Most PC users have got very much habituated in installing Windows Operating system on their computer using the Windows Installation CD’s, but what if a user does not have a CD-ROM to read them and if he has a option of only using a Pen Drive? Then here is a small tutorial on how to get started and install a complete Operating System using the Pen Drive as Booting Medium and a drive to Store the Setup files. Many a times a small Virus Attack or some Program Installation can stall your OS and this can lead to no PC Boot up following which you are left with a option of Reinstallation.
Next you need to get ready loading the OS files into the Flash Drive, following which you need to setup the Boot Device in the Advanced BIOS Features. The new version MotherBoards would have a option called ‘USB-HDD’ before the Hard Drive option and if you dont find this available you need to update your BIOS. If you find it, you need to change the order of booting and make sure that the USB-HDD is in the first option. Next save the BIOS settings and restart the computer.
There can be other names also listed for these Pen Drives which can be likely Removable Device, Removable Storage Device etc whom you need to select and make sure they are in the first position in the Boot Device Priority Section. via Tomshardware
I tried to install the windows operating system via pen drive and it’s installed properly that’s great story written over here and it would be amazing tricks..
Thats good to know, glad that this tutorial did help you!
hey Amit how to format it via hp usb disk storage format tool? what i meant is do we need to click on quick format or create a dos startup disk or both? plz help me out
Bcoz I Done Ouick Format And Copied The File From CD But Pen Drive Not Getting BOOTABLE…Kindly Help me
i have tried to install xp via pen drive but failed. it saya that the os installed on your pc is of higher version. i have vista ultimate installed presently and want to install xp via pen-drive so please help me
well if you have vista installed then xp wont install…coz first the old version(eg-xp) of os is installed and then new versions(vista,windows 7)…so first install xp and then install vista
Hi, but how to load the OS into the USB flash? I think it’s not a straight forward process..thanks
Ya truly agree with the process ..it works ..thanks..
dear sir /madam
how to install window xp sp2 in pen drive
I used ‘inSetupFromUSB’sofware to make pen drive install winXP, but when I boot from USB error given that hall.dll/ntoskrnl.exe file is missing. I used usb_prep8
also but same problem occur
I used WinSetupFromUSB sofware to make pen drive install winXP, but when I boot from USB error given that hall.dll/ntoskrnl.exe file is missing. Iuse usb_prep8 also but same problem occur
Hi amith belated cograts for the MVP awards..Amith,”loading the OS files into the Flash Drive” means just copy paste the windows cd files to the flash drive,am i correct..please reply
Thanks and yes that does mean just copy & pasting all the files from the CD/DVD to the USB Drive. Do read this article if you wish to perform this stuff with a Windows 7 – https://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/install-windows-7-usb-pen-drive-tutorial/
amit,how to update the bios,u mean updating motherboard
This article can help you – https://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/how-to-upgrade-bios-with-windows-xp-operating-system/
hey Amit how to format it via hp usb disk storage format tool? what i meant is do we need to click on quick format or create a dos startup disk or both? plz help me out.
Oh outstanding reply,i got the reply in just 30seconds,amit bhai really great
I reply to useful and important comments, right away! 🙂 Do check out our help desk for other tech support – http://www.amitbhawani.com/help/
ok thanks,amith bai rules WWW
Sir,
1. what file system to be opted while formatting the USB drive? Fat, Fat32 or NTFS?
2. How 256MB would be sufficient for OS files? you mean any stripped version of OS?
Thank you for the help.
Fat32 format used for windows xp,use 1gb pendrive
I could not understand the line:
Formatting a USB Drive into the “right File System”
what is right file system? NTFS or FAT?
thanks regards working ok
hi i have asus 1201t no rom so i want to install win xp useing pendrive so any one please help my contact no 9856455162 just give me misscall i ill call you back
Hi,
I tried installing XP in my system using the mentioned method. When I select the option of booting from pen drive, it says operationg system not found. Am I missing something.
I did the format using HP software, and copied all setup files in the pen drive.
make the pendrive bootable and select to boot the pc pend drive.
u have to format ur flash drive in FAT 32 after then use ‘WinSetupFromUsb’ like software to copy temp files to flash drive. Don’t copy files normally from OS cd..
hi priya,
u cannot install windows xp from a running vista or windows 7…that might b the problem
i tried making pendrive bootable ….. but it says that
” usb not fat fat32 or ntfs formatted and is not valid ”
when i format usb using hp format s/w ….
plz plz … reply asap ….
Plz Help in Hindi Language….i am weak in english……plzzzzzzzz
hi,
i want install XP in pendrive..is that possible to install XP in poratable devices like pendrive or flash drives..
plz mail me details 2chiya(at)in(dot)com..
HelloO 😀
–>First, Thanks a lot for this article 😀
–>Secondly,I got some question which if you have time ,can you reply Oo ??
>I got Xp sp3 running properly on my PC And I used a 4 GB Kingston pen Drive.
