Hypothetical question

[RATTER15]

I have recently bought a 2 gig memory stick, on re-starting PC with memory stick in place it came up with "Invalid system disk" which got me thinking!! would it be possible to install Windows on to a memory stick and run a PC from it?

I know it would be totally impractical but could it be done?

Just interested!!

[Androcles]

Not quite the answer you are looking for, but Nuance (formerly Scansoft) are offering some software called MigoSync 3.0: Your PC 'On the Go'!

The publicity bumff says "MigoSync allows you to replicate your personal working environment on any "guest" computer. Download MigoSync onto your portable storage device and access your most up-to-date data and email from anywhere in the world, easily and securely. With MigoSync you can carry your entire digital life on a device that slips into your pocket! "

The software company is found at http://www.migosoftware.com/store/migosync.htm l?SourceID=MIGOSYNCHM

[ACtheTROLL]

Sorry A - not true

xp on a cd or memory stick .... easy!

have a look here
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

and here
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/09/windows _in_your_pocket/

you know you want to ;-)

enjoy

[peanut]

It seems we are confusing memory stick with flash drive. A memory stick is only used for temporary memory storage so the cpu can access files faster. once the computer is turned off, all memory is dumped until it is reloaded on the next restart. Now, are you taliking about a flash drive or memory?

[rojash]

Memory stick , pen memory, pen drive, flash drive, are all accepted terms for the same thing - a gadget which plugs into your USB port and contains non-volatile solid-sate memory.

[ACtheTROLL]

Peanut ... you seem to be having problems understanding the question.
... I think we understood the question ... and answered accordingley.
But are you saying there is an alternative?

What you are calling a memory stick is actually a DIMM or SIMM (in the trade they are quantified in units of "stick" to make things simple - ie 1 stick of 2Gb as opposed to 2x1Gb dimms).

I think the correct term is USB flash drive
flash drive is near but could refer to solid state HDDs.
.... flash memory is yet another type of device but could be used to create a flash drive.
Memory sticks - are actually something else again
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx =4DKH&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=memory+stick&Pa geMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&Navigati onKey=0

do you now understand the question?
I'm facinated to know now .... what's your answer ?

[RATTER15]

OK, lets just make sure you all know what I'm talking about!! I have a 2 gig USB2.0 Flash Drive.

and would it be possible to actually run Windows from it, I don't mean just hold the files?

[ACtheTROLL]

No confusion here!

Yes what you are asking is possible ... and not impractical at all. However only newer mobos support booting from USB ... so it's worth checking yours before you start.

Having said that ... the method was originally developed to work from a CD which is just about the best solution for booting all machines these days.

Windows PE (as this type of config is known as) is an accepted tool use to run windows applications on a system that won't boot (see the links I provided earlier.

also Knoppix, damn small linux etc etc

It provides easy access to your system and allows
recovery access to your files and to most external storage devices you'd want to use as backup.

Vista is also catered for
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvist a/aa905120.aspx#EYD

[RATTER15]

ACtheTROLL, thanks for that! so what you are saying is in theory I could run a PC without a hard drive by using the flash drive as a hard drive, sounds very impractical to me but this is totally hypothetical as between my partner and myself we already have 5 PCs running.

[ACtheTROLL]

MMMM not quite what you'd use it for.

the PE environment is more of a utility
(generally install or recovery tool - sort of a fancy bootdisc) ... not a substitute for an os (although you could at a push - if you took the time to load office and such).

Knoppix is more of a substitute OS - it comes with lots and lots of application software and while you can install it ... it's realy meant to run from CD.

but honestly - I cant think why anyone would use it as a solution (other than to say that you could!).
except possibly to run a totally silent PC
(a server/router?)
With one of the latest 8Gb sticks ... it would be almost practical (except for recording movies)
and because of the reduced load ... laptops would run for hours (hence solid state 2.5" discs)

mmmm maybe you've actually hit on a good idea ;-)

[ryepie]

Knoppix running from a CD combined with a USB flash drive will give you effectively a working alternative. Knoppix running from CD cannot write to the hard drive but it will write to any flash drives it detects.