Install Windows XP on a USB flash/hard drive

I am building a new PC from old spare parts. The new PC will be used mainly for the Internet, so a hard drive won't be necessary unless there's a need to download music and movies. I'm going to put together a computer with no internal storage, but use a USB stick as the main storage. Windows XP Professional will be installed on the USB stick, and the computer will boot up from the USB stick. Here I show how to install XP onto a USB stick and boot the PC from it. You should have the following ready.

• PC running Windows for carrying out the task
  
• USB flash/hard drive with at least 1.5 GB capacity
  
• genuine Windows XP CD
  
  
  
  • bittorrent: Windows XP Pro SP3 VL MSDN
    
  • ed2k: en_windows_xp_professional_with_service_pack_3_x86_cd_vl_x14-73974.iso
    
  
  
• cabarc.exe from Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools
  
• ImgBurn, CDBurnerXP or similar tool
  
• PowerQuest Partition Table Editor
  
• HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool 2.2.3
  

Let's begin.

1. Get your Windows XP installation CD and copy its contents to an empty folder on the hard drive. If you don't have the CD, use utorrent or emule to download the ISO file.

   
   
   • bittorrent: Windows XP Pro SP3 VL MSDN
     
   • ed2k: en_windows_xp_professional_with_service_pack_3_x86_cd_vl_x14-73974.iso
     
   
   

   Then, use 7-zip to extract the contents of the ISO file into an empty folder.

   
   
   

2. Start the Command Prompt, go to the I386 subfolder and type the following commands to uncompress the USB driver files:

   
   

   CD I386
   EXPAND -I USB.IN_
   EXPAND -I USBPORT.IN_
   EXPAND -I USBSTOR.IN_

   
   

   We'll get 3 new files: USB.INF, USBPORT.INF and USBSTOR.INF. Remove the original .IN_ files.

   
   

   ERASE USB.IN_ USBPORT.IN_ USBSTOR.IN_

   
   
   
3. Edit TXTSETUP.SIF to include USB storage support at the initial stage of Windows XP installation. The highlighted entries were copied from the [InputDevicesSupport.Load] section to the [BootBusExtenders.Load] section:
   
   

   [BootBusExtenders.Load]
   pci = pci.sys
   acpi = acpi.sys
   isapnp = isapnp.sys
   acpiec = acpiec.sys
   ohci1394 = ohci1394.sys
   usbehci = usbehci.sys
   usbohci = usbohci.sys
   usbuhci = usbuhci.sys
   usbhub = usbhub.sys
   usbstor = usbstor.sys

   
   
   

   Likewise for [BootBusExtenders] and [InputDevicesSupport]:

   
   
   

   [BootBusExtenders]
   pci      = "PCI Bus Driver",files.pci,pci
   acpi     = "ACPI Plug & Play Bus Driver",files.acpi,acpi
   isapnp   = "ISA Plug & Play Bus Driver",files.isapnp,isapnp
   acpiec   = "ACPI Embedded Controller Driver",files.none,acpiec
   ohci1394 = "IEEE 1394 Bus OHCI Compliant Port Driver",files.ohci1394,ohci1394
   usbehci  = "Enhanced Host Controller",files.usbehci,usbehci
   usbohci  = "Open Host Controller",files.usbohci,usbohci
   usbuhci  = "Universal Host Controller",files.usbuhci,usbuhci
   usbhub   = "Generic USB Hub Driver",files.usbhub,usbhub
   usbstor  = "USB Storage Class Driver",files.usbstor,usbstor

   
   
   

   Insert the following in the [HiveInfs.Fresh] section:

   
   

   [HiveInfs.Fresh]
   AddReg = hivedef.inf,AddReg
   AddReg = hivesys.inf,AddReg
   AddReg = hivesft.inf,AddReg
   AddReg = hivecls.inf,AddReg
   AddReg = hiveusd.inf,AddReg
   AddReg = dmreg.inf,DM.AddReg
   AddReg = usbboot.inf,usbservices 

   
   
   

   Then, in the [SourceDisksFiles] section:

   
   
   

   [SourceDisksFiles]
   usbboot.inf = 1,,,,,,_x,3,,3
   bootvid.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2
   kdcom.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2 

   
   
   

   Save and close TXTSETUP.SIF.

