Bootable Flash Drive

[EmpireKing]

Here's d scene fellas.....my pc running rel queer so i feel that i gonna try a new/different version of XP....not brave enough to move up to 7 yet. I gots no blanks and i want to do this in the morning when I get up. Is it possible to boot from a flashdrive or in my case my mp3 player?(sansa clip 2gb)

If not....is there a way to format and do a fresh install without the use of a CD/DVD?

[haterforever]

don't kno bout the mp3 player one but you can definitely boot from a flash to install xp, as must be done with most netbooks which have no external drives.

http://www.pctipsbox.com/installing-windows-xp-using-a-usb-flash-drive/

this worked for me. use google to get other sites and more info.

[EmpireKing]

arigatou....gonna check out that link noww

[TriniXaeno]

I just installed windows 7 on a machine last night using an external usb hard drive (same process as a flash drive)

Worked like a charm.

It was a tricky process to get working for a thousand different reasons. Went through about 5 different attempts a few months ago before I got it working. Good luck!

If you run into trouble, I'll try and assist based on that experience.

Actually, it should be easier if you're doing XP. A lot of the hurdles were windows 7 specific.

[Spazosaurus]

Actually, doing a bootable flash drive for xp is trickier than doing one for 7. 7 is actually pretty easy.

XP guide

http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installing-windows-xp-from-usb-thumb.html

I did this on an xp machine. The only drawback with this method is that when youre trying to intall office 2007, there was an error, one that can be solved by googling the problem.

Vista/7 guide

http://kmwoley.com/blog/?p=345

Works perfectly, very easy once u follow all the steps. Currently using a flash drive installation on a netbook.

That's it.

[TriniXaeno]

Not from my personal experience....but again, things and times change.

[EmpireKing]

grrr....seems like i cant do this today again.....got a crapload of pix and nowhere to back it all up...those links are really helpful to anyone who should need them tho...so thread not wasted!