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How to Create a Bootable XP Flash Drive

Posted by Brothson Allotey

Booting up Windows XP from an external flash drive allows you to save space on your computer's main hard drive. You can also use it to make your computer system portable---simply plug the flash drive into any computer and you can load your version of XP. Perhaps the most useful application, however, is being able to troubleshoot a computer that may be suffering problems by using the flash drive to run the operating system.

 Things You'll Need:

  • Flash drive, 2 GB
  • Windows XP service pack 2 CD

Instructions



  • 1
    Log onto the Internet and download the HP USB Storage Format Tool. This is available free from a number of websites (see Resources). Once downloaded, insert the flash drive and start the HP program by double clicking the icon of the program you just downloaded.

  • 2
    Select "flash drive" under "Devices" and then select the "FAT file" system option. Click "Start."

  • 3
    Select "BOOT.IMI" "NTLDR" and "NTDETECT" when you are presented with the option. Copy them to your now formatted flash drive to make it bootable. The files may be hidden, so uncheck the hidden settings in the control pane of the HP program if you cannot see them.

  • 4
    Download the program, PEBuilder, from the Internet (see Resources). Insert your Windows XP CD and open the downloaded program. Enter the CD file path in the "Source" field box. Click the "Build" button.

  • 5
    Open Windows command script from the Start bar by clicking on your computer's "Start" menu on the lower left-hand corner of your screen. Click "Run." Type in "c:\pebuilder313\plugin\peinst" (without the quotation marks) and press"Enter." Press "1" to select the next option. Type "c:\pebuilder313\BartPE" (without the quotation marks), then "Enter." Press "2" to move to the final option. Insert any alphabet letter you want as your drive letter for your flash drive and hit "Enter."

  • 6
    Press "5" then "Enter" to create a bootable XP on your flash drive. This may take several minutes. Once finished, close the program and eject the flash drive.

    Tips & Warnings

    • Using a USB flash drive that doesn't support USB 2.0 will result in very slow loading times. Please see Resources for USB 2.0

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