Install Windows from USB key??

[rxblitzrx]

I never use my optical drive on my laptop except to install Windows. Everything else I do can be done from USB. Is it possible to image Windows onto a USB key? If so, then I could just remove the optical drive and shove another battery in there... or save my back 0.5lbs.


mod edit: moved to Windows OS forum as this is not T6x specific

[snife]

http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns! ... 1665.entry

This works great, only trouble is that you need Vista to do it normally as diskpart from XP wont partition most USB drives.


mod edit: fixed broken URL

[agarza]

Hi snife. I use XP and I'd like to create a bootable USB drive. A shame XP's diskpart can't format USB drives, doubt that diskpart.exe from Vista could be used on a XP machine.

I was reading this guide:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/09/ ... page2.html


I wonder if it works, I've used in the past the HP format tool but unsuccesfully the USB booted.

[snife]

I did have a link to a guide for XP but its down so have to access with archive.org:

http://web.archive.org/web/200611281524 ... p-from-usb

Obviously, the installation procedure is much more complicated for XP and it doesn't really go into detail about making the key bootable, ive had mixed results with the various booting utilities available and certain drives (such as my corsair voyager) I could not get booting any other way than with Vista, so maybe if you can get 'access' to Vista just to partition the drive it may be easier (remember, any copy of Vista will install without a license key and allow use for 30 days without activation )

[agarza]

I tried 'formatting' my 4GB Kingston under Vista, and it worked.
I did not check if copying the XP installation files using the xcopy in vista boots.

I formatted my T42p drive and reinstalled XP so I think before 2008 will again install Vista and see if that works.

I tried with BartPE using a tutorial, but didn't work.

So anyone with positive experiences installing XP from a USB flash drive?