Having trouble installing XP to SD card

[Mister Brian]

I'm trying to install Windows XP to my SD card, which is in a USB SD card reader.

When I pop in a CD to install XP, it asks which drive I want to install to. I choose P:, the SD card. It reports that the installer can not access that disk, and that maybe I should have hit F6 to load drivers for it.

Well, XP can mount that card even without any additional drivers. What gives, and how can I install XP to this card?

Nevermind why I want to (it's so I can eliminate the HDD from the box) or that it's unwise to install an OS to a SD card (the card is expendable; besides, by disabling swap and most logging, I'll keep writes under control).

Thanks in advance.

[GoogleDude]

I am not too sure that many (If any) PC's will support booting from a SD card! You will have much better getting XP installed (in a round about way) on a USB Flash Drive or External USB Drive! I have a 4GB U3 Sandisk that I have XP booting from it, make life so much easier.

GoogleDude

[jaclaz]

Mister Brian,

you must understand that when booting from CD the setup environments that starts is NOT a full XP, so that many drivers (even those included in the CD) are NOT available.

Besides, XP has been designed NOT to be portable.

There are workarounds, the two main references are Dietmar thread here:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181

(about installing XP on a USB connected stick or disk)

a good start point in the thread is this post of ine where I link to the main methods:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...181&st=1988

and SFiorito's ones here on MSFN and on MP3car.com:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=70

http://osf1.gmu.edu/~sfiorito/eXPinstall.htm

There are controversial reports about using a CF card connected through a USB adapter, expecially if it is a multi-slot one.

You'll have to read and learn quite a bit of info and make several attempts.

jaclaz