Installing from USB drive

[doormat]

I've got one of those USB key drives (256 and 512). Is there any way I can install win2k or XP from these USB drives without using some other boot disk? I've seen people put linux or win98 on them and expand them to a ramdisk and run, but not an install package. I'd be easier than writing/rewriting CDs.

[TheCzar]

I don't think so...will the whole thing even fit on that? If you are just looking to replace the boot disk with it, that will work but you still ned the xp cd to install from...

[typhoon43]

OK, if you could get a 1GB USB drive it would be cake. You would simply copy the I386 directory off the USB drive to the HD and run winnt from the I386 directory. 512 is cutting it close. You could cut some fluff out of the OS if you wanted. Not sure if they make an "XP Lite" like they did with Win98Lite. I doubt zipping it would help considering the disk is mainly CAB files which are compressed already. You only need the I386 folder to do a full install so you can see what the file size of just the I386 folder is, removing the support and tools folder.

[kleptophobiac]

XP with SP1 slipstreamed in is about 490MB.... that's cutting it real close on a 512MB stick.

For OS installations, I think I'd rather have a CD. :) Use the 512 for patches and drivers and stuff.

[doormat]

I got my W2K install with patches and drivers down to 430MB, I can put that into my 512MB stick.