up vote 12 down vote favorite
9
share [g+] share [fb]

I want to install Windows XP on my desktop computer (only XP) but my CD drive is not working.

I've only found installation tutorials on how to install it on the pen drive rather than from the pen drive.

Any ideas on how I can install Windows XP from a USB flash drive?

link|improve this question
89% accept rate
feedback

5 Answers

up vote 15 down vote accepted

The easiest way:

WinToFlash starts a wizard that will help pull over the contents of a windows installation CD or DVD and prepare the USB drive to become a bootable replacement for the optical drive.

alt text

WinToFlash is freeware and portable.

link|improve this answer
1  
+1 you got there 1st, this time. – harrymc Nov 1 '09 at 18:06
it's just such a handy tool, i wish it had been available 2 yrs ago when the first eee pc hit the market ... all the time wasted with writing neat tutorials :) – Molly7244 Nov 1 '09 at 18:08
i've used NLite to slipstream service packs and drivers into my WinXP install media and this to write that ISO onto flash drive. very handy. – quack quixote Jun 12 '10 at 12:49
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

Have a look at this elaborate thread. Seems like just what you need.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

We actually did just this recently for an Acer nettop. I found Win2Flash and other USB booting to be extremely slow, unreliable, and ran into numerous problems. As soon as we ordered a $30 external USB DVD drive, it was installed in seconds.

It's entirely possible to do this via USB, but if time / future instances are a concern, the drive is a worthy investment.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

I've always used method #6 over at http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm It says it doesn't work on XP, but I don't immediatly see why it won't. Afaik all those tools should be available.

Pretty easy step by step, and doesn't require the use of any third party software (which I often have some trust issues with)

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

You can also use the utlity @ http://www.nliteos.com/

link|improve this answer
nliteos is used for slipstreaming and slimming or adding drivers /apps and then creating a bootable iso for a dvd / cd ? can I make a Bootable USB Flash Disk XP installer with nlite ? – rihatum Nov 3 '10 at 11:03
I am sure if you take the Bootable ISO file you can write it to usb stick with Nero. – Pieter Nov 3 '10 at 12:52
yes that's what I am after, I can make a bootable windows 7, server 2008 usb flash disk via the disk part method and then copy over files to it...but with xp, as I am using a windows 7 machine, would have been great if nlite had that functionality. – rihatum Nov 3 '10 at 12:57
I checked another posting .... used the Win2flash utility to make my USB boot able and it did worked very well. I installed windows XP, 2003 and Windows 7 using this utility. – Pieter Nov 3 '10 at 13:21
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.