Installing WinXP on a removable media.

[D.D.Martin]

Hello.
I failed to install WinXP pro on 4GB CF card which is enumerated
as USB-device and removable disk "C:"
The computer is VIA Epia-MS, where CF card is on the motherboard.
In the BIOS there are the folowing boot USB-devices listed:
1) USB-CD
2) USB-ZIP
3) USB-HDD
4) USB-FDD
I've tried all - nothing works.
Linux guys widely discuss the subject as if it is a well-known feature
(Linux installed of CF card)
---------------

May be I've missed something?
Is it possible to install Windows XP onto removable media (say,
USB-flash)?
A year ago Microsoft reported that there are problems with BIOS
boot-support.
How to know, if they still are there?

Any stories about successful XP installations, any hints are welcome.
Thanks.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Funny you should ask this question as a friend just sent me this link:
http://www.tech-archive.net/Archive/WinXP/microsoft.public.windowsxp.embedded/2005-10/msg00332.html

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Richard Urban]

You realize that even if you could install Windows XP to removable media
(you can't) it would only be usable on the hardware configuration of the
computer that the removable media was installed to, at the time of
installation. It would not be usable on any other computer without a repair
install of Windows XP to the same removable media on the second computer.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[D.D.Martin]

Sure, I do realize. ;-)
I need to have not a Windows on a removable media, but rather a HDD-less
PC.
Via Epia-MS looks like the one. But I have difficulties with it.
If I'll be able to install WinXP onto CF card, I'll drive a nail into
this card to fix it.
Thank you.

 

[D.D.Martin]

Thanks, Rick.
You suggested me another game to play, which is different from 3 other
I had (without great success, yet).
Hope it will work for regular XP, not just 4xpEmbedded.
I'll try.
DD

 

[Richard Urban]

Just went over the "tutorial" in the supplied link.

The instructions lose all credence when the fellow says in step 10: "Copy
and past all files and folders from the fresh XP to your plugged USB drive.
Recyled (Bin) and System Volume Information copy not."

It is a well know fact that you can not copy those most critical Windows
files that are locked, open or in use. You will end up with an installation
that will not even boot.

I suspect that the "author" of this "tutorial" has not even tried to do what
he claims can be done!


--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[D.D.Martin]

So did I, with exactly the same suspicion.
Regards,
DD

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Well Richard, there is also this:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/usb-boot.mspx

I have yet to attempt the procedure described in the first link, but my
source on that one is fairly reliable for passing on legit information. I
won't knock it until I've tried it. Also, as to copying the installation, no
one said that needed to be done from within Windows - mostly I do it from a
third party boot manager myself.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[R. McCarty]

Some people love the challenge of the "Square Peg in a Round Hole".
Even if you got it to work, the performance would be bad and every
time you plug it into another PC (Hardware), you'd be faced with a
new PA. It would be easier to use Virtual PC on whatever machines
are needed and carry the VPC around on a Flash Device. Still not
an ideal solution, but doesn't require so much Engineering work.

 

[Tony]

Just went over the "tutorial" in the supplied link.

The instructions lose all credence when the fellow says in step 10: "Copy
and past all files and folders from the fresh XP to your plugged USB
drive. Recyled (Bin) and System Volume Information copy not."

It is a well know fact that you can not copy those most critical Windows
files that are locked, open or in use. You will end up with an
installation that will not even boot.

I suspect that the "author" of this "tutorial" has not even tried to do
what he claims can be done!


--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

You copy them using something like DOS, not when windows is booted up. It
is a well known fact that you can copy files and folders in such a way!!

 

[Bob I]

Once you configure the CF card as an IDE attached device, you've got the
beggar by the throat.

 

[Richard Urban]

DOS does NOT understand long file names and will mis-copy about 75% of the
files due to that fact! The system will be unusable.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!