   
   
   
4. Edit DOSNET.INF so that the second [Files] section looks like this:
   
   

   [Files]
   d1,usbboot.inf
   d1,_default.pif
   d1,12520437.cpx
   d1,12520850.cpx

   
   
   

5. Edit USB.INF as follows:

   
   

   [StandardHub.AddService]
   DisplayName = %StandardHub.SvcDesc%
   ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
   StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
   ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
   ServiceBinary = %12%\usbhub.sys
   LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
   
   [CommonClassParent.AddService]
   DisplayName = %GenericParent.SvcDesc%
   ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
   StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
   ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
   ServiceBinary = %12%\usbccgp.sys
   LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

   
   




6. Modify USBPORT.INF like this.

   
   

   [EHCI.AddService]
   DisplayName = %EHCIMP.SvcDesc%
   ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
   StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
   ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
   ServiceBinary = %12%\usbehci.sys
   LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
   
   
   [OHCI.AddService]
   DisplayName = %OHCIMP.SvcDesc%
   ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
   StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
   ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
   ServiceBinary = %12%\usbohci.sys
   LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
   
   
   [UHCI.AddService]
   DisplayName = %UHCIMP.SvcDesc%
   ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
   StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
   ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
   ServiceBinary = %12%\usbuhci.sys
   LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
   
   
   [ROOTHUB.AddService]
   DisplayName = %ROOTHUB.SvcDesc%
   ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
   StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
   ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
   ServiceBinary = %12%\usbhub.sys
   LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

   
   
   

7. Edit USBSTOR.INF:

   
   

   [USBSTOR.AddService]
   DisplayName = %USBSTOR.SvcDesc%
   ServiceType = 1
   StartType = 0
   Tag = 3
   ErrorControl = 1
   ServiceBinary = %12%\USBSTOR.SYS
   LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

   
   
   

8. Create a new file USBBOOT.INF with the following contents:

   
   

   [usbservices]
   
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB Mass Storage Driver"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\USBSTOR.SYS"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Start",0x00010001,0
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Type",0x00010001,1
   
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Miniport Driver"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbehci.sys"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Start",0x00010001,0
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Type",0x00010001,1
   
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB2 Enabled Hub"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbhub.sys"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Start",0x00010001,0
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Type",0x00010001,1
   
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Universal Host Controller Miniport Driver"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbuhci.sys"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Start",0x00010001,0
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Type",0x00010001,1
   
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbohci.sys"
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Start",0x00010001,0
   HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Type",0x00010001,1
   

   
   
   

9. If you haven't erased the original .IN_ files, do so now.

   
   

   erase USB.IN_
   erase USBPORT.IN_
   erase USBSTOR.IN_

   
   

   Compress the modified files with cabarc.

   
   

   cabarc n USB.IN_ usb.inf
   cabarc n USBPORT.IN_ usbport.inf
   cabarc n USBSTOR.IN_ usbstor.inf

   
   

   You'll get 3 compressed files with IN_ extension.

   
   
   
10. Put these files back into the I386 subfolder of the Windows XP installation folder.
    
    
    • DOSNET.INF
      
    • TXTSETUP.SIF
      
    • USB.IN_
      
    • USBBOOT.INF
      
    • USBPORT.IN_
      
    • USBSTOR.IN_
    
    
    

11. You'll need this boot sector (w2ksect.bin) to make your new CD bootable. Put w2ksect.bin inside the main folder containing XP files.

    
    
    

12. Now, let's burn a new CD containing Windows XP files. Start ImgBurn and select Write files/folders to disc. Click the Browser for a folder... icon and select the folder containing Windows XP files. Then, set up options as follows.

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Insert a blank CD into your optical drive and burn it.

    
    
    

13. Plug in your USB flash drive or USB hard drive to your computer and run the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. On Windows Vista or Windows 7, run it as administrator.

    
    
    
    

14. From the I386 folder of XP installation CD, copy the following files to the USB drive:

    
    
    
    • ntldr
      
    • ntdetect.com
      
    
    

    Then, create a new file boot.ini with the following contents. Put it on the USB drive.

    
    

    [boot loader]
    timeout=30
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
    
    [operating systems]
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

    
    
    

15. Run the Partition Table Editor (PTEDIT32.EXE) as administrator. Select your USB drive from Hard Disk pulldown menu.

    
    
    
    

    Change the type of primary partition on the USB drive from 00 to 80. Click the Save Changes button.

    
    
    

    Partition Information should read FAT16X, Bootable

    
    
    

16. Remove your hard drive from the computer. Then, connect your USB flash drive directly to your computer.

    
    
    

17. Change the boot order in the BIOS so that your computer can boot from a USB drive. Typical BIOS options are as follows:

    
    
    • USB HDD
      
    • USB Hard Drive
    
    
    

18. Insert your new Windows XP CD your burned above and boot your computer with it. During installation, don't format the USB drive. Just leave it as is.

    
    
    

19. After successfully installing Windows XP on your USB drive, install the EWF or FBWF filter.