How To Install Windows XP From A Bootable USB Drive

Since I must often use a Windows XP CD to boot into the Recovery Console, I thought it might be convenient to have a USB drive instead that served the same purpose. Also, it was time to integrate Service Pack 3 and the remaining updates, so that I don't have to download them all the time.

What I Used:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 Disc
SanDisk Cruzer Micro 2.0 GB USB Drive
RyanVM Post-SP3 Update Pack

Firstly, I used nLite to slipstream service packs and updates. Many nLite tutorials are available for further information on how to use nLite. Just make sure to create an ISO file at the end of customizing your Windows XP install. You can download all the Windows updates released after Service Pack 3 from RyanVM and streamline them using nLite.

Once you have the custom ISO, download DAEMON Tools and mount your image as a virtual drive on your computer.

Once you have completed these steps, follow this Eee PC article that works for all computers. This is the hard part that took me a while to find, and I'm grateful for their tutorial.

Hopefully after all is said and done, you're left with a bootable USB drive that will install Windows XP and offer Recovery Console functionality. I haven't tried a full Windows XP install yet with mine, so I do not know if the slipstreaming worked properly, but I have booted from the device, and it does get to the menu asking if you want to install or repair a Windows XP installation. I will edit this post later to report if installation is functional.

EDIT: The installation from the nLite ISO in VirtualBox went smoothly, without a hitch. Only updates I had to install were mots recent version of Windows Defender, and IE 7 because I forgot to include it. I type this from the XP installation itself in VirtualBox.