OS on USB key?

[Phibred]

I was just reading circle's post and I was wondering, does any one know how to put your OS on a USB key? Like, what program? I too have been meanning to drop the whole floppy disk thing [not enough people have them any more].

I am using Windows XP sp2, just in case that has any issues.
Right now I am using PartCopy, so if there is anything similar to that, that would be great!

Thanks in advance,

[Osbios]

I think circle is the only one with usb boot experience.

Perhaps this usb1-2 spec. can help you:
http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs/HID1_11.pdf
http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/usb_20_02212005.zip
Search for boot!

[Phibred]

Thanks,

Just downloaded those specs, i'll post back if I figure it out.

[circle]

Hi Phibred, do you intend booting XP off the USB device or your own code?

You can boot DOS, Linux, Windows or your own OS off USB flash drives with no problem, though I wouldn't recommend it for Windows as it has high write cycles that will kill your flash drive quickly in theory.

.....Circle

[Phibred]

It would be for my own OS.
Circle I was wondering what program(s) you were using to write to the flash drive, something like Partcopy maybe?

[persep]

Perhaps somebody could write a tutorial or someting

[carbonBased]

Sounds like a good idea. I'd imagine it'd be a pretty popular alternative to the slower, finicky, and older floppy boot mechanism.

And, perhaps more interesting, a viable solution for embedded systems (which would definitly interest myself)

--Jeff

[Phibred]

Now only if we could get Circle to share his findings

I would be happy to write the tutorial if I knew where to start.

[Phibred]

bump...

Come on Circle, you know you want to tell us