Install Windows XP, Windows 7 And Windows 8/8.1 From The Same USB Drive

[TechPJC]

Install Windows XP, Windows 7 And Windows 8/8.1 From The Same USB Drive

 

[katz]

Great info., thanks!

 

[Xander]

Thanks the copy/pasted link. Nothing to say about it suggests you haven't even tried it.

That's a ridiculous amount of work for such a limited use. Windows installs only? What about Linux live discs for diagnostics? Kaspersky/etc AV discs for disinfections? Gparted? Acronis/etc for cloning?

There are a dozen threads mentioning a dozen apps that will let you run just about *any* ISOs from a USB: YUMU, Rufus, WiNToBootic, WinUSB Maker, xboot, WinToFlash -- and those are just the ones I've got saved for use; there are others.

Look into a Zalman device as well.

 

[Krynn72]

That's a ridiculous amount of work for such a limited use. Windows installs only? What about Linux live discs for diagnostics? Kaspersky/etc AV discs for disinfections? Gparted? Acronins/etc for cloning?

I havent tried this one personally yet, but if you look at the screenshots in the guide, its got an option for loading "Linux ISO/Other Grub4dos compatible ISO" so I'd be surprised if you couldn't add such things.

I wonder if there's any reason why Vista isn't mentioned though. Would render this useless to me if you cant load vista on it. I'll try this out sometime this week, but I suspect I'll keep using Easy2boot. Despite it being harder to set up, Easy2Boot is a lot more feature rich it looks like, and a lot more customizable.

 

[TechPJC]

http://www.winsetupfromusb.com/supported-sources/

Supported Sources

(Scroll down to check the following Tabs)

-Windows

-Linux / *BSD / *nix

-Antivirus Rescue Disks

-DOS/Other

 

[glricht]

Have to agree with Xander: that's a lot of work for a limited number of ISOs.

I have a Zalman and have tons of ISOs on it: all the Windows OS's, multiple Acronis, various live and PE-type CDs, many other stand-alone ISOs, etc.

Occasionally, a particular PC won't boot from the Zalman-simulated USB optical drive, but in those cases, a USB stick didn't work either.

 

[ArtemusComputerTechnology]

I will definitely give this a try because this will eliminate four flash drives into one. Thanks for sharing.

 

[TechPJC]

Great info., thanks!

I will definitely give this a try,
because this will eliminate four flash drives into one. Thanks for sharing.

You are welcome!

Another option: SARDU

 

[Gary Rockliff]

Man use the Zalman and save yourself a lot of hassle.

 

[kpk1]

+1 for the Zalmann

 

[Tekguy]

Man use the Zalman and save yourself a lot of hassle.

I was thinking the same thing. It's so nice to just throw some ISOs on my VE200 & not have to mess with building a bootable flash drive. Not only that, but you have so much more drive space.

 

[Xander]

Occasionally, a particular PC won't boot from the Zalman-simulated USB optical drive, but in those cases, a USB stick didn't work either.

For those, make up a boot CD for Plop. It boots to the CD and, from there, you pick the USB device. Works quite well.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16822/boot-from-a-usb-drive-even-if-your-bios-wont-let-you/