BIG problem (read this or just post how to install windows onto a flash drive)

I bought an Acer Aspire 5100 notebook off a friend for $100. Hella good price? Yea, for the state it's in (software-wise). He doesn't know much about computers, but he did mention the computer has 2-3 worms. Great! Ok, so I turn it on, (he used to have vista on it), and a windows error screen comes up saying that something like winstart.exe is missing. Alright, so I went into the BIOS (setup), and changed the boot settings so it would boot off the dvd drive. The boot device name was "USB CD-ROM:", the colon showing whether or not something was detected. Nothing. I save and reboot, and I still get the same message. Then I noticed I can run some sort of memory test on 3 modes: Basic, Standard or Extended. I do all 3, no errors are detected. I then try several different CDs, I try an old windows 95 CD, a windows 98 CD, a windows 98 recovery CD for my old PC, a windows 2000 CD and the 2 recovery disks my friend gave me with the computer. Nothing worked. Okay, so I go back into the boot options and I see "USB HDD:". I copy my windows 2000 CD onto my flash drive (yes it works fine I tested it), and the BIOS detected it alright, it was there and everything. I set it to the primary boot option, then reboot. Same error screen, nothing happened. Please help, I really want to use this laptop.

THINGS THAT ARE NOT OPTIONAL FOR ME:
-Getting a new HDD
-Getting a new laptop
-Getting a windows XP CD
-Don't suggest safe mode or formatting, I can't do it.

OR
Post how I can install an actual operating system on my flash drive without formating my actual PC.

Thanks,
~blu

 

[cp]

https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

Free Ubuntu CDs by the mail.

http://damnsmalllinux.org/

Damn Small Linux on a flash drive.

I know you asked for windows on a flash drive, but it's impossible. (Another perk of using linux?)




!!

 

[wtp]

The USB CD ROM is an external CD ROM drive. See if theres another cd rom drive for the one attached to your computer

you can install windows on a flash drive the same way you would a hard drive. Just make sure when it says where you want it put drive put drive F:/ or whatever your flash drive is.

 

The USB CD ROM is an external CD ROM drive. See if theres another cd rom drive for the one attached to your computer

you can install windows on a flash drive the same way you would a hard drive. Just make sure when it says where you want it put drive put drive F:/ or whatever your flash drive is.

Can't do it, need to create a partition on the drive which as cp_ said, it's not possible. I think what I'll do it just copy like MSDOS or something onto my flash drive then try to boot from it. So far, on other PCs, it's never failed me.

 

[i L33t i]

Goodluck man. I Usually Just Reformat It, And Boot Up Windows XP Cd.

 

[wtp]

Can't do it, need to create a partition on the drive which as cp_ said, it's not possible. I think what I'll do it just copy like MSDOS or something onto my flash drive then try to boot from it. So far, on other PCs, it's never failed me.

The flash drive itself is a partition. But you cant boot up from with CD?

 

[hmm]

https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

Free Ubuntu CDs by the mail.

http://damnsmalllinux.org/

Damn Small Linux on a flash drive.

I know you asked for windows on a flash drive, but it's impossible. (Another perk of using linux?)
!!

linux is for people who can't keep themselfs virus free with or without protection and/or other tools.

also i think people use it to "brag" or something, i don't know why..
its not like it runs many common windows programs, that i know of..and i don't really see many programs made for linux, but i'm probally wrong about that seeing as i use windows..

-just my opinion

 

[wtp]

linux is for people who can't keep themselfs virus free with or without protection and/or other tools.

also i think people use it to "brag" or something, i don't know why..
its not like it runs many common windows programs, that i know of..and i don't really see many programs made for linux, but i'm probally wrong about that seeing as i use windows..

-just my opinion

Linux is good, looks really cool. But ya i think a lot of poeple brag because not a lot of people have it. It is different from windows though and is good especially considering that its free.

 

[Blurb]

dont think its possible for a windows OS, sorry mate

 

[cp]

Um, linux wasn't meant for people who can't stay virus free... It was made to show that you shouldn't have to pay for what you can get for free. Also, with minor knowledge of linux, you can easily get wine running, and use almost any windows app on linux (to an extent, of course).

People use it to brag because it isn't easy to get a hold of as it is with windows, and not everyone uses it. Everyone loves announcing the fact that they're non conformist in some way, don't you think?

900th post btw.

 

[Osmosis]

My teacher it IPT told us today that it is posible to create bootable windows on USB.

As wtp said the BIOS is trying to connect to an external device (HDD, DVD Drive). You need to just hit the arrow key left or right ( < - >) and navigate to DVD-Drive (may still be CD -drive?).

 

[hmm]

Um, linux wasn't meant for people who can't stay virus free... It was made to show that you shouldn't have to pay for what you can get for free. Also, with minor knowledge of linux, you can easily get wine running, and use almost any windows app on linux (to an extent, of course).

People use it to brag because it isn't easy to get a hold of as it is with windows, and not everyone uses it. Everyone loves announcing the fact that they're non conformist in some way, don't you think?

900th post btw.

i'm sure you and i both know you dont have to pay for windows, it too you can get for free.
i see linux for download within a google search..hows that hard to get ahold of?
i don't know, i just dont see why people go through the trouble of doing installing linux when windows works just fine.

but, i do understand the thing where you try it out and turn out to like it, so i'll stop buggin about it k.

 

[cp]

Heh

Sure, you can get windows for free. What's the chance that it'll be clean, bug free, or even windows itself? You can't always trust warez.


Sorry, when I said get a hold of, I meant get a hang of. As in, linux is a bit less user-friendly than windows.

 

[wtp]

dont think its possible for a windows OS, sorry mate

Of coarse you can get it for free and you can also get arrested. Stealing software isent cool and sythe doesn't support it anyway.