boot+XP+from+a+flash+drive


 * How to boot XP from a flash drive **

You can put a bootable copy of Windows XP on a USB flash drive. It comes in handy when a computer won't boot from its hard disk, or if you want to run your own operating system, configured as you like it, on someone else's computer.

You will need an XP Setup CD and a flash drive with sufficient capacity (I recommend 1 to 2 GB if you're going to install programs, too).

The drive needs to be no larger than 2 GB because you will be using the FAT16 file system. Also be aware that older computers may not boot from a removable drive.

You will need a couple of freeware tools to get the job done. For complete instructions, along with screenshots, see :- "Windows in your Pocket": []

All it takes is a minor error in the Windows Registry or a virus infection, and your operating system can become unbootable. But with a properly configured USB flash drive on hand, you will always have a compatible replacement no further away than your pocket or keychain. In addition, the flash drive can also provide a secure browser and virus scanner, and lets you take your favourite DVD burning and Office software with you wherever you may go.

All that is needed is a bootable USB Flash drive with at least 256 MB of storage capacity and a Windows Setup CD.

Using the program Bart PE Builder (Freeware), [|http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/] you can install Windows XP on the flash drive, along with other software as needed (and as available space permits).

Compact Bart Lagerweij's free utility, PE Builder, condenses the original setup data for Windows XP into a slender operating system that is ready to run from a CD or a USB flash drive. This compact, portable version of Windows includes all the important system tools for dealing with a PC emergency. You can even add other programs to this collection, such as the media writing tool Nero Burning ROM, or an anti-spyware package such as Ad-Aware SE Personal, during the installation process.

Flash drives are not always recognized during the PC boot process. The USB flash drive controller and the PC's BIOS must be properly introduced to one another. That said, nearly all flash drives and PC can be configured so that the PC can boot from the flash drive.
 * Notes**

Most new motherboards recognize USB flash drives as valid boot media. But conventional motherboards that are more than two years old are not likely to boot from a USB flash drive. But in many cases, this omission can be remedied through a BIOS update for that board.

Disk Storage Format Tool: [] This program from HP can format any USB flash drive

Most BIOS versions accept a USB flash drive as a boot disk only if it uses the FAT (File Allocation Table) file system. Before you can install Windows on the USB flash drive, it must first be formatted.

Windows XP also provides a tool to format USB flash drives, but the results of that process are error-prone. In a worst case situation, it can even destroy the flash RAM in a USB flash drive.
 * Warning!**

Installation requires the use of HP's freeware tool HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool instead. Once installed, you can run the program through this sequence of menu choices: Start, All Programs, HP Company. Select the USB flash drive you wish to format from the Device entry, then select FAT as the target file system for that device. Click Start to launch this process. Once complete, you must then copied the Windows XP boot files to the USB flash drive - namely,

%systemdrive%\boot.ini, %systemdrive%\ntldr, and %systemdrive%:\ntdetect

(if you know the drive ID where these files live, use that instead - it's normally C). To make Windows Explorer display these files (they're ordinarily hidden), choose Folder Options... from the Tools menu, then click the View tab in the Folder Options window. Finally, in the Advanced Setting pick list, click the radio button underneath Hidden Files and folders that reads "Show hidden files and folders." Finally uncheck/tick the box next to "Hide protected operating systems (Recommended)," so you can select and copy these all-important Windows XP files to the flash drive. The USB flash drive is now ready to boot your system. Next, you learn how to instruct your PC to boot from a USB flash drive.