How to make Windows XP bootable USB Flashdrive

Bootable USB Windows XP Installer

Does your computer doesn't have CD/DVD Drives? Or your CD/DVD drives are defective? Or you have mini laptop and you want to re-format or do a fresh install of your operating system? Well, you are in the right place. Here, you will learn how to make a bootable USB flashdrive installer for Windows XP.

Making a bootable USB Flashdrive Windows XP installer will allow us to install our beloved Windows XP without using an optical disk drive (CD/DVD-ROM drive). It is handy and very useful for those who want to format or do a clean installation on their computers. It works like we were installing using an optical drive.

This method has been tested and working with many devices like Asus Eee PC, HP mini Laptops, Desktops, and other similar computers. This is also a known alternative method if you don’t have an external optical disk drive.

Read carefully and prepare the following:

• Must have your own copy of Windows XP and save it inside a folder anywhere in your computer. 
• USB_Prep8 – This is the tool that we are going to use creating the bootable usb flashdrive installer. You can find it easy over the internet or you can just download here.
• USB Flashdrive (less than 2GB is recommended) – more than 2GB is also working but sometimes we encounter more errors using more than 2GB.

Creating USB Windows XP Installer

1. Extract usb_prep8.zip anywhere in your computer.
2. Open usb_prep8.cmd 
3. Press any key to continue…

4. Select your USB Flashdrive
• Select source path of your XP Installer

• Click Start

 

5. A window will appear, just click yes.

6. Close PeToUSB Window

7. Type number “1” (without quotations) and press enter, then select the location of your Windows XP Setup.

8. Type number “3” (without quotations) and press enter, then type the drive letter of your USB Flashdrive.

9. Now, type number "4". If a window appear and ask to delete temp image file, just click yes.

10. Proceed with format? Press Y and Enter.

11. When format is complete, just press any key to continue.

12. Copying of files will start.

13. Making of LocalSource folder $WIN_NT$.~LS Ready• Press any key to continue.

14. A window will pop out asking you to copy file to your USB drive.

15. The files will start to copy to USB drive. It may take several minutes, just wait until it finish the process.

16. Another window will pop out. Would you like USB-Stick to be preferred Boot Drive U? Just click yes.

17. Would you like to unmount the Virtual Drive ? Just click Yes and press any key to continue.

Your USB Flash Drive is now ready.

To install Windows XP using your bootable USB Flashdrive, you must enter BIOS setup and go to boot options then set your USB Flashdrive to boot first in boot order. Save changes that you've made and exit BIOS.

When you boot on your USB Flashdrive, a black screen with text will be displayed. It is a selection menu that will bring you to the process of Windows XP installation. Just select the text mode setup.

The Windows XP setup will now begin. Just follow the steps just like you were using a real CD of Windows XP.