How to install Windows XP from USB drive

Installing Windows XP from USB drive is a rescue when you have no CD/DVD Drive or when you don’t want to carry installation CD in your pocket:)
What you need is:
- Windows XP installation CD or ISO Image
- USB Drive (at least 1Gb capacity)
- Some special utilities (download here: Flash.zip (495.25 kb))

Preparing USB Drive

Step 1. Please, download and extract the pack of utilities. It will be perfect if you extract it to the root of your hard drive, e.g. D:\Flash\

Step 2. Prepare Windows installation files. If you have a CD, just insert it into your CD drive, if it's impossible – unpack ISO file into specific directory, e.g. D:\Wininst

Step 3. Now open the folder D:\flash\usb_prep8 and run file usb_prep8.cmd

ATTENTION! Don't close this window until the installation is finished!!!

Plug in your USB drive and press any key. PeToUSB utility will start.

With the help of this utility we will format your USB drive. Be careful – after starting the utility, all data on your flash drive will be lost!
If you have flash drive with the capacity more than 4Gb, choose NTFS instead of FAT system.
To start formatting press Start, then press Yes twice.

After completion press OK, then close the program.

Step 4.  Run command Prompt (press Start button, in WinXP choose Run, then type ‘cmd’, in Win Vista & Win 7 type ‘cmd’ into a search field). In cmd window type the command: D:\flash\bootsect\bootsect.exe /nt52 E:
Replace the letter E with the letter of your USB Drive.
Press Enter.

Step 5. You can close this window and return to usb_prep8 program. As you can see, there is some new information in it.

Type 1 to choose point 1, press Enter. After that you need to choose the path to the Windows installation files.

Choose necessary directory and press OK. Now you're back in the menu. Choose point 3. Now you need to type in the letter of your flash drive. In my case it's E. Type it in and press Enter.

Now, go for point 4.
When the program asks you to format T drive – let it perform the formatting. Then press any key.

Program starts copying Windows setup files to the tempdrive. It will take a few minutes. After that press any key, then Yes, and wait until these files are copied to your USB drive.

In the end of copying the program asks you to change migrate.ini file. Press Yes. Then agree with unmounting drive and press any key for the couple of time.

Installing Windows using USB drive

Step 1. First of all, allow your PC booting from the flash drive. Open BIOS (by pressing DEL, F2, F8, ESC buttons - it depends on the model of your PC), enable USB Legacy support if it's disabled, and change the boot order of devices so that USB Device was on the first place. After all, save your changes and reboot your PC.
Also, you can use boot menu (F8, F12, ESC) if it is supported by your motherboard and choose the device to boot from.

Step 2. Choose point 1 – TXT mode setup. Windows will start pre-configuring your PC, e.g. will format HDD, copy files, etc.
After reboot choose point 2 – GUI mode setup. Windows will continue installation in graphic mode. Use this mode after the second reboot as well.

At last, open boot.ini file (go to control panel -> system properties -> advanced -> startup and recovery - > settings -> edit).

Find there text disk(1) if any and replace it with disk(0), press Save and exit.

the end.

I hope this informations was helpful for you ^^