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Installing Windows XP from USB Stick

S

sinicide

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Is it possible that when you are going through the process of installing windows from the Boot Camp that you can boot XP from a USB stick instead of a CD to install Windows on my Macbook Pro?

It seems that my dvd drive is no longer functioning properly because it won't read any dvd/cds in it. So I wanted to know if I could install windows via a usb stick instead of a cd.
 
Hate to revive a long dead thread, but I figure better to revive one than recreate it.

So how 'bout it...Anyone know if it's possible to install XP from a USB drive to a MacBook Pro using bootcamp? I can find tons of information on installing bootable XP to a USB drive, but nothing on installing XP to the MBP from a USB drive..
 
supermariofan25 said:
hope it works, when all is done you can install updates using windows update
Click to expand...
Your mileage may vary.

It seems that many Macs will not boot "legacy OSes" from USB even with rEFIt. I don't understand why, but it seems a common problem.

Also, the "download windows support software" bit doesn't seem to work for many users. It downloads fine, but then can't copy or burn the drivers to a USB stick or optical disc.

Did it actually work for you?

B
 
It might be easier to just borrow or buy an external usb DVD drive and install from that. They are only $40 from Amazon and then you would have a DVD/CD reader/writer again, although external.😎

-howard
 
i guess it dosn't help that i don't have a mac book "yet", but i did do some research as to how to do it so at least i tried😱
 
supermariofan25 said:
Hay I read some where that you can mount iso files like a virtule drive in the operating system, hope it helps🙂
Click to expand...

Mac OS will mount ISOs natively, but that won't let you boot from it. For that, the boot loader would have to be able to mount ISO files.

B
 
supermariofan25 said:
You know how how boot camp installs the setup to the hard drive without having to reboot, that's what I mean
Click to expand...

Which Boot Camp is that? The official isntructions http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Boot_Camp_Install-Setup_10.6.pdf tells you in Step 3 to
In Boot Camp Assistant, click Start Installation. Your computer starts up from the Windows installation disc.
Click to expand...

The only way to do what you are suggesting is to use VM software like Parallels/VMWare Fusion/Virtualbox to mount and boot the ISO and target the Boot Camp partition. See the "without super drive" thread for more info. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/601414/

B
 
balamw said:
Which Boot Camp is that? The official isntructions http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Boot_Camp_Install-Setup_10.6.pdf tells you in Step 3 to

The only way to do what you are suggesting is to use VM software like Parallels/VMWare Fusion/Virtualbox to mount and boot the ISO and target the Boot Camp partition. See the "without super drive" thread for more info. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/601414/

B
Click to expand...

Like I said before I don't know why I'm posting to this thread because I don't have a Mac "yet" guess I'm just trying to be helpful😱 p.s. Google you've let me down🙁🙁
 
Last edited by a moderator:
not right

Well, something isn't right with the instructions.

The 2nd screen during BC installation, 'download windows support software', does not exist on MBP's do they? Sounds like a mba exclusive thing.

Yet, supermariofan (2nd post) is stating that this should be done on a mbp.

How does one bypass this? I've got refit ready and everything.

Will start looking for other options on how to install winos on macs without cd, maybe vmware can trick the mac or something.

Cheers.
 
Sozz

Chimaobi said:
Well, something isn't right with the instructions.

The 2nd screen during BC installation, 'download windows support software', does not exist on MBP's do they? Sounds like a mba exclusive thing.

Yet, supermariofan (2nd post) is stating that this should be done on a mbp.

How does one bypass this? I've got refit ready and everything.

Will start looking for other options on how to install winos on macs without cd, maybe vmware can trick the mac or something.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Sorry🙁 Didn't know why i posted that i guess i was just trying to help but dosn't help that i can't test it my self, please ignore that post!!!!!
P.S. It seemed like it worked in the video but it was for mba not mbp, again sorry🙁
 
Last edited:
Random Idea

Just a Random Idea, is it possable to create a small 4gb partrion that you can boot from and copy installtion files to there and then install windows from that? But them you may not be able to delete that partrion when finished🙁 P.S this has NOT been tried please do not try this unless you know what you are doing. Excuse the spelling😉
 
balamw said:
Your mileage may vary.

It seems that many Macs will not boot "legacy OSes" from USB even with rEFIt. I don't understand why, but it seems a common problem.

Also, the "download windows support software" bit doesn't seem to work for many users. It downloads fine, but then can't copy or burn the drivers to a USB stick or optical disc.

Did it actually work for you?

B
Click to expand...
i finally have a mac now so i am at use here
also the drivers download to the Users/Your User name here/ folder so just copy and paste them to usb. ps drivers only work with windows 7 no use trying windows 8
 
XP SP3 on Imac Leopard

Hi folks!.

I didnt seem to find a solution to my problem in this thread, so I´ll revive it as well and I will see if someone is able to help me..

I want to install Win Xp SP3 on my IMac Os X 10.5.8 Bootcamp is 2.0

System is following:

iMac9,1
Intel Core 2 Duo
2.66 GHz

I have: ReFit, Bootcamp 2.1 downloaded and a bootable USB drive with Windows on it.

The following I have done 2 times, always with the same ending, that I can´t finish the goddamn installation 🙄

1.Run Bootcamp assistant and Partition (I did 12 GB, just want it to play one single game)
2.Exit and boot with ReFit from the stick.
3.Select TEXT MODE (the top option)
4.Select quick NTFS Partioning on the Bootcamp Partition

it afterwards copies the installation folders and reboots again.

Now comes the crucial Problem.

When I then select the Windows Partition in ReFit (same thing happens if I boot the stick) I first get the black screen with blinking cursor at the top left and then it gives me the following error:

Failed to boot, Harddrive-configuration Error, read the manual and so on..

So my question is this:

Has anybody. ever. found a way around this, or has a working procedure to install xp sp3 on this IMac? 😕

Thank you so much for any help!! Regards, Esco
 
sinicide said:
Is it possible that when you are going through the process of installing windows from the Boot Camp that you can boot XP from a USB stick instead of a CD to install Windows on my Macbook Pro?

It seems that my dvd drive is no longer functioning properly because it won't read any dvd/cds in it. So I wanted to know if I could install windows via a usb stick instead of a cd.
Click to expand...

YES YOU CAN
$sudo diskutil resizevolume /dev/disk0s2 31G MS-DOS "MS-DOS" 1G
than boot into windows installation.
 
Has anyone ever found a solution for this?

I need XP in bootcamp for it's smaller footprint, but my superdrive is broken and would prefer not to buy an external superdrive just for this one purpose.
 
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