Installing a fresh copy of Windows XP from an Android device (Some Questions)

[eG00N]

I have some old computers that I have given to some of my family members that have unfortunately gotten a few viruses. I would like to install a fresh copy of Windows XP on them. One of them is a laptop, and does not have a CD Drive, so I did a quick Google search and found that I could boot up Windows XP from a USB drive.

As you probably know, Android phones have the feature of acting as a USB drive (I think). I was planning on using this software called "WinToFlash" in order to transfer the Windows XP image from my disk to my phone's USB storage. However, I am worried that this may cause some problems with my phone. Does anyone know if this should work? Since I have a Nexus S, and it has internal storage, the WinToFlash program says it's going to wipe all the data on the USB drive (the phone). Though I don't really mind losing any of the data I have on my phone, will this be safe, and if anything happens, should I be able to fix it through a soft reset of the phone?

 

[ArmageddonX]

Do you have a MicroSD Card? If you went and bought a cheap MicroSD to USB like this one:
Amazon.com: IOGEAR 12-in-1 USB 2.0 Pocket Flash Memory Card Reader/Writer GFR209 (Green): Electronics

You could just take your phone out of the equation by removing your SD card and using it apart from your phone.

However, If you don't you could probably just create a folder on the phones internal memory and name it like "WinXp" and accomplish the goal.

I suggest you not do anything until you're sure it's 100% safe. Windows XP certainly isn't worth breaking your smartphone.

EDIT:
Also, most Laptops or Netbooks that don't have a Optical Drive (CD/DVD/BR) have a startup setting to install a fresh copy of Windows without a Disk. Usually you press F11 at startup BEFORE the Windows screen when the computer is loading the BIOS. Your hard drive might have a backup copy of Windows stored in a safe partitioned portion of the Hard Drive. After that, it's all automatic.

Make sure to check before you go through all the trouble of USB/WinXp. Sometimes it's "Shift+F11" or "CRTL+F11"... If it's available it should say something like "Press XX+YY+ZZ keys to restore/format your Computer"

EDIT #2:
If it loads a screen like "Toshiba" or "Sony" (Manufacturer) before the Windows screen try hitting "DEL", "F8", or "F11" before the Windows screen loads to see what options come up.

AGAIN, I cannot stress highly enough; if you don't know what you're doing in these menu's or if it even makes you nervous it's best to take it to a professional.

 

[eG00N]

I think I'm not going to risk my smartphone, and I'm just going to go out to the store and buy a USB Storage device. And no, the BIOS doesn't make me nervous . Thanks for your help though

I don't have the laptop with me right now, but I will definitely check to see if it has that option. The desktop I am installing XP on, however, does not.

 

[JMack89427]

I think I'm not going to risk my smartphone, and I'm just going to go out to the store and buy a USB Storage device. And no, the BIOS doesn't make me nervous . Thanks for your help though

I don't have the laptop with me right now, but I will definitely check to see if it has that option. The desktop I am installing XP on, however, does not.

If WinXP was the original OS, there's a pretty good chance that the BIOS doesn't even have an option to boot from USB. I know my old eMachine that came with Vista doesn't. Just food for thought.