Install Windows XP From A USB Flash Drive

Though there are many ways to do this, this is the way I do it.
This involves more than just making a bootable install USB flash drive because I add SP3 and drivers (for post SP3 hardware) to the image.

1 - Though the program in the next step will do it, I manually add SP3.
- Copy files from the XP CD to a folder called XP.
- Download and extract SP3 to a folder called sp3. (I use 7-Zip for this)
- Open a command prompt window in or navigate to the sp3\i386\update folder.
   I to this by right-clicking on the update folder and choosing "Open command window here."
   If you have not added this tweak:
   - For Windows 7 and Vista download the file opencmdhere.txt change the file extension from .txt to .reg and double-click it.
   - For Windows XP download the file xpcommandhere.txt change the file extension from .txt to .reg and double-click it.
- In the command window enter update.exe /integrate:X:\xp ( change X to the location of the XP folder you created above ).
   A window will pop up showing the files being integrated followed by a "success" screen. For more info on this see here.

2 - Create a folder with XP SP3 + Drivers + Extras
- We are going to use a program called nLite for this.
   You can add drivers you download yourself, or driver packs, or system update packs to the files.

Start nLite and click Next.


Browse to the folder called XP you created earlier and click Next.


Click on each section you wish to you and it will be added to be process.
You don't need to do Service Pack because we already did it. Do not choose Bootable ISO.
Click Next when ready.


I added an Update Pack.


Here I added chipset and ethernet drivers.


I removed a few things.


Choose any options you which to change.


Did someone say tweaks?!


Yes! This may take a while.


Click Next and you are done.

  
3 - Now we will create a bootable Windows XP install flash drive.
- We are going to use a program called Win2Flash for this (free but adware).

Run WinToFlash and click the green check mark to start the Wizard.


Click Next.


Enter the path to the XP folder you created earlier and then the path to your USB drive.
Click Next.


Done! Click Next.


Your USB flash drive should look something like this.

Next > Page 4 - Install a Linux Operating From A USB Flash Drive or Boot from one or more Linux Live CD's on a USB Flash Drive

Article Index - Ditch Those CD's! A Guide To Using USB Flash Drives
Page 1 - Article Intro, Flash Drive Booting, Advanced USB Drive Formatting
Page 2 - Install Windows 7 or Windows Vista From A USB Flash Drive
Page 3 - Install Windows XP From A USB Flash Drive
Page 4 - Install a Linux Operating From A USB Flash Drive
              or
              Boot from one or more Linux Live CD's on a USB Flash Drive
Page 5 - Utility And Rescue Bootable USB Flash Drive
Page 6 - Portable Apps And USB Flash Drive PC Toolbox
Page 7 - What I Use & Other USB Info