USB Auto boot at Windows XP

[Ravskie]

Is it posible to boot from USB at Windows XP SP2 ?
if it is posible how can i do that ?

[SecRecy]

Booting from USB Devices

Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 Feature Pack 2007 supports booting from USB flash devices. Given the wide availability of external USB ports on PC boards and the rapidly falling cost of USB devices, USB boot media are a cost-effective alternative to compact flash.

Requirements for USB Boot
Windows XP Embedded SP2 Feature Pack 2007

• BIOS Support
  
• To boot from USB devices, platforms must support booting from USB 2.0 with INT 13 natively.
• USB Media Formatting and Partitioning
  
• To store the bootable image, the USB media must be formatted properly and contain at least one partition with a Master Boot Record sector (that is, a bootable partition). For more information on formatting the USB media, see Step 1: Format USB Media.
• USB Media Performance

Booting and running First Boot Agent on USB media is typically slower compared to a hard drive. To get better performance, use USB media with the following specifications:

• Certified hi-speed USB 2.0. USB 1.1 performance is unsatisfactory and not supported.
• NAND SLC flash
• Minimum write speed of 9 MB/sec

• USB Mass Storage and Flash Devices Supported
  
• USB Boot supports booting only from USB Mass Storage and flash media. USB Boot does not support booting from an El Torito CD in a USB drive.
• USB Mass Storage Device Must Be Enabled
  
• USB Mass Storage Device must be enabled for USB boot. If USB Mass Storage Device or its parent devices are disabled, the system will not boot from USB devices, even in safe mode. The following screen capture from Device Manager shows USB Mass Storage Device and its parent devices.

In the system shown, the following devices must be enabled to boot from USB media:

• USB Mass Storage Device
• USB Root Hub
• Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller

For more information see here : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...bedded.5).aspx

[Calvin K]

You can boot XP from a USB stick by using a program called PEBuilder. PE Builder is “Pre-Installed Environment Builder” - basically think of it as a freeware way to build a “Windows” LiveCD (like Linux).

It will give you:

• A complete Win32 environment with network support
• A GUI or graphical user interface (800×600)
• FAT/NTFS filesystem support
• You get the ability to:
  
  • Do burn in testing with no installed OS
  • Rescue files or boot a dead PC
  • Perform Virus scan, remove trojans, fix problems, etc.

Microsoft already has a PE or Pre-Installed Environment utility - BUT, it’s only availble to big enterprise and OEM companies, AND it’s only command line (no GUI). Ok, now that you have to tool to build a PE, you need to get another tool to install that PE to a usb flash drive. So you need download PE to USB, a program that was specifically designed to use PEBuilder and install that PE to a flash drive.

Now how to get this done in 5 easy steps:

1. Install PEBuilder
2. Copy your “i386″ directory from your Windows XP Pro SP2 CD to a folder in the PE Builder directory called “BartPE”
3. Extract the PEtoUSB files to the PEBuilder folder
4. Run the PE to USB program and select “Enable Disk Format”, “Quick Format”, and “Enable File Copy”. For “Source Path” select the “BartPE” folder
5. REBOOT with USB flash drive and you will have a running Windows environment on a stick! (enable usb boot in bios if needed)

Best of luck