16 replies to this topic

[TechKing]

I can't believe that it is so complicated to install Windows XP on a Eee PC from a USB key. I have only been able to install it from a USB CD-ROM.

I have made a custom windows installation for my eee pc with nLite which gives me a bootable iso file. How do I boot from a USB key with that image and start the installation, just as if I was booting from a CD? Why is it so simple to burn the image to a CD and boot from it, but nearly impossible to do do it from a USB key? Googling doesn't really help. There are a few obscure ways to get it working but it almost requires an extra day of work :-(

Suggestions and links are welcome.

[haushinka]

yep this has been discussed many times on this forum... i think the consensus is its hard... but not impossible... there's this one website out there that tells you how to do it.. but it is quite involved... sorry but i'm lazy to search/google...

[rollover]

Someone who claimed to have hands-on experience said that you have to change the BIOS to boot USB, then hold down the "ESC" key on boot.

[tsumi88]

the main reason its not easy is b/c by default, the windows installation drops usb so that it can install the drivers for it.... from my experience, the install takes FOREVER!! :-p
if you'd like, I've got the modified inf's and such that you have to put back into your i386 folder and burn so that you can install from usb.
just pm me if you need some help.

[TechKing]

-rollover.
Thanks for your suggestion, but I think you are refering to my own post on how to boot from usb while holding the Esc key ;-)
It is possible to boot from USB, but it is almost impossible to start a windows install from the USB key. You can format the key and boot in DOS mode. However, install.exe says that it can't start from DOS...

-tsumi88.
Thanks for your help. I will get back to you to get the info as soon as I get a little more time to play with my computer.
As for the USB that is supposedly disabled during Windows installation, I am not quite sure it is exact as I have easily installed Win XP after booting from a USB external CD-ROM with Win XP on it.

[cityfun]

I am assuming readers has a working knowledge of DOS commands.

TO MAKE A BOOTABLE DOS USB DRIVE:

Download the following file:
http://rapidshare.co...ootable_DOS.rar

Contents:
1) A USB format utility to make a bootable device.
2) A folder containing the boot disc content for DOS, just copy everything into the root of the USB drive

WINXP Installation:
1) Copy the \I386 folder from your WinXP CD into the USB Drive (min 1GB drive to hold WinXP and EEE drivers)
2) Set your system BIOS to boot from USB.
3) Delete all partitions from the SSD using FDISK and create a new one with a main partition and a 1GB extended partition.
4) Set the main partition as active, this will mark it bootable.
5) Reboot the EEE using the USB drive to effect partition changes.
6) Format and transfer DOS system to SSD main partition using: x:\>format X:/s
7) Format the 1GB extended partition as well.
8) Run SMARTDRV
9) Go into the \I386 directory in your USB drive. Run XCOPY . Y:\I386 (where Y: is your 1GB extended partition.
10) Copy SMARTDRV.EXE from the \DOS directory to the root of the main partition on the SSD.
11) Remove USB and reboot the EEE
12) Once in DOS, run SMARTDRV
13) Goto the extended partition \I386 folder and run WINNT

Good luck!

[TechKing]

That clearly looks like the easiest way! Thank you!

[TechKing]

New development: it is quite difficult to install Win XP entirely from a USB key.
There is quite a good thread here on the topic with a tool that is supplied (usb_prep5.zip):
http://www.msfn.org/...d=703829&st=400
Didn't have time to try it out yet. Looks like you can't use an nLited version of Windows though. If anybody has time to figure out how to setup the install file, let us know!

[betaluva]

ask at http://911cd.net/forums if these guys cant help you then its not possible.

Edited by betaluva, 02 November 2007 - 11:21 AM.

[TheBronze]

"ask at http://911cd.net/forums if these guys cant help you then its not possible."

Thats for damned sure! I have used these guys in the past. I was once able to get an HP 360G5 NIC to come up in Bart PE by using IBM drivers. If it wasn't for these guys, I would have never figured it out!

[monk3yfurr]

Anyone tried just booting bartpe to ram from a usb key, then starting the xp install from within bart (after copying the xp install files to the internal ssd). I know this method works from cd (copying the correct xp install files down from a lan to the target machine and kicking off the install).

[TechKing]

What is the name of the install/setup file for Windows XP which is launched automatically when you boot from a CD?

[punkonjunk]

I've used an Nlite'd XP copy to install with USB before. It's slow and annoying, your better off spending 20 bucks on the goddamn CD drive, seriously. I'll see if I can dig up some notes on it. Hell, I managed to do it on a system that doesn't even support booting from USB in bios, so I'm sure you can do it with this thing.

[x1987x]

Find a copy of XP embedded (XPe). It includes network install, cd-r install, usb fob, usb drives. I have yet to try it, but its 'real xp' and real xp programs work with it, unlike Windows CE

[TheBronze]

The setup file is "winnt.exe" located in the i386 folder.
A workaround for trying to run setup from the USB would be to boot to a command prompt with the USB key, copy the i386 folder over and then run setup from the C drive. Not sure if you CAN boot to a command prompt and have the USB drive be recognized though. Note that I am not talking about booting FROM a USB drive. :)

[ma10]

I've gotten nLite'd XP to install from USB stick.... someone probably posted it before but I can confirm that the following MSFN topic does work:


http://www.msfn.org/...91


Basically, it entails creating a folder with your original XP files (or nLite'd version) and running the above mentioned batch file (in the package) to produce the files required to boot/install from USB stick.

I used a nLite'd customised XP SP2 + hotfixes on a bog standard 1gb USB stick and it works wonderfully well!

I've managed to get XP sp2, Office 2003, MSN Live messenger, Opera, Skype, AVG, WinRAR, Foxit PDF and other misc apps installed. The total used space on the SSD is 1.48GB, which still leaves me 2.22gb free... :D

Edited by ma10, 05 November 2007 - 05:18 PM.

[tanwir]

hi youngs----
i have to rinstal xp to my eee.heve a dvd usb, sd 2gb, pen drive 1gb
who can help me