>When i ran that HP software you told, it only gave me 2 options for format type – Fat32 and NTFS But no FAT 🙁 hehe I tried to reintall the software , but still same 2 options.
>So, I formatted my pen drive with Fat32 and then, extracted Xp’s setup files from a XP setup image (that I Use most of the times)
>When i booted my PC with my “USB RMD-FDD Kingston DT Vivid” as The First boot priority,..
It showed :-
Searching for boot Record from USB RMD-FDD…OK.. [I expected this :D]
– [I got the cursor “blinking” in this second line . I was expecting smthing like “Press any Key to Boot from Usb(or smthing)” . I waited for 5 min But still nothing .The cursor was still “blinking” XD ]
>So,can you guide me[if u like] where i went wrong (^.^)
—>Thirdly, When i tried to boot my friend’s PC with this same pen drive , it showed me an error message. Smthing like :-
“” Boot files not found in selected drive.Reboot and change Boot priority OR
Insert correct boot media in selected drive and press any key. “”
Lol it atleast showed “” Searching for boot Record from USB RMD-FDD…OK.. “” on my PC
Can you help me in this too 😀
**** If you can guide me in any 1 of the 2 problems, please do 🙂
Thanks for reading 🙂
i want to install window xp by using pen drive
HelloO
–>First, Thanks a lot for this article
–>Secondly,I got some question which if you have time ,can you reply Oo ??
>I got Xp sp3 running properly on my PC And I used a 4 GB Kingston pen Drive.
>When i ran that HP software you told, it only gave me 2 options for format type – Fat32 and NTFS But no FAT hehe I tried to reintall the software , but still same 2 options.
>So, I formatted my pen drive with Fat32 and then, extracted Xp’s setup files from a XP setup image (that I Use most of the times)
>When i booted my PC with my “USB RMD-FDD Kingston DT Vivid” as The First boot priority,..
It showed :-
Searching for boot Record from USB RMD-FDD…OK.. [I expected this ]
– [I got the cursor “blinking” in this second line . I was expecting smthing like “Press any Key to Boot from Usb(or smthing)” . I waited for 5 min But still nothing .The cursor was still “blinking” XD ]
>So,can you guide me[if u like] where i went wrong (^.^)
—>Thirdly, When i tried to boot my friend’s PC with this same pen drive , it showed me an error message. Smthing like :-
“” Boot files not found in selected drive.Reboot and change Boot priority OR
Insert correct boot media in selected drive and press any key. “”
Lol it atleast showed “” Searching for boot Record from USB RMD-FDD…OK.. “” on my PC
Can you help me in this too
**** If you can guide me in any 1 of the 2 problems, please do
HI,I TRIED A LOT OF METHODS INCLUDING THE ABOVE ONE BUT MY LAPTOP ASUS EEE PC R101 DOES NOT WORK IT COMES UP WITH BLUE SCREEN ERROR….PLZ HELP ME CAUSE MY PRESENT VERION IS IN ARABIC I WANT TO CHAGE IT TO ENGLISH
Will It work if the Device is in the type FAT32 and not FAT??
agar aap pehle se windows 7 chala rahe hai aur xp ko pen drive se boot nahi kar pa rahe hai to mai ek baat bata du ki windows 7 se aap xp ko pen drive se bootable nahi bana sakte ha windows 7 ko bootable bana sakte hai lekin xp ko bootable banane k liye aapke paas xp installed hota jaruri hai bootable banane k liye novicop win to flash software ka prayog kare……………dhanyavad asha karta hu itni jankari aap k liye upyogi hogi……………..
What a marvelous web site it is. I really enjoyed it. XP can be setup easily with the tips. Thanks to the author……
how to install windows xp os to laptop by using usb pendrive
i really did it and it was really amazing but friends who need help could actually contact me on +233545192842 or online guide thanks to this website
Hello Sir,
I have a Windows Xp file , now i want to install using USB drive. Please help me to how to install like in installation of Ubuntu we use universal USB INSTALLER for sending into pendrive. In the same way which software do we use for Sending Xp file into USB drive. Advnce Thank U
Dear amit ,
I depended on my son ( expired 20th sept. 2012 at SMC Pune) to fix my computer. Now I am compelled to do it myself. I had to fix my Hp laptop whose CD drive is not working. I found your site. Computer language is strange to me. kindly give me note on the subject in laymen language so I can load windows xp in my laptop.
Dr James
Hi, I have formatted my USB pen drive using that HP software. I have copied the complete Windows XP content in a folder on my desktop. But it contains other software like Acrobat reader, Messenger etc as well.
So when i tried to change BIOS setting and kept HDD at the top then too….it didnt work out….please tell me what OS files have to put in the pen drive…
I have some doubts reg all thos…why we need to format our pendrive..why bios is nt accepted..and i heard tat if we install os using pendrive then the pendrove looses ots functiob i.e later v cant sav oder doc in it…can u plz clarify my doubts