Anyone ever installed a Windows OS using a USB drive?

Paulmack · 19 Sep 2009

As the title, I need to install either Windows XP or Vista on a laptop but it doesnt have an optical drive and I use a Mac nowadays so dont really bother with Windows.

I have googled it but I have seen so many suggestions but everyone gets slaughtered in the forums by other people saying oh that wont work or this wont work, so wondering if anyone here has actually done it and how did they go about it?

Failing that will just have to get myself an external DVD drive.

Cheers

Harvey_nikon · 19 Sep 2009

A friend said this worked for him:

http://www.vandomburg.net/installing-windows-xp-from-usb/#disclaimer

I know it can be done, just never tried myself.

First thing I would try is copying all the files from the XP install disk to the USB drive, insert USB drive into laptop, boot it to BIOS and tell it to boot from USB (IF it can).

See if it works like that.

Dogfish_magnet · 19 Sep 2009

This is how to do vista

Paulmack · 20 Sep 2009

Its OK never mind, just checked and the bloody laptop I just got wont let me expand on the memory installed. It has 1.25GB RAM installed and it wont accept any more so it is a bit pointless upgrading it from XP Pro to Vista as it will just die a death!

Real shame that as it is a lovely little laptop! Thanks for info anyways

xendistar · 20 Sep 2009

Why would you want to downgrade the laptop by installing Vista on it in the first place :shrug:

Tim

Paulmack · 20 Sep 2009

Because I am a Mac user at home and I have to use Vista in work so if I am using the laptop for work then I wanted it to be on Vista. Doesnt matter now anyway, I have listed it in the classifieds and will get something else instead, probably a MacBook Pro and dual boot it for the times when I do have to use Windows!!

neil_g · 20 Sep 2009

vista WILL work on systems with that amount of memory you just need to turn off some parts of the os like the pretty display options..

Paulmack · 20 Sep 2009

I never said it won't work but it is pointless with that much memory, vista ideally needs at least 2GB with 3GB being optimal. Personal preference anyway, hopefully someone else will buy it and appreciate it as it is a nice bit of kit, perfect for taking on your hols

neil_g · 20 Sep 2009

true, but it is just about workable.. you could of even gone for the 7 upgrade next month.

instigator · 20 Sep 2009

I have installed windows xp on a laptop that had a broken cd drive using a 2GB flash drive, i found the instructions with a quick google.

It seems its quite a common procedure for people with netbooks (which dont have cd rom drives) on linux who want to install xp instead.

The tutorial i used isn't online anymore but with a quick search i found a video telling you exactly what to do.

http://www.videojug.com/webvideo/how-to-install-windows-xp-on-a-netbook-via-usb

Hope this helps.