Went through all your steps and when the HP Format untility tried installing the files to the USB it said that the volume was too big.

Thanks for the clear instructions by the way.

Sorry forgot to say that I have a 16GB SanDisk Cruzer.

Ok. All I had to do was change the file system from FAT to FAT32.

Hi, i tried to reinstall windows xp from a flash drive and I ran into a million problems. I had problems with Hal.dll and the boot.ini. I have no idea what to do! Could someone please help? my email is daking3091@hotmail.com

i want mak window xp bootable usb pen drive

i just found something...some times when i start the computer it go through the window but got eror when start and i try to install new windows after about 3 times restart its black screen again i dont now maybe until the devil gone again....did you now something? note:the update bios never work when work need command promt and i dont now the command???sorry bout my english

Everything will be just fine if you format it to FAT32, go ahead ;)

did the file sistem must be ''FAT'' my laptop only show 2 choice ''FAT32'' and ''NTFS'' please help!!

i want to make norton ghost 15.0 boot from usb. i have bootable cd of it. can i simply copy all files to my usb.. will it work to boot my computer with norton ghost?? thankx for reply

This tool work fine for notebook but it does not work for pc. my pc bios options have USB-HDD , USB-FDD , USB-ZIP ,... i set all of them but none of them worked

thank you !!!

thanx so much for the wonderful info.

but i want to know if i can create a bootable xp cd, as there is no cd rom in my computer.

thanks

This is a great utility. Thanks!

A suggestion --could you consider adding support for PCRegedit? It's a freely available .ISO.

http://www.pcregedit.com/

I thought that i was screwed and my netbook was a brick. I LOVE U for giving me the tools and information to fix it!!!

i dont have USB Drive in my boot priority options
so how can i boot from USB Drive?

download windows enabler, its a small programe that can do alot ;)
enjoy

If I had to guess, you unzipped the files to your desktop or to a folder on your desktop, but when you run the HP tool as Administrator, if you select "Desktop," it's the administrator's desktop instead of the user's desktop. If that's the issue, navigate to C:Documents and Settings[username]Desktop instead of just clicking Desktop at the top of the tree.

After you make it bootable, it will still behave normally. You will not notice any difference but that you can boot your computer off it.

ok once i do this whole making a usb bootable, can i still use the usb as a storage device after or will it stay like a bootable one?

I have noticed, that for some weird reason users with Firefox could not download these files correctly (they would get corrupted), so I have replaced *.zip with *.rar and now it works like charm. Go ahead, try :)

zip file is corrupted.

guys..the best way to boot ur usb, with wat ever you like...is to understand how the boot prosses worked...i have tried every single programe on the net, free and non free once..and i can say that 30% of them worked...so the idea is to understand how its all happening..and to do that u need to read some tutorials on the net...for linux users "unetbootin" is the best tool, for windows users "flashboot" is the best tool, and for other(advanced users) ther mind is the best tool ;)
and 4 who that they cant boot from usb for bios or even flash problems...they can always use plopboot maneger..boot it from a disk then select your usb device, and for advance users...they can install grub boot maneger on ther mbr and start surfing :)
gd luck

download a ubuntu live cd try before install open gparted format you usbpen as a ntfs format mark de pen as boot with the flag option copy bootfiles to the usbpen works like charm even a windows boot or dos boot

thanx guys..epic guide!

The use-DOS-files-located-at function doesn't work at all in Win7x64, though it works in XPx86.

Then when I boot USB it gives me an "invalid system disc" error and prompts me to "insert disc and press key", if I do it tries to access the floppy disc, and fails.

So it doesn't work. Neither does the other bootable USB program makebootable.exe either.

Hi,

I need your help. I followed all your instructions to the letter but can't seem to add the command file from my DOS files sub-directory on my bootable_USB directory. Whenever I click on the arrow sign on my bootable_USB directory to get to the next level where my DOS file is, it won't allow me to. I even tried to manually type it in but it says that there are no valid system files in that location. However, when I manually go to that sub-directory, there is clearly the command file residing in that section. I did and redid these several times and reviewed all your instructions but to no avail. Any help would truly be appreciated. Thanks.

hello,

I did as you mentioned in the tutorial, and I tried to copy an Iso files of the files necessary to the bios update, but when I try to boot from the usb, It just displays STARTING ... and does nothing after that. I dont know where is the problem. The iso file I burned it on a CD and it worked fine on LAPTOP2 , the problem is that I dont have a cd drive on this laptop (LAPTOP 1).

Works fine, when you discover where the DOS files are about ;-)

Best
Torben

Geez after searching for a long time for dos boot files that I could stick onto my usb flash dirve, I found them right here!!! Thank you so much!!

