It's ~200mb Windows XP for CD Roms as boot rescue CD but got some flaws like not-very-legal system and read-only system, it starts in Ram Drive so once installed BartPE WinXP on USB drive will not be changable)
Embrace your dreams
i know. i tried booting off USB. It wasn't slow for booting up to how far mine got though.
I was using the BART thing with a program called Flashboot (theres a free trial), it booted but it didn't get further than that file
I do not wish to re-hash old subjects but i feel compelled to correct your statement above about the "not-very-legal system." It is perfectly legal to run a BartPE compiled distro of XP. Reason why I say this, In the EULA it states that only one copy of XP may run at any one time on a machine unless you have multiple licenses to run multiple copies. Generally this would be done in a VM session testing new softwares and such prior to distribution. BartPE was designed to be a recovery platform. So if you have XP installed on your machine to begin with, you can create a BartPE based disk and run XP off of it to recover your computer from its issues that it may have. BartPE in no way shape or form is designed to replace XP and should not be used in this way. Some people do and it is those people who get tools like BartPE builder in trouble with MS.
With the BartPE builds, you never download any of the XP source files so there is no infringement on MS there. I am a firm believer in the BartPE as I am also a member of UBCD4Win of which is a suite of tools designed around BartPE to recover most computers. It is not illegal to run a copy of it. It is when you use it to replace your install on the computer...
The only flaws with BartPE is that it is not a full fledged OS so installs and updates can not be done. This is a accepted limitation as again it is intended to be a temp emergency OS to recover your data and fix your machine.
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you do or say will be exaggerated or mis-quoted and used against you.
I come across a way to boot Windows XP from USB Stick
Tutorial to install Windows XP to USB Stick
http://www.winusb.de/tutorial3_en.html
Setup EWF
http://mason.gmu.edu/~sfiorito/eXPinstall.htm
# It is very important to setup EWF while booting XP from USB to extend lifespan of USB Stick