Thumbs up for Windows XP

Author: Phil Cogar
Published: 26th July 2007
Comments (12) Stumble
Windows XP on your thumb... drive, that is..

Windows XP on your thumb... drive, that is..

While you have been able to carry around a bootable copy of some open source operating systems in your pocket for some time now, you can now keep your Windows XP with you anywhere you go. InformationWeek has a full write up on just how to install and get running a bootable copy of Windows XP on your thumb drive. But beware, it may not work on every computer.

You'll need a couple of things before you get started such as a high capacity thumb drive, BartPE, and a couple of files included in Windows Server 2003 SP1. Of course, your computer and the computers you plan to be using your portable OS on will need to be able to boot from a USB device so make sure you check your BIOS settings first.

With U3 software and Portable Apps already available and a new joint venture between Microsoft and SanDisk producing a new portable desktop by the second half of 2008, the usefulness of this can only be seen by a select group of people. Of course, if you like to keep your customized desktop with you everywhere you go then this is for you.

Does the thought of taking your Windows XP desktop everywhere you go entice you or are you happy with just taking your favourite applications with you instead? Leave your thought provoking comments and questions in our forums or down below in the comments section.
Quote jezmck 26th July 2007, 09:12
seems a bit excessive to me, i'd probably go with just apps on a stick.
there's also the issue of licensing of course - is windows legal on a stick?
Quote jjsyht 26th July 2007, 09:20
This is such old news
Quote RTT 26th July 2007, 09:30
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjsyht
This is such old news

source? link?
Quote HugoB 26th July 2007, 09:40
Yawn

2005 old enough for ya?
Quote DougEdey 26th July 2007, 09:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by RTT
source? link?


From the linked article:
Quote:
January 23, 2006 12:00 AM (From the January 23, 2006 issue)
Quote jjsyht 26th July 2007, 09:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Archangel
Yawn

2005 old enough for ya?
there you go...

even the linked article is dated Jan 2006

But yeah... its innovative, interesting and useful, and I understand your enthusiasm to share it with us.
Btw, DamnSmallLinux if you want a Pc on a USB drive
Quote HugoB 26th July 2007, 09:59
Considering memory capacity/price now though, you'd be bad not to run a full OS imo
Quote K.I.T.T. 26th July 2007, 11:07
has it not been said however that the high I/O cycles of a page file, let alone a full OS, can (sorry for the pun) write off a flash drive in a day or so of use?
Quote mikeuk2004 26th July 2007, 12:14
I know its old but still, there will be people who dont know about it.
Quote DXR_13KE 26th July 2007, 14:28
dsl for the win. :D
Quote Phil Rhodes 26th July 2007, 14:54
What most interests me about this is the write cycle life issue. If XP can be persuaded not to write to its boot drive, then great. Otherwise this is all a spectacular waste of time. I'd love to be able to make completely solid state PCs booting from flash and running XP.

Does BartPE make this happen?

Phil
Quote wsurritte 26th July 2007, 15:55
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Rhodes
What most interests me about this is the write cycle life issue. If XP can be persuaded not to write to its boot drive, then great. Otherwise this is all a spectacular waste of time. I'd love to be able to make completely solid state PCs booting from flash and running XP.

Does BartPE make this happen?

Phil

Use compact flash to go solid state. It seems to be able to survive XP's writing to the disk all the time.
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