Laptop Info Today

Based on my previous post, you have remember that I will post a topic on how you can use your thumbdrive as a boot install.

Since my laptop is pretty screwed, I decided to take up this challenge of doing so.

If you realized, Linux based operating system are the ones who started the idea of an OS USB installer, notably Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux.

What about Windows?

Yes you can , though the steps might be bit technical but it’s a FACT that it is possible.

Now, here’s how you do it:-

1. Get ready a 1 Gb (or more) USB thumbdrive.
2. Download these 2 softwares to your C drive.
   • usb_prep8
   • bootsect
3. A genuine copy of Windows XP or Vista ( For my case, I’m using XP)

Now for the technical stuff, you will need to configure your softwares to your thumbdrive.

1. Download the usb_prep8 software and bootsect extract them  to your C drive.
2. Locate and click usb_prep8.cmd.
3. A command prompt window will pop out followed by a PE-USB window.



4. Do not change any of these settings, just click the START button.
5. Once it is complete, please DO NOT CLOSE both windows (PeToUSB and usb_pre8.cmd)
6. Now, open another command prompt window, you can do this by clicking Start>Run>cmd.
7. Go to the directory of your bootsect and type bootsect.exe /nt52E: (E is the drive letter of my thumbdrive). You should see a sign that says” Bootcode was successfully targeted on all volumes” if everything is OK.
8. After this process, you can now close the PreToUSB window and you will see the following window.



9. This is the tricky part where you need to key in the correct information from numbers 1 till 3.
10. Press 1 and a browsing window will appear locating your Windows installation files.  Point it to your folder andyour disc drive where the installation files are located.
11. Next, press 2 and assign a drive letter that is NOT assigned to your computer (An example would be T for “temp drive”).
12. Next, press 3 and the drive letter of your USB device.
13. Finally press 4 to start processing.
14. You will receive scripts like, “Is it OK to format the T drive. Type Y to proceed.
15. Once it’s done, press enter again. This will then copy the installation files to your temp drive which will take about 3 to 5 minutes. Press enter again to proceed.
16. Now, you will see a pop-up asking your permission to copy the installation files from the temp drive to your USB device. Click Yes to proceed further and wait for another 15 minutes or so. Mine took 25 minutes, so please be patient.
17. Once it is done,  click Yes to end and safely remove your device.

Now you are ready to install your windows operating system on your laptop via your USB device. Make sure the BIOS setting of your laptop is set to Boot from USB (this is very important).

1. On the startup menu, there will be 2 options.
2. Choose “Option number for text mode setup”.
3. Now you are in the normal Windows installation environment and proceed with your installation.

Good luck in making full use of the USB device that you have, and comments are welcome.

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