In theory wouldn't it be possible to install windows xp on the usb stick and use it on multiple computers? Sort of like BartPE or WinPE... but with the full installation of windows and allowing you to install programs and so on.

Or has this been done allready?

I think it would be very cool to be able to boot into my own ready made windows xp on any system and use it for troubleshooting a computer. With the added benefit of allowing me to install any programs to it whenever I want just like I would in a normal install of windows xp.

What are the obstacles we would need to figure out?

Warning: long threads...

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...st&p=114579

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...st&p=144095

http://www.usboot.org/tiki-index.php

The "Dietmar's way" XP install on USB is already fairly portable.

BUT, of course there may be problems with device drivers.

I have never had the time/will/need to do experiments, first thing that come to mind is the use "by default" of UNIATA and UNIVBE, in this only seemingly completely unrelated thread:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21711

there are some links

Or add the entire set of driverpacks....but the build will grow in size.

Another approach, for which I seem to completely fail to find interested contributing members is the XPCLI project, utterly and fully experimental and unfinished:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3717

In it's (future) XPCLINL evolution, it may be what you are looking for:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...=3717&st=31

As a side note project evolved (or involved ) into yet another unfinished thingy:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...c=6393&st=0

jaclaz

Very cool. Thanks for the info.