starting up my laptop

[Peter]

i was wondering if anyone new how to start up windows with a flash drive as i want to do it for security reasons

any help would be great

please email me on [e-mail]

[NHH]

It is possible to make a Windows 'Live CD' or 'bootable pendrive' using a tool called Bart's PE builder which a free tool and can be found HERE along with plenty of instructions and 'plugins'. The plugins can help you include a range of software and drivers

PE Builder is intented for creating a Windows 'Live CD/DVD' (a CD or DVD that contains a complete bootable OS and runs in RAM) but can also be used to create a Windows 'Live' pendrive, 'TomsHardware' has a walk-through HERE.

One flaw with Windows being used in this way is that Windows needs drivers to be installed to detect & run devices and as you may already know, Windows comes with a limited range of drivers bundled with the OS. If you're planning on using the bootable Windows pendrive on any PC that comes to hand, you're going to have to include a ton of drivers in the build.


As an alternative, there are many distributions of Linux that are already tailored to run from Live CD's and pendrives. They're freely downloadable, come bundled with a range of software and easily go from one PC to another with minimal hardware issues.

Many Linux distros already distribute Live CD's and DVD's, here's just a few.
Ubuntu
PC Linux OS
SLAX
Puppy Linux
Knoppix
You could always boot from CD and save your stuff to your pendrive.


Also here's some Linux distros that are ideal for booting from USB drives.
Also you can find some simple instructions on getting them booting from USB at pendrivelinux.com
SLAX
Puppy Linux
Damn Small Linux
Damn Small Linux NOT (Damn Small Linux with more software)

Got a bit carried away but I think that covers it...