Are you certain, that you have used this tool properly? You should not be having any problems booting a 64-bit PC with it, because all modern CPUs support both 32-bit and 64-bit applications. Actually - almost everyone has a 64 bit processor nowadays.

It has booted your Flash Drive, thats the point, from there you are on your own. In your case you have to start the setup manually by typing some commands. Search the internet or google you will find those commands easily.

damn i'm tired of those notices

after I do this, do I simply copy and paste the OS (XP sp3) files from extracted folder in USB drive?

Man or woman whoever you are - I love you. I'm searching since three weeks and nothing works, but you did it perfect - thanks!

I need to restore my eee pc and have been searching and downloading crap for 2 days! Thank you very much for this download and instructions, it worked like magic!

I did exactly what you told me but I am having a problem.

First I tell you what I did:
1. I did exactly what you said.
2. Then I copied the Vista files from CD to the USB flash drive.
3. I tried to boot on my notebook, so it would install VISTA on it.

But when I boot it with USB flash drive, it stays on ms-dos and showing me C:/

Please, tell me what I have to do!??

Ok guys. I followed everything and what do I have to do now? Can I just copy the Vista cd files on my USB flash drive and then boot it on my laptop? 'Laptop DVD player is broken which is why I want to boot with USB Flash'.

You don't have to use files from your CD, because this USB flash drive will not rely on your installed OS in any way. simply download these files and it will work perfectly.

i have the operating system windows xp sp3. i want to know if i have to use the dos files from my recovery cd or can i use the ones u gave. if i use the ones u gave wud it work?

this really helps

Darn this works! Finally I've got a bootable usb stick thanks to you. Hopefully soon I can figure out how to put the ghost file on her so I can make images.
Thanks again,
-=Greg=-

After about two hours of searching downloading crap, running crap, creating bootable floppy disks and copying the files, and all kinds of generally crappy advice.... I am grateful to have found this.

The key is to have the correct DOS Files to browse to... and this is the ONLY LINK THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDES EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE THE USB STICK BOOTABLE!!!

Thanks again!

i was able to boot using USbdisk by your method. but my issue is installing xp Spk2 using a usb disk as my laptop doesnt have a cd drive. Please let me know if u know the solution.

I also found the bootable USB thumb made under your guideline unable to work.I think that it can work only on PC with a motherboard which accepts USB thumb as a booting device ie. some old motherboards only accept CD rom .HD as booting devices

Thank you for your post, it saved me a lot of time. Many websites tells you how to make usb devices bootable but none says it as well detailed and clear as you.

Great effort giving away files with description !

Your post has saved me so much time! Thank you!

So using this I drug all my files onto the drive and it is bootable, but it just sits at a black screen with a flashing white cursor. Any ideas on how to get it to boot Windows 7 install?

When using the HP tool it won't let me select create a start up disk when I select the thumb drive.
The option is availble from the generic usb drives shown but when I select my flash drive the option is shaded out and I only can choose quick format or enable compressing. How come?

If you're needing to create a bootable USB drive for a hackintosh project to load Mac OS X on a netbook or PC this is a must have utility. THANK YOU!

if i follow these steps will i then be able to boot e.g. tinyxp to my linux-machine...

Sorry... The problem was in my TV :)

I formatted the stick with this software and now its not working :( The pc isnt find it as a new hardware... Its blinking but nothing in device manager...

In response to this question:
"In paragraph 3 on page 2, when you say 'All you have to do now is add the files you need for flashing your BIOS on it' what do you mean exactly? Please explain the steps involved. Thanks."

What you need to do is extract the zipped file that you downloaded at the beginning of the article (bootable_usb.zip) to a location on your machine. When you do, there will be an executable file called 'HP Bootable Media' and there will be a folder called 'DOS files.' You'll run the executable file to install the HP USB Disc Storage Format Tool, and you'll point back to the 'DOS files' folder within the interface at the [...] window.

These were by FAR the best, most concise, yet explicit instructions on how to make a USB thumb drive bootable.

It took me 2 hours to find these instructions, yet only 2 minutes to follow them.

Maybe this article can help you, but we do not have an article that would explain precisely, how to flash your bios. http://www.lowfps.com/bios
If you are talking about video card's bios, then please let me know and I will try to write an extra article about that topic ;)

It means you will have to get the utility and bin file for your bios from your manufacturer. Just a warning be very careful when upgrading your bios. If it fails or lose power during the upgrade you could lose your motherboard.

In paragraph 3 on page 2, when you say 'All you have to do now is add the files you need for flashing your BIOS on it' what do you mean exactly? Please explain the steps involved. Thanks.