Burning my Windows XP installation CD to USB Flash drive

Google is your friend:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&su...rue&cp&gs_id=1x&xhr=t&q=make+flash+drive+bootable&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&site=&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=make+flash+d&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fpH2609b4cf2c746f&biw24&bihc2

On 9/14/2011 8:18 AM, Industrial One wrote:

So I tried WinToFlash but it failed after the second step due to
"missing HAL.DLL" and if I tried to boot from the hard disk and let
installation continue as I would when using my CD it would give me a
disk readability error.

The main reason I'm doing this is cuz my XP CD after only 3 years and
a usage of only maybe 3 times a year is already decaying into a
corrupted mess of shit like all optical media is destined to do within
10 years. Useless.

So I'm moving a fresh ISO image to my USB drive to hopefully prevent
this problem in the future.

I'm curious about the technical background behind this though. What
exactly is done to make a Flash drive bootable? Can I not just copy
the contents on the USB and boot from it like I would a CD?

Thanks in advance.

"Industrial One" wrote in message
news:

So I tried WinToFlash but it failed after the second step due to
"missing HAL.DLL" and if I tried to boot from the hard disk and let
installation continue as I would when using my CD it would give me a
disk readability error.

The main reason I'm doing this is cuz my XP CD after only 3 years and
a usage of only maybe 3 times a year is already decaying into a
corrupted mess of shit like all optical media is destined to do within
10 years. Useless.

So I'm moving a fresh ISO image to my USB drive to hopefully prevent
this problem in the future.

I'm curious about the technical background behind this though. What
exactly is done to make a Flash drive bootable? Can I not just copy
the contents on the USB and boot from it like I would a CD?

Thanks in advance.

I know it's not what you're asking, but why not just copy the CD to another CD? You should get a few more years of use
that way. Or, while you're at it, you could slipstream the latest SP in with it.

ASA I remember what program I used to create my bootable USB pen, I'll post it. Seems to me it was a very simple
process, but it's been a while since I did it.
SC Tom

Jack Toff banged his head on his keyboard to write :

Google is your friend:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&su...rue&cp&gs_id=1x&xhr=t&q=make+flash+drive+bootable&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&site=&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=make+flash+d&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fpH2609b4cf2c746f&biw24&bihc2

On 9/14/2011 8:18 AM, Industrial One wrote:

So I tried WinToFlash but it failed after the second step due to
"missing HAL.DLL" and if I tried to boot from the hard disk and let
installation continue as I would when using my CD it would give me a
disk readability error.

The main reason I'm doing this is cuz my XP CD after only 3 years and
a usage of only maybe 3 times a year is already decaying into a
corrupted mess of shit like all optical media is destined to do within
10 years. Useless.

So I'm moving a fresh ISO image to my USB drive to hopefully prevent
this problem in the future.

I'm curious about the technical background behind this though. What
exactly is done to make a Flash drive bootable? Can I not just copy
the contents on the USB and boot from it like I would a CD?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the heads-up about WintoFlash. I was going to try it. Have
you tried re-downloading the program and running again just to rule out
something got clunked in the download? Also possible that your Windows
disk is already too damaged to fully copy?

Since the process involved is supposedly a little more complicated than
just putting an ISO on the flash drive, or so I'm told, this may be
your best bet:


Passcape ISO Burner
(In addition to making ISO files, this supposedly also makes bootable
USB drives using any ISO)

http://www.freewarefiles.com/Passca...64120.html


NOTE: I haven't been able to fully test this since my test computer's
PSU just died, but the Passcape is an executable (No install) and
claimed to have made the Boot USB successfully on my test USB drive.
However, still not sure if this will do the Windows disks, but may be
worth a try.

-There are some who call me...
Jim


It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road,
and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be
swept off to.
-Samwise Gamgee quoting Bilbo Baggins, edited

On Sep 14, 8:45 pm, James D Andrews wrote:

Jack Toff banged his head on his keyboard to write :









> Google is your friend:

>http://www.google.com/#hl=en&su...rue&cp&gs_id=1x...

> On 9/14/2011 8:18 AM, Industrial One wrote:
>> So I tried WinToFlash but it failed after the second step due to
>> "missing HAL.DLL" and if I tried to boot from the hard disk and let
>> installation continue as I would when using my CD it would give me a
>> disk readability error.

>> The main reason I'm doing this is cuz my XP CD after only 3 years and
>> a usage of only maybe 3 times a year is already decaying into a
>> corrupted mess of shit like all optical media is destined to do within
>> 10 years. Useless.

>> So I'm moving a fresh ISO image to my USB drive to hopefully prevent
>> this problem in the future.

