Windows XP on a USB flash drive? 2k Pro?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

How can I install windows to a USB thumb drive?

Where can I get more information on this?

I've heard of windows 98 "lite" on a 16mb drive so it got me thinking about XP.

 

[dc5]

copy all files and paste them in the thumb drive maybe? even if you got windows on the thumb drive, how would you the computer boot with usb? maybe you're just using this as windows backup files.

 

[Link19]

You also have to be aware of the fact that flash memory has a finite number of write cycles, so it would probably be killed pretty fast by the Windows swap file. Unless you could somehow make it a read only install and create a virtual RAM drive using system memory for the swap file.

 

[mrgoblin]

The Solution. Carry the XP cd with u at all times.

 

[timswim78]

This guy's website tells you how to make a bootable "Windows XP Live" CD.
Perhaps it would work on a CD?
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

 

[BlueWeasel]

Do they make 2gb USB flash drives now? The largest I've seen is 1gb and I though XP took up 1.5-2gb of space.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Do they make 2gb USB flash drives now? The largest I've seen is 1gb and I though XP took up 1.5-2gb of space.

I don't think that you would need 2GB. If you take a look at the link I posted, you will see that this guy's installer takes your Windows files and creates a preinstalled windows environment (similar to a Live Linux CD) and fits it onto one cd.