How to Create a Windows XP Bootable USB [The Best Methods]

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Updated By

Tracy King 

Written By

Linda 

Last Updated on April 19, 2024

A bootable USB can be used for various tasks, such as installing and upgrading Windows, backing up data, system repair and recovery, and accessing unbootable computers. Therefore, whether you're a tech enthusiast or a beginner, learning how to create a bootable Windows USB is a must-have skill. Fortunately, this guide offers three reliable tools to help you create a bootable USB for Windows XP. Let's dive into the step-by-step tutorials.

How to Create a Windows XP Bootable USB - 3 Methods

Preparation:

A healthy computer. A clean and large USB flash drive.

The built-in Windows tool, Diskpart, can be used to create a bootable Windows XP USB, but it's not an easy task for most Windows users. That's why we'll suggest two user-friendly alternatives. Check out the comparison table below for more details:

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|| Efficiency| Difficulty| |---|---|---| |? Solution: Partition Master| High - Offers a reliable method for creating a bootable USB for installing or repairing Windows XP.| ⭐| |? Disk Management (Diskpart)| Moderate - Requires basic understanding of command-line parameters. Incorrect usage can lead to serious issues.| ⭐⭐⭐| |? WinSetupFromUSB| Moderate - Needs downloading and extracting files before use.| ⭐⭐| 1. **Partition Master** - Efficiency: High - Provides a dependable solution for creating a bootable USB drive for installing or fixing Windows XP. - Difficulty: Low - ⭐ 2. **Disk Management (Diskpart)** - Efficiency: Moderate - Needs familiarity with command-line arguments; misuse can cause significant problems. - Difficulty: Moderate - ⭐⭐⭐ 3. **WinSetupFromUSB** - Efficiency: Moderate - Requires downloading and extracting files beforehand. - Difficulty: Slightly higher - ⭐⭐

Before trying any of these remedies, consider the following caveats:

 Warning:: Creating a bootable Windows XP USB will format your USB, which can result in data loss. Thus, it's necessary to back up any important data files beforehand.

Method 1: Use AOMEI Partition Assistant - Create a Windows Bootable USB

To create a bootable USB for Windows XP seamlessly, we highly recommend giving the Partition Master Professional tool a try. Its user-friendly interface, swift solutions, and comprehensive features make it an indispensable asset in your troubleshooting toolbox. Moreover, it can also resolve Windows boot errors and remove Windows passwords when you forget them.

Please follow these steps to learn what you should do:

Step 1. Create a Bootable Disk Partition Master Tool To begin, you will need to prepare a storage media such as a USB drive, a flash drive, or a CD/DVD disc. Connect the drive correctly to your computer.

Step 2: Launch Partition Master, find “Bootable Media” on the left and click it.

Step 3. If you have a drive available, you can choose between USB or CD/DVD. If you don't have a storage device, you can also save the ISO file to your local disk and burn it to media later. After making your choice, click the “Create” button to start the creation process.

Review the warning, and then click Yes.

Step 4: When it's done, a message will ask whether you want to restart your computer from the bootable USB drive.

Restart now: Indicates that you want to restart your computer immediately and then enter the tool boot media without an operating system to manage disk partitions.
Finish: Indicates that you do not want to restart your current computer, but instead want to use the bootable USB drive on a new computer.

Boot computer from the bootable USB drive

Note: To boot from the bootable disk on a new computer, you'll need to restart the target computer and press F2/F8/DEL to enter BIOS, where you should set the USB bootable disk as the first boot device.

Wait patiently, and the computer will automatically boot from the USB startup disk and enter the WinPE tool desktop.

Then, you can download the ISO image file from Microsoft's official site for installing Windows 10 from USB. Besides being a versatile tool, Partition Master also helps users reset forgotten Windows passwords:

3 Effective Ways to Create a Bootable USB Password Reset Tool

This article explains how to create a bootable USB password reset tool using three simple and effective methods.

Method 2: Run Diskpart

The second method involves creating a Windows XP bootable USB using the command prompt. This requires a USB drive with a capacity of at least 5 GB. Please refer to the detailed instructions here:

Step 1: Type cmd in the search box on the taskbar. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Open Command Prompt

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press "Enter" to run the Diskpart utility. Then, type each of the following commands, followed by pressing "Enter" after each one.

list disk
select disk V (replace "V" with the number of your target USB drive)
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
format fs=ntfs quick (use "format fs=fat32 quick" if creating a UEFI bootable USB)
active

Create a bootable USB drive using Diskpart

Step 3: Type exit to close the window, then download the Windows XP ISO from Microsoft's website.

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Method 3: Use WinSetupFromUSB

To create a bootable USB drive on Windows XP, you can download and use the WinSetupFromUSB tool. Follow this step-by-step tutorial for assistance:

Step 1. Insert and format the USB flash drive to NTFS.

Format USB to NTFS

Step 2. Download the Windows XP ISO image to your target USB drive. Then, download and run the latest version of WinSetupFromUSB.

Launch WinSetupFromUSB

Step 3: The tool will automatically detect any available USB devices. Find Windows XP under the “Add to USB” section.

Step 4: Select the Windows XP folder and check it. To create a bootable Windows XP installer, accept Microsoft's EULA (End User Licensing Agreement), and click “Go.”

Select the USB drive and the Windows XP files:

You can also try using Rufus, following the guide in the article below:

The bottom line?

In conclusion, this post has taught us how to create a Windows XP bootable USB. By following the step-by-step guide, we can easily make a bootable USB and install or repair the Windows OS on a computer without a CD/DVD. We've introduced three powerful tools, with Partition Master standing out for its versatility and user-friendly operation. Hence, if you wish to shorten and simplify the process, this third-party software is suitable.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Create a Windows XP Bootable USB

For more information about creating a Windows XP bootable USB, check this FAQ section for the answers.

1. Can Windows XP boot from USB?

Yes, users can boot Windows XP from a USB drive. They would need to use tools like Partition Master or Diskpart to format the USB and make it bootable. Then, they would manually download the Windows XP ISO file from an official source.

How do I format Windows XP without a USB?

Here are the detailed steps to format Windows XP without using USB:

Step 1: Launch Disk Management by searching for the utility in the Windows search box or by typing diskmgmt.msc in the Run dialog.

Step 2: In Disk Management, right-click on the drive you want to format and select “Format.”

Step 3. Assign the partitions and format them as instructed on the screen.

3. How do I create a bootable UEFI USB flash drive?

There are two boot modes for computers: BIOS and UEFI. If your computer uses UEFI, you'll need to know how to create an emergency UEFI bootable USB. AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable and user-friendly tool that you can trust. Here's a comprehensive guide page: