I have a windows 2000 and a windows xp pro upgrade disc I'd like to install on my Asus Aspire One laptop through USB (unless it's just quicker and easier to purchase a USB external optical drive?).

I have followed a few tutorials with no real results, have any of you had success with windows 2000 using the same method?

Well, you will have to say which tutorials or program you used and what did (not) happen, with details.

The more information you provide, the easier to send you in the right direction.

used the pe2usb program to format the data stick, that worked well, then I used both of the USB_Mutliboot_10, and usb_prep8 programs (at separate times), and the usb_multiboot_10 gets me the farthest in the install (makes it all the way to "Setup is starting windows 2000" and the activity quits there...I left it for 30 minutes, and no good...tried FAT32 and NTFS, both with the same results.

Try 2000 with different service packs integrated. It seems failing when initialising the loaded drivers and launching the main part of the setup.

Has 2000 ever been loaded on that laptop?

no, it came factory loaded with linpus, i think i will just go with the speedier option and get the usb external optical drive.