Install Unattended XP from a USB Pen

[apoutney]

I have created an unattended XP install for a project. Problem the total file size is 1.3 Gb so it wont fit on a CD, it may go on two but id prefer to run the setup from a usb pen as this can be edited a lot easier and quicker than writing to CD.

I has to be possible to do this as I can run a standard XP install from an external usb CD Drive, so i know its possible to use the USB ports during the install. I also know that the computer I will be installing to has the capability to boot from a usb key/pen, and also a usb HDD. The computer recognises my pen drive as a USB HDD in the BIOS.

Can anybody tell me how this can be done.

I have tried creating a bootable usb pen but i havent got a boot disk to get the files from and when i create a floppy boot disk I get a different set of files which the HP USB pen formatter doesnt recognise.

PLEASE HELP, ive only got a few days to get this done and ive been searching the web all weekend

[jaclaz]

PLEASE HELP, ive only got a few days to get this done and ive been searching the web all weekend

Well, maybe you didn't search well enough.

Let's separate the TWO problems:

1) how can I make a USB stick bootable:

http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...SB/USBfaqs.html

http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...B/USBstick.html

and another method:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=15837&st=6

(BOTH tested, working and -possibly- foolproof)

2) how can I install from a USB stick:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14723&hl=

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=61384

(DOS/WIN9x method tested, working and -possibly- foolproof)

(direct setup UNTESTED, EXPERIMENTAL, NOT foolproof)

jaclaz

[apoutney]

Ive seen all of these sites but as i said i havent got a boot disk to get the dos system files from so that i can make the pen drive bootable. I cant create a boot floppy using my machine because this creates a different sort of boot disk (probably because i have XP and no version of dos is installed.

Does anybody have a copy of the dos system files or an easier way to make a usb pen bootable?

[Cools]

Ive seen all of these sites but as i said i havent got a boot disk to get the dos system files from so that i can make the pen drive bootable. I cant create a boot floppy using my machine because this creates a different sort of boot disk (probably because i have XP and no version of dos is installed.

Does anybody have a copy of the dos system files or an easier way to make a usb pen bootable?

try BootDisk.com site for bootable dos disks..

but i have used the Windows 98 and Me ones from there to make a boot disk .. and it works Good with the HP tool

[apoutney]

Which one did you use as ive tried a few from that site and they dont work

[jaclaz]

Ive seen all of these sites

Well, you also need to READ them:

http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...SB/USBfaqs.html

FAQ #4

Sends you here:

http://www.bay-wolf.com/usbmemstick.htm

which links to the 98 files needed:

http://www.bay-wolf.com/utility/usbkey/win98boot.zip

and to the HP USB format utility:

http://www.bay-wolf.com/utility/usbkey/usbmemkeyboot.zip

As CLEARLY stated on the bay-wolf page:

This is a zip file that contains all of the system files that you will need. Create a new folder and extract these files into the folder that you just created. Make sure that you preserve the directory structure.

You DO NOT need to make a bootable floppy!

As said, tested, working and -possibly- foolproof, maybe I should take the "foolproof" part out....

jaclaz

Edited March 13, 2006 by jaclaz

[cai_sebas]

Wow nice one, could you share your Final working solution when its done? Im working on somethings of my own and it would be great if i could use them!

Thanks in advance