Windows XP USB install

How to install Windows XP from a USB device.

What you’ll need -

  • 1GB+ USB storage device. I used a Kingston Datatraveler 2GB USB 2.0 pendrive
  • PC with Windows XP/Vista installed. I used a HP nc6320, mostly any computer will do
  • CD/DVD/ISO with Windows XP SP1/2/3. I used a Windows XP SP2 CD copy, Norwegian language
  • USB_Multiboot_10.

Alright then, let’s continue.

Formatting the USB-device and copying Windows XP onto it

  1. You will need a special tool to copy the Installation files and making the USB-stick/SD card bootable – usb_multiboot_10.zip
  2. Unpack to any folder. THE PATH TO YOUR FOLDER MUST BE SIMPLE AND WITHOUT SPACES! (ex. C:\usb_multiboot_10)
  3. Insert USB stick/SD card.
    1. ALL DATA ON YOUR STICK WILL BE ERASED! Please back up before running USB_MultiBoot_10.cmd!
  4. Run USB_MultiBoot_10.cmd – Follow the text description.
  5. Format utility will appear. Choose NTFS for larger than 4GB USB flash and FAT16 for smaller devices. Start format, close the window after the format is finished.
    1. NOTE: If you are doing this from a Vista machine, you may need to run PeToUSB.exe as adminstrator in order for this program to recognize the jump drive. (Right click PeToUSB.exe > Properties > Compatibility > “Run this program as an administrator” checked.)
  6. Set options 1 and 2. Set option 0 only if you want to use USB HDD instead of a USB-stick/ SD card. Do not touch any other options if you have no idea about it.
  7. Choose 3 after setting all other options. It will create the image and write to the USB-stick as well as making the USB stick / SD card bootable.
  8. Answer “Yes” to all questions that come up (these vary depending on options selected).
  9. When it finishes copying, remove your usb stick and insert it in the EeePC to install XP.
  10. When you turn on the Eee, hold down “Esc” to choose the boot device and select the USB-stick/ SD card. You’ll need to do this at each reboot until XP is fully installed and you’ve logged in.
  11. Choose Text installation at first time and GUI INSTALLATION AFTER REBOOT TWICE! – Choose step 1 to start installing, after reboot choose step two, after continued install press step 2 AGAIN to log into XP – As soon as you arrive at the Windows XP Desktop you can safely remove the USBStick / SD card.
    1. If you get hal.dll not found errors, read bullet 10 and 11.

IMPORTANT! DO NOT REMOVE THE USB-STICK UNTIL YOU SEE THE WINDOWS XP LOGIN SCREEN!

That should be it! This guide is done by the Asus EEE user-community, fear not, as it will work on any other computer; laptop, netbook, desktop etc.

I’d like to say thanks to the EEE-wiki page over at eeeuser, it’s filled with nice information for me and anyone else with an Asus EEE PC.

Feel free to comment if you get stuck or wonder about anything in the guide. I might do a Windows Vista guide soon, will see how long I have fun fiddling around with Windows XP on my Asus EEE PC 1000 SSD.

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Published:
November 20, 2008 / 3:16 pm
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All, Computer, How To
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