having windows on a usb drive

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b0untypure1

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#76472 2-Feb-2011 21:35

hi guys,
i have an eee pc which has a solid state 4gb drive that has seized up.
i was running linux on it via usb, but it wouldnt save my session, so once i powered off the eee pc , i had to reinstall again on next boot. running puppy linux.
so im wondering , is there a way to have windows 95 or xp, on a usb drive, that saves all data , folders , etc to the usb. pretty much a portable operating system.? or is there a way to fix the problem with the linux system?
i have tried other distro's like ubuntu etc, but puppy linux was the only one that would work without lagging up

thanks

Regs

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Snowflake

#434536 2-Feb-2011 22:22

how does an SSD "seize up" with no moving parts? :P

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Snowflake

#434540 2-Feb-2011 22:28

as for the XP boot from USB thing, try these instructions if you're both patient and excellent at following instructions - dont miss any steps lest the whole process fail miserably

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b0untypure1

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#434563 2-Feb-2011 23:22

Thanks for your reply!
I did chkdsk and it said the h.e.a.l.t.h. Was BAD and the old
School solid states had limited read and writes till they lock up.

I have successfully put windows xp onto a usb and booted, but it does the same thing.
When i restart its all gone and says no os is found. So i have to install again (time consuming)

Every other part of the laptop is tested and fine

Ragnor

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#434589 3-Feb-2011 00:25

Why not just get a 2.5? inch "laptop" standard hdd and install that in the eeepc? Depending on the size you could get one with >160GB for ~$60, 500GB is <$90ish.

It's quite likely there is a youtube video or blog describing in detail how to take apart your eeepc model and replace the hdd.

Might be worth upgrading the ram to a bit more while you have it apart too imo.

b0untypure1

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#434624 3-Feb-2011 08:06

Ragnor: Why not just get a 2.5? inch "laptop" standard hdd and install that in the eeepc? Depending on the size you could get one with >160GB for ~$60, 500GB is <$90ish.

It's quite likely there is a youtube video or blog describing in detail how to take apart your eeepc model and replace the hdd.

Might be worth upgrading the ram to a bit more while you have it apart too imo.

hell yea ! ill find space for it >:) i didnt realise there was a spare sata port on the motherboard.

one more question: is there a way to make a usb drive the primary drive? thanks

b0untypure1

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#434626 3-Feb-2011 08:11

its the eee pc 701 model, thanks

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#435755 5-Feb-2011 21:43

random comment..

don't know what kind of errors you are seeing, but if i were you...

... before you junk the ssd, reset bios to default, apply the latest bios, also see if updated firmware is available for the ssd itself.

and, if after all that no result, read / error check the ssd in a desktop.

b0untypure1

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#435766 5-Feb-2011 22:37

Hi there,
The ssd is sOldered to the motherboard, so i doubt itd go into my desktop :)
I have checked bios etc and all done, still doesnt work

I think i am half successful, i plugged it into my sata dvd drive and burnt linux distro lucid puppy to a dvd. Installed and got running (from ram, sdd a dud) and then made a usb version of it and a saved data session.

Now it boots and works in lucid puppy fine from the usb drive, but is a boot time of 6mins normal?
Shuts down in 1min

Thanks all