>> I'm curious about the technical background behind this though. What
>> exactly is done to make a Flash drive bootable? Can I not just copy
>> the contents on the USB and boot from it like I would a CD?

>> Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the heads-up about WintoFlash.  I was going to try it.  Have
you tried re-downloading the program and running again just to rule out
something got clunked in the download?  Also possible that your Windows
disk is already too damaged to fully copy?

Since the process involved is supposedly a little more complicated than
just putting an ISO on the flash drive, or so I'm told, this may be
your best bet:

Passcape ISO Burner
(In addition to making ISO files, this supposedly also makes bootable
USB drives using any ISO)

http://www.freewarefiles.com/Passca...64120.html

NOTE: I haven't been able to fully test this since my test computer's
PSU just died, but the Passcape is an executable (No install) and
claimed to have made the Boot USB successfully on my test USB drive.
However, still not sure if this will do the Windows disks, but may be
worth a try.

-There are some who call me...
Jim

It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road,
and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be
swept off to.
-Samwise Gamgee quoting Bilbo Baggins, edited

I just tried Passcape and I didn't even get to the first step because
it returned a NTDLR not found error. At least with WinToFlash it was
able to load all the system files and proceed to the second step.
UltraISO worked a little bit past the first step before complaining
that TXTSETUP.SIF is corrupted, which it isn't.

Sigh... I don't understand what these programs actually do and why all
of them that I tried so far fucked at least one thing up to prevent it
from actually working. Why is it so complicated to boot off a USB
stick? Is there a standard or isn't there?

PS. I did not copy from my corrupted CD to the USB stick, I downloaded
another ISO. I wouldn't be that stupid to continue using a corrupted
installation.

On 15/09/2011 00:36, Industrial One wrote:

On Sep 14, 8:45 pm, James D Andrews wrote:

Jack Toff banged his head on his keyboard to write :

Google is your friend:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&su...rue&cp&gs_id=1x...

On 9/14/2011 8:18 AM, Industrial One wrote:

So I tried WinToFlash but it failed after the second step due to
"missing HAL.DLL" and if I tried to boot from the hard disk and let
installation continue as I would when using my CD it would give me a
disk readability error.

The main reason I'm doing this is cuz my XP CD after only 3 years and
a usage of only maybe 3 times a year is already decaying into a
corrupted mess of shit like all optical media is destined to do within
10 years. Useless.

So I'm moving a fresh ISO image to my USB drive to hopefully prevent
this problem in the future.

I'm curious about the technical background behind this though. What
exactly is done to make a Flash drive bootable? Can I not just copy
the contents on the USB and boot from it like I would a CD?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the heads-up about WintoFlash. I was going to try it. Have
you tried re-downloading the program and running again just to rule out
something got clunked in the download? Also possible that your Windows
disk is already too damaged to fully copy?

Since the process involved is supposedly a little more complicated than
just putting an ISO on the flash drive, or so I'm told, this may be
your best bet:

Passcape ISO Burner
(In addition to making ISO files, this supposedly also makes bootable
USB drives using any ISO)

http://www.freewarefiles.com/Passca...64120.html

NOTE: I haven't been able to fully test this since my test computer's
PSU just died, but the Passcape is an executable (No install) and
claimed to have made the Boot USB successfully on my test USB drive.
However, still not sure if this will do the Windows disks, but may be
worth a try.

-There are some who call me...
Jim

It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road,
and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be
swept off to.
-Samwise Gamgee quoting Bilbo Baggins, edited

I just tried Passcape and I didn't even get to the first step because
it returned a NTDLR not found error. At least with WinToFlash it was
able to load all the system files and proceed to the second step.
UltraISO worked a little bit past the first step before complaining
that TXTSETUP.SIF is corrupted, which it isn't.

Sigh... I don't understand what these programs actually do and why all
of them that I tried so far fucked at least one thing up to prevent it
from actually working. Why is it so complicated to boot off a USB
stick? Is there a standard or isn't there?

PS. I did not copy from my corrupted CD to the USB stick, I downloaded
another ISO. I wouldn't be that stupid to continue using a corrupted
installation.

First thing to do is copy your CD. If that won't work, it is
damaged and you are wasting your time.
Once you have copied the origianl CD, try these methods:
http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm
I had trouble with a custom PE disc and WiNToBootic was the only
thing that worked (but I had to make an ISO from the disc first.)
One problem is that booting from USB depends on motherboard BIOS
support and, if that exists, setting it up properly.
In other words, no, there is no standard to adhere to so blaming
software authors who provide free stuff is simply unfair.
Rob