bootable flash drive

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Project from who?

[xpuser]

yes there is a program out just google and you will find severl sites that show it
i have a copy and it works just fine for me

[Dias de verano]

You can make a PE bootable flash drive, but not regular Windows XP, so I think that xpuser is being either too vague or deliberately misleading.

[pcsourcepoint]

Here’s a windows in your pocket from Tom’s Hardware that explains how to install XP on a flash drive that is made bootable using Bart PE Builder.

And another article using a lot of editing, file swapping, etc, using a direct comprehensive approach with the XP disc (need ISO editor). Seems a bit full on though…

[Dias de verano]

From that site that psourcepoint linked to

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.

Not a true Windows install (which cannot be done), but rather, as I said, a setup using Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) that gives an emergency rescue facility, like a DOS boot disk but with a GUI.

[patio]

The 2nd source shows how it can be done but is not for the faint of heart....i failed miserably on my first 2 attempts and finally got it the third time...
Be prepared to spend an entire weekend on it though.

If you do not have a better than average understanding of how file systems operate i suggest not even attempting this...

[Dias de verano]

no page file... I had heard that a German guy had attempted this... seems like that is the result. Not for fainthearted, and as I read somewhere, more a "proof it can be done" than a practical idea, and what is the point, since you are stuck with using the flash or external HDD with the same PC you installed it with?

[patio]

It's not really practical you're correct...i wanted to do it to say it could be done.
I was able to use the stick on about 5 systems tops...the rest would not even boot it properly.
There is a way to fake out the pagefile as well but that took even more work and was so long ago i don't have details...maybe i'll look up my Project links and find it...

[Dias de verano]

Motherboard / chipset hardware on a different machine would have to be pretty similar to those on the original.

[patio]

What sometimes would work is removing them in Device Manager prior to shutdown...
Then on the next machine you booted to they would be replaced by Windows Generics...enough to run most times.