We already blogged the method to install Windows Vista/7/2008 from USB stick, besides, few readers want the same with Windows XP too. We tried to find out the solution but didn’t get simple and straight forward way to make this. Well now we have solution, to make bootable USB stick to install Windows XP.

Requires:

How To:

  1. First of all, plug your USB stick and Open (My) Computer. Right click on USB stick and choose Format… to prepare it.
  2. Download and extract WinSetupFromUSB. Now run the utility.
  3. Mark checkbox corresponding to Windows 2000/XP/2003 Setup and locate installation source or CD that contains I386 or AMD64 folders.
  4. Now click on Go button to start copying installation source to USB stick and finalizing all sort of things.
    WinSetupFromUSB
  5. Once its Done! you can restart your PC and boot from USB stick. You need to follow 3-Steps installation, viz:
    1. Text mode setup
    2. GUI mode setup
    3. Start Windows for first time

    Booting with Windows XP USB Stick

    Start with First part of Windows installation; When the first step (Text mode setup) completes and system reboots, boot with USB stick again and select Second part of 2000/XP/2003 Setup and complete GUI mode setup. Now instead of boot with HDD, boot with USB stick one more time and choose Second part setup again and keep USB stick plugged-in until you see Windows desktop.

Applies To:

  • Windows 2000
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Server 2003

– UPDATED 01/10/2011

36 responses to “Install Windows 2000/XP/2003 from USB Stick (Pen Drive)”

  1. Shahid Avatar
    Shahid

    Hi,
    I would like to make a bootable XP SP3 usb. I am interested in unattended installation. If i use the above software, where do i need to copy the answer file ?
    Thanks and regards.

    1. Ramesh Avatar
      Ramesh

      Put your unattended answer file winnt.sif into Windows source folder (I386).

  2. Ben h Avatar
    Ben h

    Im trying to install XP and when I select the i386 folder it just keeps saying cannot find TXTSETUP.sif, I have checked and the file is defiantly there but it just keeps coming up with this error.

    1. Ben h Avatar
      Ben h

      Never mind I misunderstood the instructions

    2. Martin Maletti Avatar
      Martin Maletti

      What did you do? I’m getting the same TXTSETUP.sif error.
      Thanks

  3. Vinay Sarmalkar Avatar
    Vinay Sarmalkar

    Hi,I was trying to setup Winodws server 2003 enterprise edition sp2 with this.It worked.But shown two partitions.1.USB n 2.The Entire harddisk.I have 3 Partitions on the harddisk but it shows the entire harddisk.I cant format the entire disk because i have data on the other partitions of the actual harddisk.
    Want help in this regard..
    I am using sandisk 8gb usb drive

  4. Amassine Omar Avatar
    Amassine Omar

    cool, thank you

  5. D_funk182000 Avatar
    D_funk182000

    did not work for me…getting error msg…”cannot install Grub4dos MBR2″

  6. Haythem Avatar
    Haythem

    Hi! It really works very good with this tool. however, I have a problem of boot after installing windows server 2003!!! I had a working copy of vista on C drive partition, after installing Win server in D partition, I can no more boot to vista !! The boot sees only the new installed win server !!! from win server, I can see that the vista still exists in C drive but cant boot to it ! Please help me to solve this problem.

  7. Doctor1nature Avatar
    Doctor1nature

    thank you so much.. you are my friend

  8. Raghavan N.S. Avatar
    Raghavan N.S.

    Thank you, it works !!

  9. Themajesticleo Avatar
    Themajesticleo

    I have tried multiple ways to install XP without a working cd drive…this was the one that did it!!! Thank you so much!

  10. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    What do i do at the grub command line?

    1. Haythem Avatar
      Haythem

      can you please attach a screenshot of what you see in grub cmd ?

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