Question

how to install windows xp from USB flash Drive

Asked by: waleed_makarem

Hi All ,

I have a new ibm thinkpad X40 laptop that does not have a CD or a floppy . I want to install windows xp on it . I made a bootable flash drive  with windows 98 driver  . it started into DOS . I partitioned the Harddisk (40 GB) to 4 partitions . When I got to DOS to format the drive and install windows. i typed format D:  >>>>>>>> a message >>> Format cannot run under DOS  version .
I do not know why .

Anyway , I want to install Windows miniPE  to a flash and start my laptop from the flash . then do the necessary harddisk management  .i copied the widnows minPE content to the 1 GB flash disk that i made bootable with HP  USB disk storage format tool and windows 98 startup disk . but the laptop boots to c: only and does not load the windows minpe .
what is the problem

Thanks,

REgards,
Dr.Waleed Makarem

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Asked On
2006-07-28 at 01:16:52ID21935071
Tags

xp

,

usb

,

flash

,

from

,

install

Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
1
Points
150
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: beechfielderPosted on 2006-07-28 at 01:48:36ID: 17199181

Hi

You may need to set the thumb drive in the bios to be the first boot device

I think the IBM thinkpad may have a phoenix bios,

Go to "Advanced BIOS Features".
Go to the "1st Boot device" and set it to "USB-ZIP".

To do this  go to the Boot Order screen and select "Harddisk" and hit enter, giving you a list of IDE hard drives -I am not sure how it will list the the thumb,  I checked for phoenix and it seems that sometimes this BIOS prefers to call a USB device an IDE harddrive but you will see in the listing

Reboot the PC (Exit the BIOS saving the changes)

 

by: waleed_makaremPosted on 2006-07-28 at 08:03:19ID: 17201768

Dear Sir,

I 've started up the systm with my flash with startup disk for windows 98 and used fdisk to partition it . but when i tried to format the hardisk partitions to install widnows , the format C: command did not work telling me that  "THIS PROGRAM CAN NOT RUN UNDER DOS MODE" . I do not know why .

I am trying to use windows minipe to start with but it loaded to dos prompt only and did not go further .

can you help to start the laptop with windows minipe .

Thanks,

Dr.Waleed Makarem

 

by: beechfielderPosted on 2006-07-28 at 08:21:21ID: 17201923

Did you change the boot order

When the computer starts do the following

press delete just as the computer is starting and you should get into setup (bios)

When you are in the bios or setup
Use the keys to navigate to "advanced bios features" or wherever you can find a setting for "boot device order"

You need to change the order of the devices from hard disk, to the usb stick
You can do this by highlighting the first boot device and pressing enter
Then navigate to the usb drive and choose that
Then press F10 and save changes and exit.

Then start the computer again

I will see if I can find some detailed instructions for the IBM thinkpad

 

by: beechfielderPosted on 2006-07-28 at 08:27:52ID: 17201965

These are instructions from IBM - the key you need to press during startup is actually F1

Power off the ThinkPad, if it is turned on.
Power on the ThinkPad.
Press the F1 key to enter the BIOS Setup Utility when the ThinkPad logo is seen on the screen. (you may need to keep pressing the F1 key so you don't miss this)
Choose Startup from the menu
Choose Boot from the menu.
Note: Please write down the current boot priority order for restoration later if you need to modify your boot list.
In Boot Priority Order, set the usb drive to the top of the list, 1.
Press F10 to save the new setup.
Power off or restart the system.

Now it should boot to the flash drive

 

by: waleed_makaremPosted on 2006-07-29 at 01:14:28ID: 17206970

Dear Sir,

I've started the flash loaded with startup files of windows 98 . but i tried to format the disk using format command , but the comuter says >>>> Can not run this command in DOS version >>>>>
I want to load my flash with windows MINIPE and automatically load it . HOW .

Thanks,

Waleed

 

by: beechfielderPosted on 2006-07-29 at 05:43:27ID: 17207438

The versions of DOS in XP( minipe) and Windows 98 are different.  Windows 98 uses command.com and XP cmd.

I have been thinking about how I would install XP in your situation and I would remove the hard drive and connect it to a desktop, copy the installation files and

Here are some detailed instructions on doing it this way.
http://www.syschat.com/install-windows-xp-without-floppy-cd-463.html

You can also check the other ways suggested at the beginning of this article

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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