Run winxp in ram memory (boot from usb)

Hi guys,

Coming up on this post : http://reboot.pro/17321/

I have tested and done for putting a minimal winxp (slimdown by nlite, about 250MB after NTFS compression, the disk image is about 350MB) in ram memory and it works perfectly.

Primary steps :

1. Create a mini-size disk image includes a mini-winxp.
+ Use nlite to create a minimal winxp installation disc.
+ Create a new machine and install with the disc.
+ Turn off paging-file, install winvblock, update some device to use standard drivers.
+ Create a new mini virtual harddisk (fixed size vhd format of course). Format, set active, ntfs compression.
+ Copy the content of the nlite winxp VM to the mini-disk-ntfs-compression-image. Defragement it.
+ Make it bootable : bootsect.exe /nt52
+ Locate the mini image and copy it to usb disk.

2. Boot the image.
+ Boot directly from file by : map (hd0,0)/winxplite.vhd (hd0)
+ Load the image into ram memory and boot it by : map --mem (hd0,0)/winxp.vhd (hd0)

Hints :

+ If your PC have alot of RAM memory, you can boot a full winxp in ram and skipping for using nlite slimdown.
+ Use NTFS compression for saving more space.

Steps in detail :

You can see more detail steps and screenshots here : http://www.linuxbyex...ram-memory.html

In the next days I will try to load the disk image from an DHCP, webserver and incooperate with portable applications to make a full environment diskless winxp without iscsi.

Cheers !