USB Memory stick install of OS

[brentonhill]

Hi guys.

Weird question. I was thinking about getting a 16GB Memory stick to install either vista or xp on. So I can carry my OS around with me.

Performance wise, how do you think this will compaire to installing it onto a standard SATA or IDE hard drive?

Thanks

Brent

[vinnyT]

When you install the os (to harddrive or flash), you also install the mobo drivers (chipset, ide drivers, etc). While this may work on some pc, on most it would fail to boot, or give countless errors. So while it is a nice idea to be able to use your own os setup on any machine, with windows I don't htink it would work.

Performance wise, I think it would be slower than a HD install, because the usb theoretical speed (you never hit top speed) is slower than either ide or sata, though you may not notice the difference.

There are of course linux version that are designed to do just this, ie DSL (damn small linux http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/).

There are now solid state drives (ssd) that use NAND flash memory, scan has both 16gb £172.73 (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=569190) and 32gb £339.58 (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=569191) versions listed, as you can see the prices, compare to ide/sata, are very high (couple of years they should come down), but they are fast, use less power, weigh less, and are more reliable (so I've read).

Hope this helps.

[Workaholic]

Hi guys.

Weird question. I was thinking about getting a 16GB Memory stick to install either vista or xp on. So I can carry my OS around with me.

Performance wise, how do you think this will compaire to installing it onto a standard SATA or IDE hard drive?

Thanks

Brent

I've noticed a few U3 flash drives which may be your thing as they include sync tools to sync your desktop files and settings to your flash drive so when you use it in a similar OS i.e. at work it shows a desktop similar to your home computer.

[nichomach]

http://www.mandriva.com/en/linux/2007/node_3481 ?

[Vowo]

Maybe this Free Open-Source application is useful for you http://portableapps.com/ .

Personally not used it yet, but hope to in the near future after buying a good USB 2.0 flash drive

[TheAnimus]

The problem is that flash only has a few hundred thousand writes.

Modern flash uses a clever management too avoid writing the same cells again and again. Windows has had this driver in it since embedded XP.

Some problems still exist, page file on the same flash drive causes all sorts of issues (easyest way, run without a page file).

Last time i played with DSL (damn small linux) it simply copied the flash drive to RAM. This is piss poor limitation really.

If you use Compact Flash and an IDE adaptor you can perswade most OS's too install without much hassel.

If you want too hack on XP too boot of a USB stick there is a guide (i'm sure i posted it on hexus before). Basically you disable XP's ability to detect that its a removeable device. It then installs fairly easily. So if you don't mind burning a new install CD with an edited .inf file, that might be the best route for you.