Installing Windows XP from USB Drive
I just bought bought a Samsung netbook (NP-NC108-A04IN). Like many of the netbooks of this price range it came with FreeDOS. Few price comparison revealed that the same model with Windows 7 basic license costs on an average 2500/- INR more that that of the once with FreeDOS.
While buying I was assuming that it must have boot from USB feature, otherwise it is very difficult to install operating systems like Windows or Linux without any optical drive. I could install Windows XP with the following steps.
- Downloaded WInToFlash
- Create the Windows XP ISO image file from the CD
- Use this guide to make a USB drive bootable with windows XP image.
- Now change the boot sequence of the notebook such that the USB drive takes preference over the internal hard disk (Where freeDOS is installed)
- Boot from the USB drive.
- Select the 1st Option in the following screen
- Continue with a fresh installation. Make sure you select a different location than the default one (which is the USB drive itself ). Typically you should select the Drive C: The first steps will be as usual text based installation.
- Windows setup will copy the files. For me this process was extremely slow. The reason is still unknown. It took whole evening to do so. SO have patience.
- After it reboots automatically , Now it should be booted again from the pen drive but this time select the 2nd option as follows
- Continue the graphical installation till it reboots again.
- Now windows will start for the 1st time and as per documentation this time also it should be booted with the 2nd option like the previous step.
- After completing the start up Remove the USB drive and you are done.
- Optionally you can revert your boot sequence back.
I am also planning to have dual boot in the netbook with Ubuntu . This can be done using pendrivelinux.