Install Windows XP Using Bootable Pendrive
Why would anyone want to install Windows XP from a pen drive?
- Some Laptops like asus eeepc, acer aspire one, hp mini etc don’t have CD-drive
- May be their CD drive isn’t working properly like mine, or
- They don’t want to waste money on a CD
More over installation from a flash drive is faster compared to a CD.
Before we go on with the tutorial here’s what you’ll need
Requirements
——————
- USB flash drive, 1GB or larger
- 1 Windows XP installation disc
- Assorted files that I’ll describe as we go along.
Note: Your BIOS should support usb boot, some older computers may not support USB boot.
Preparing the flash drive
————————-
First up, we need to prepare the flash drive.
- Download and unzip this file, which should contain 2 folders: 1 titled Bootsect, and the other USB_prep8.
- Navigate to the USB_prep8 folder and click on usb_prep8.cmd. This will bring up a Windows console window.
- Press any key to continue and a PeToUSB window will open.
- Make sure your flash drive is selected, and click start to format your flash drive.
- When the format is complete, click OK, but do not close the PeToUSB window or the Windows Console.
- Open a new console window by typing “cmd” into the run box in the Windows Start Menu.
- Directed to the second folder – Bootsect folder (if you’re not used to DOS commands, you can type “dir” to list directories and files, type “cd foldername” to navigate to a folder name – called foldername in this example, and if there’s a long folder name you can save time by typing the “cd” and just the first few letters and then hitting the Tab key to fill in the rest of the name).
- Once you’re in the Bootsect folder, type “bootsect.exe /nt52 g:” if “g” is the letter assigned to your flash drive. If it’s E, then change the letter to e. If it’s Z, make it z. Get it?
- When this is done, you should see a message letting you know that the bootcode was updated, and you can close this console window (but not the other console window).
- Close the PeToUSb Window, but make sure not to close the remaining console window yet
- You should now see a list of 8 options in the console.
- Select one and find the drive with your Windows installation disc.
- Select 2 and pick a random drive letter (but not one that’s already on your PC, since this will be a virtual drive used for copying your files).
- Select 3 and enter the drive letter for your USB flash drive.
- Select 4 and follow the rest of the on-screen directions and you should be all set.
The process should take about 15-20 minutes. When it’s done, you should have a bootable USB stick that you can use to install Windows XP the same way you would if you had a CD/DVD drive.
A few notes here. First of all, there’s a chance you may get down to step 15 and the program will tell you that it can’t create the virtual drive. This may happen if you’ve already gone through the whole process and are trying to do it again to fix problems. The solution seems to be rebooting your computer and trying again. Or at least that’s what worked for me.
Second, if you use NLite to shrink/slipstream/otherwise modify your Windows XP installation file, make sure you do not remove “manual installation files,” or your USB stick will be pretty much useless.
Once your usb drive is ready, go to your bios and set USB to first position in boot order. Now plug the usb and restart.
Make sure you back up your important documents and files, firefox bookmarks, and drivers if you lost your drivers cd.
This post explains you how to backup your drivers easily
Nice Trick…..
Good post. Always wanted to change installation type to faster one than from CD.
good tips .. i’m looking for this .. tnx
Here u go my little software archive
I am using a dell inspiron mini 10.1. i created the bootable pendrive and booted. and it worked too, the only problem is that after it copies file from text mode it doesn’t enter gui mode and comtinue with the setup.
the pendrive works as bootable but it doesn’t install.
is there any help that i can get
Excellent stuff. I was always looking for this and atlast my serch ended here. THANKS !!!!!!!!
This not trick, it’s tools for most “windowser”. Because for next days Optict Drive not usefull again
Nice post
this information very use full ,, wow
woww…. is very interesting…nice
Thanks a lot.. i was searching for this solution..
It helped me to gonna rock..
Regards
Raghu.
@raghu
Hello,
I had a strange problem while doing this.
I was able to create the bootable SD memory disc for Windows XP, for my ACER ASPIRE ONE D250. It started XP installation. It showed 2 options in the boot menu. I selected boot from the memory disc. At the end when it reaches the window where it shows the partitions, I could not see the computer hard disc drive. Instead only the SD memory disc(4GB)was shown there. That means if I proceed, it will install the OS in the SD card.Could you please tell me which settings do I miss, to be able to see the computer hard disc here?
I have a notebook and it’s time to start it with XP rather than the vista
I don’t get it hw to do.
sir you are genious
Excelent……..
u r genious…
i cannot find the list with 8 options where would i get that ??? when i open petousb from usb_prep a console window is not opening only petousb window is opening. what shall i do…??? giv me an answer plz…
Thanx for wonderful solutio0n let e try this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
what to do with FormatEx error[11] while formating.my disk is not formatted with your instructions…………..
gr8 it worked gr8 for me
after the bootable can it wil can work like pen drive
Best Best Best way Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!Lot of Thanks
i am not able to boot from pen drive…1st boot from pen drive option is showing in bios but failed to boot from it..plz help
how to install windows xp to pen drive
Another not working “solution” always says that my USB is not valid and after booting from it i get message about missing hal.sys
Another not working “solution” always says that my USB is not valid and after booting from it i get message about missing hal.sys
Now it’s fine. I ha ve to change name of setupldr.bin to ntldr
Hey everybody plzz don’t forget to do this…
after 15th step..
