Installing windows via flash?

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battletoad

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Need to install windows. Any idea how i can stall from a flashdrive? Pc doesn't have a cd/dvdrom.

Heard of nlite(sic), does this have the capability to do that?
 
Required:

* USB Flash Drive (4GB+)
* Microsoft OS Disk (Vista / Windows 7)
* A computer running Vista / Windows 7

Step 1: Format the flash drive (NTFS format)
Step 2: Check in Explorer what drive letter is assigned to your usb flash drive
Step 3: Launch Command Prompt as Administrator (Right click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”)
Step 4: Make sure your Windows Vista / Win 7 disc is in the drive, goto Directory \BOOT\ and type "bootsect /nt60 e:" eg if your drive letter is e:
Step 5: Unhide all files by going to Explorer, click on Organize, Click the VIEW tab, and select / deselect the following:

[x] Show hidden files, folders and drives
[ ] Hide empty drives in the Computer folder
[ ] Hide extensions for known files
[ ] Hide protected os files

Step 6: Copy contents of DVD to the flash drive.
Step 7: Set your Cmos to boot CD first, USB second HDD last.

Enjoy!.
 
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Thanks!!

I takit this worx with xp as well?(runnin from xp OS for an xp install)
 
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battletoad said:
Thanks!!

I takit this worx with xp as well?
Click to expand...

err... No it does not.

I don't have a active WinXP system running, and its been a wile...

But you'd need to map to a directory called command in the Windows folder (if its still there, can't remember if they took it away after Win2000)
There's a file called SYS.COM
Do : SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS\ and wherever that file is\
at command prompt do SYS E:
Then copy contents of XP drive to Flash drive.

Hope that helps...
 
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SYNERGY said:
Yes it works with XP as well. Installed it this way on a EEE PC.
Click to expand...

are you sure, because the Bootsect file is not available on XP - I've checked! Its only on Vista and Win7 (unless its only usable after XP is installed!)

Either way, if bootsect is available in XP, you'd need to use type this instead : BOOTSECT /nt52 as this is for NTLDR for older windows NTFS installations!
 
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Shot guys! Im buying dop for the 1st 5 guys with either labanimal or synergy on their tshirts:D
 
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LabAnimal said:
are you sure, because the Bootsect file is not available on XP - I've checked! Its only on Vista and Win7 (unless its only usable after XP is installed!)

Either way, if bootsect is available in XP, you'd need to use type this instead : BOOTSECT /nt52 as this is for NTLDR for older windows NTFS installations!
Click to expand...

Yep positive.
See here:
http://tinyurl.com/kw24yg
 
yea but you have to download bootsect! and a ready made .bat file - but ya, suppose that will work! - Scary how rusty i am with XP now! Its like going back to Win3.11 :D (ok not that bad! :D :D)
 
Lol True have to download Bootsect.
There's alot of easy to follow guides battletoad-just google :)
 
Battletoad - you should come join the Win7 Arrr Crowd! :D Way better than XP if you have acceptable PC resources!
 
Finally tracked down a working install when preparing from xp. Some files will need to be dl'd(500kb so np). Will post walkthro n links 2mro
 
Here's the method i used. For obvious reasons, your bios will have to support booting from a flashdrive(USB-HDD in most cases) and the hdd(not flashdrive, keep this distinction in mind) you will be prepping the flashdrive from has to have at least 2gbs free space. I recommend using a 2gb flash drive. Also, this method will format ur flash drive, so don't keep anything on there that you really need.

download these files:
bootsect.zip http://www.2shared.com/file/2585881/5ad9ef68/bootsect.html
usb_prep8.zip http://www.2shared.com/file/2581432/a65c092a/usb_prep8.html
PeToUsbhttp://www.2shared.com/file/2581436/a131cd33/PeToUSB_3007.html

*extract usb_prep8.zip to your hdd, and extract PeToUSB files to the same folder which contains usb_prep8's files.
*copy winxp install disk's contents to hdd, say to c:\winxp
*Run usb_prep8.cmd(from the files you extracted). NB!!! never close this program until you done with the whole procedure!
*after entering some keystrokes, PeToUSB pops up. It should pick up ur flash drive(keep in mind which drives it picks up as,eg my case e: ). Leave settings as is and click "start". Once PeToUSB is done, close it.
*Extract bootsect.zip to some folder, say c:\bootsect\. Open cmd (start->run->type "cmd" then enter). Since my bootsect folder was c:\bootsect, i type "cd\bootsect" in cmd. Then type "bootsect /nt52 e:", e: being ur flashdrive's path.
*go back to ur usb_prep8 window. Press "1" then enter. A window pops up, browse to the folder where you dumped your xp install disk on your hdd and click ok.
*Press "2". Choose an unsused drive letter. If T is unused, leave as is.
*Press "3". Enter your flashdrive's path, without ":".
*Finally, press "4". This start the whole copying process and turns your flashdrive into a xp installer!:D Btw If any other user input is need during this copying process, select "ok" or "yes".

Then it's up to you to set ur bios(if F8 isn't an option for a bootmenu) to select booting from your flash(USB-HDD in all cases, but i stand to be corrected if not). For ease of use, have only the hdd you want xp installed to connected and all others disconnected during installation.

Just for interests sake, installing is faster(faster flash the better) than cd. Strangely enuff, installing was faster on my 2400+Athlon XP than my buddy's 3500+ system, 15mins to his 25! Seems my system's not that crap:D

EDIT: For older mobos, the boot menu might be written to the flashdrive instead of your hdd resulting in you not being able to load windows without the flashdrive inserted. In this case, do the following in windows:
*in the root of your windows hdd, make a file called boot.ini(if it's there, edit)
*copy and paste this into that file and save(if boot.ini wasn't there):
[Boot Loader]
timeout=2
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
*copy and paste this into that file and save(if boot.ini was there):
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
in any new line after "[Operating Systems]"
*to test if it works(fluffing it up might result in headaches), click start->run->type "msconfig" and enter
*choose BOOT.INI tab, and click "check all boot paths". If it returns as OK, your job is done
 
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Had a look@that. WinsetupfromUSB, altho using more or less the same files as the method i referred to, looks like the better option since it requires less steps. Either way two methods just in case one doesn't work for u(which i doubt since the manuals are pretty clear)
 
Heard that when you boot from Ubuntu Live CD, you have disk management options even for windows disks. So next thing to do is to get dual boot for this flash for windows install and that ubuntu live OS working...

Why? if the hdd messes up, i'll be able to go into ubuntu and attempt to fix the problem. if not then reinstalling is the way to go
 
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