Install from USB stick ...

[Guest]

Hey all ... ok, so I've found a million questions on "Can I install Windows
on a USB stick/harddrive" - my question is can I install windows onto my
laptop by using my USB stick? My CD-ROM died and I don't have a floppy, so my
options are pretty limited.

I have my USB booting from the start-up - but, it's booting up as C: and I
can't run the install onto my USB. I can't even access the real harddrive
(D.

If anyone can help me, I'd REALLY appreicate it!
Thanks!!!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

There are three elements to make a USB flash drive bootable on a system:

** The host system must support booting from a USB flash drive.
(Please check with your system manufacturer.)

** The USB flash drive must support booting in general.
(Please check with your USB flash drive vendor.)

** The USB flash drive must contain boot/system files.
Typically, vendors of USB flash drives that support bootability will
provide you with a tool that will make the drive bootable.

USB Flash Drive FAQ
http://www.usbflashdrive.org/usbfd_faq.html

I would suggest replacing your defective CD drive....look on
eBay for bargains. How are going to install any programs
without a functional CD drive?

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hey all ... ok, so I've found a million questions on "Can I install Windows
| on a USB stick/harddrive" - my question is can I install windows onto my
| laptop by using my USB stick? My CD-ROM died and I don't have a floppy, so my
| options are pretty limited.
|
| I have my USB booting from the start-up - but, it's booting up as C: and I
| can't run the install onto my USB. I can't even access the real harddrive
| (D.
|
| If anyone can help me, I'd REALLY appreicate it!
| Thanks!!!

 

[Guest]

Yes, as in my post, all these things are working ... I just need to know how
to actually DO the install. eBay for a new CD drive is a good idea - I'd
forgot about that, I'll do the check. But, I'd still like to try install
Windows from a USB.

Anymore help?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You cannot install Windows XP from a flash drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Yes, as in my post, all these things are working ... I just need to know how
| to actually DO the install. eBay for a new CD drive is a good idea - I'd
| forgot about that, I'll do the check. But, I'd still like to try install
| Windows from a USB.
|
| Anymore help?
|
| "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
|
| > There are three elements to make a USB flash drive bootable on a system:
| >
| > ** The host system must support booting from a USB flash drive.
| > (Please check with your system manufacturer.)
| >
| > ** The USB flash drive must support booting in general.
| > (Please check with your USB flash drive vendor.)
| >
| > ** The USB flash drive must contain boot/system files.
| > Typically, vendors of USB flash drives that support bootability will
| > provide you with a tool that will make the drive bootable.
| >
| > USB Flash Drive FAQ
| > http://www.usbflashdrive.org/usbfd_faq.html
| >
| > I would suggest replacing your defective CD drive....look on
| > eBay for bargains. How are going to install any programs
| > without a functional CD drive?
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows Shell/User
| >
| >

 

[Uwe Sieber]

Hey all ... ok, so I've found a million questions on "Can I install Windows
on a USB stick/harddrive" - my question is can I install windows onto my
laptop by using my USB stick? My CD-ROM died and I don't have a floppy, so my
options are pretty limited.

I have my USB booting from the start-up - but, it's booting up as C: and I
can't run the install onto my USB. I can't even access the real harddrive
(D.

If you boot from your USB drive, I assume you boot MS-DOS. If
your drive D: is NTFS formatted you have no access under DOS.

When there are no data you still need on the harddisk, you
can use FDISK or a tool like http://www.ranish.com/part to
delete all partitions, create partitions as you like but create
also a FAT formatted one. Format it and copy the i386 folder
from the XP-CD to you USB drive and then to the FAT partition.
Run the WINNT.EXE from there.

Having an USB drive attached while the XP setup may change
the drive letter assignment. So it's better to make your
harddrive booting MS-DOS and start the WINNT.EXE whithout
the attached USB drive.

Never tried it, but I think it should work in that way.


Greetings from Germany

Uwe