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Run XP from a USB memory stick is it possible?

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Comments

  • basmic
    basmic Posts: 1,043 Forumite
    You probably can run XP from a memory stick. But I wouldn't bank on the memory stick lasting too long.
    Everybody is equal; However some are more equal than others.
  • Jaffa.
    Jaffa. Posts: 1,193 Forumite
    basmic wrote: »
    You probably can run XP from a memory stick. But I wouldn't bank on the memory stick lasting too long.

    Why? It's the same principal as a solid state disk...

    However USB2.0 will be a bottleneck
  • bat999
    bat999 Posts: 1,951 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    basmic wrote: »
    You [STRIKE]probably[/STRIKE] can run XP from a memory stick...

    ............
    Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.
  • David333
    David333 Posts: 743 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Could you not do a virtual PC thing? I've never used one but from what I've read it seems like it would solve your problems... .
  • Jaffa.
    Jaffa. Posts: 1,193 Forumite
    bat999 wrote: »
    ............

    That's what happens when they don't read the thread, I feel your pain :p
  • kippen_noedel
    kippen_noedel Posts: 822 Forumite
    st999 wrote: »
    Another idea I have is to install a separate hard drive and he boots from that, I can do that OK as I already do it to boot between XP and Vista but I would have to spend money on that:eek: whereas I have the 4Gb memory stick.
    Stan
    If it was just for browsing I'd suggest the Live CD from Slax, boots in seconds but you mentioned he plays the Sims.

    So bite the bullet and go for the easiest option and invest in a hot swap drive bay with an extra caddy, when he wants to play just swap the drives around. simplez :p
  • Reggie_Rebel
    Reggie_Rebel Posts: 5,036 Forumite
    Could you not tell him that if he asses about on your PC it will be bedtime for bonzo?
    It's taken me years of experience to get this cynical
  • st999
    st999 Posts: 1,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    After reading through all the posts I have decided the easiest way would be to use another hard drive and install XP and his programs on it and he can press F8 when the computer boots and pick his drive to boot from.

    Incidentally I never asked about wiping the computer clean after he had used it, that would mean that every time he used it my grandson would have to reinstall all his stuff. A bit pointless is it not?

    I have a spare IDE drive from an old computer I will just slave that to the DVD cable as my hard drive is SATA, now to figure out how to copy the hidden partition with the operating system on to it.

    Then again I think I got a windows disk with this computer so off to look for it.

    Stan
  • sharkie
    sharkie Posts: 624 Forumite
    use the free Returnil http://www.returnilvirtualsystem.com/
  • basmic
    basmic Posts: 1,043 Forumite
    Jaffa. wrote: »
    Why? It's the same principal as a solid state disk...

    However USB2.0 will be a bottleneck
    You may well feel it is the same principle, but SSDs do not use cheap flash memory. USB flash drives are pretty meant to be replacements for floppy disks - small, portable and for documents.

    They were never designed to run operating systems, and not designed to deal with the number of read/write operations some operating systems ask for! :eek:
    Everybody is equal; However some are more equal than others.
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