Best Install for XP...Flash Drive or D/L DVD?

[qdemn7]

Title says it all. I want to create a large Unattended install, including multiple basic programs. Which is faster and easier once created? If it's flash drive, I Googled and see lots of pages for install from a flash drive, is one method better than the other?

[jaclaz]

It depends on the hardware.

Some motherboards only have USB 1.1 speed enabled controllers.

Some motherboards have USB 2.0 speed enabled controllers, but their BIOS only supports booting at USB 1.1 speed.

Most recent motherboards have USB 2.0 enabled controllers and have BIOS that uses USB 2.0 speed when booting.

On the other hand common ATA/ATAPI dvd drives are rather fast, whilst USB flash sticks can have very different speeds, depending on the controller or flash memory chips they use.

See this comparison:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/di...sh-roundup.html

As I see it, however the carrying convenience (size and robustness) and the possibility to easily change/amend contents of USB sticks makes them a better choice.

Apart from that, I have seen tens of machines (expecially PC's used in offices) where the dvd drive was dirty, clogged with dust, or however unable to read properly a burned DVD.

Installing from a flash drive however, is not as "easy" as from CD/DVD, which has been documented, troubleshooted and fine-tuned for years, but relatively recently, a (supposedly ) foolproof method was devised, here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html

which still has some limit/problem, but that is actively fixed and enhanced as soon as problems are found.

jaclaz

[qdemn7]

Thank you so much, that's very comprehensive. You brought up points that I hadn't even thought about.