“Once the script has completed copy files a popup window asking if you would like to USB drive to be preferred boot drive U: select YES on this window.”
I selected NO & it didn’t work..
So,plz dont do this mistake like me..
I have done all the above steps…
I changed 1st boot device to usb..
but it cant find boot files from USB and starts pc from hard Disk…
Can any1 help me???
Hi….
I was able to create the bootable SD memory disc for Windows XP, for my ACER ASPIRE. It started XP installation. It showed 2 options in the boot menu. I selected boot from usb . At the end when it reaches the window where it didnt show the computer hard disc drives. Instead only the SD memory disc(4GB)was shown there. That means if I proceed, it will install the OS in the SD card.bt still that was not working.Could you please tell me which settings did I miss, to be able to see the computer hard disc there?
thnx …………….excellent wrk dudes…………….
It is really nice. I am creating one for me. I had one for linux, but having XP Installation Flash Drive will be very helpful in my profession. Thanks a lot.
Br,
i truly am grateful to you.great job with explaining everything.you should try teaching.thx again.
@PULIN
thx a lot.
Handy trick. This techinque serve as alternative to using CD as well. From my own experience, my DVD/RW is runing at 4x (its turtle speed at this age), I’ll rather do installation from USB which can run double that speed.
Thanks a bunch.
Supperb dude.. it worked!!!!!!!!
I AM CONFUSED, BECAUSE I AM NOT UNDERSTAND WINDOW XP TO BOOT TO PEN DRIVE
I AM NOT UNDERSTAND THIS POINT PLZ HELP ME
I WANT TO WINDOW XP INSTALL USE PEN DRIVE
this is g8, i use this, it’s working perfectly.
I hav gone until the step 11. and at the 12th step hav the prblem. I hav a copy of Winxp SP in my hard disk. I hav extracted iso file and i hav many folders of the xp. I am unable to select the windows soure code. which folder I need to selcet here. plz advise.
Thanks in advance,
Abdul
first mount ISO image using powerISO or nero and then select that virtual drive
This tutorial was very useful.
My 3hr long search ended here.
Thanks a lot
kudos to you !!
Great Job..
Thank you sir, you are genious…
Worked like a charm. I was not able to use GUI one, but still the seconf option (text mode) worked..
Thanks
Anyways, I was getting this error “FormatEx Error[11]: An Error Occurred Formating the Drive” while formatting the drive using PeToUSB.. So, I formatted using win7 default utility itself.. No issues. Everything went fine.
May be this happened because I was trying to format a 16GB pendrive which the software doesnt support.
I have done all the above steps…
I changed 1st boot device to usb..
but it cant find boot files from USB and starts pc from hard Disk…
Can any1 help me???
@harsh
Does your computer actually allow booting from USB? USB FDD option does not work, I think USB ZIP drive or Flash option should work.
i am using new hdd install to pen drive winxp and hdd to drive is first drive is e and 2nd drive f the my froblem is pen drive is c
wonderful man….. excellent job…. solved my long back problem… thanks
yes, this is wonderful. it is realy work. i was not able to use GUI but second TEXT was worked.
thanks the guide through in this regard, i did as you said and everything worked out till the creating the bootable usb stick. but the problem is in the set up…after system configuration, this message shows up:
File \$win_nt$. ~BT\biosinfo.inf could not be loaded. the error code is 18. set up cannot continue. press any key to exit.
why is this coming and how do i solve this issue. kindly help me out
Thank you dude .its good job.
But after install with this procedure giving error while install msoffice 2007.(windows install service not updating error)need to do that manually .That problem also has resolved.
Any way thanks
Hello Sunny Sir, Iam mathi from chennai.
I was able to create the bootable Sony pen drive for Windows XP, for my HP 530. It started XP installation. It showed 2 options in the boot menu. I selected boot from usb . At the end when it reaches the window where it didnt show the computer hard disc drives. Instead only the Sony pen drive 4GB)was shown there. That means if I proceed, it will install the OS in the pen drive.bt still that was not working.Could you please tell me which settings did I miss, to be able to see the computer hard disc there?
Best solution on net. You are a life saver bro
I tried out your software but couldnt get my usb disk in the list..
any suggestions
Im referring to step 4
It doesn’t formats the pendrive…
thank’s dud i like ur blog’s!!!!!!
op: 12: Select one and find the drive with your Windows installation disc.
I cant do that
Enter your choice: 1
Please give the location to your Windows XP Setup Source Files
Error: The path Input Error: There is no script engine for file extension “.vbs
“. does not contain Windows XP Source Files
Press any key to continue . . .
why???????????
I dosent Install Prepairly the os
Verry good site i have solve my problems for this site
NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW TO MAKE PEN DRIVE BOOTABLE
its very good
Did Each and every step as Described above still when i boot hp mini with USB it displays follwing error message “Disk Error” Press any key to re-start!!!! Mr Sunny should reply to the queries here else this is time wasting.
its very apt which you have provided such blog on net. Thanks dear
do not run dos fill do’t format my pc in pen drive
how to make bootable my pen drive
must Hai Boos
thank u sir its really helpful for me
i am work done all step correctly but its not booting what step i did wrong please tell me
how to install windows xp in external hard drive
hello Boss, i have done what ever you wrote your artical but after rebooting from usb it’s getting error:
File \$win_NT~BT\BIOSINFO.INF counld not not be loaded .
The error code is 14.
what could be problem.