Install Windows XP from USB

    After trying many tutorials to install XP from USB, I found something that worked. The WinSetupFromUSB tool.  I've tested with Windows XP 32bit SP2 and SP3 and worked fast and easy. Some prerequisites:

• USB stick >1GB
• Windows XP CD/DVD or iso
• WinSetupFromUSB program

Notes:

1. First I tried with an XP sp3 iso(XP Performance Edition), modified with nLite,  I got an error (missing winnt32...). A trick I've read, if you make modify your iso with nLite, is to NOT remove "Manual Install and Upgrade” under Operating System Options.
2. It's better to integrate SP3 if you have just sp1 or sp2.  Details, reason and ste by step instructions  here. (the process is called slipstreaming drivers)

   The usage is straight-forward, click-click.., select the source, format the USB device (I used the HP format tool, already integrated with WinSetupFromUSB ), select USB, click Go. The program takes care of making the device bootable, after copying XP files. 

   Change from BIOS to select USB as first device to boot, and you'll get to a grub4dos where you choose XP setup first part. 

Note: I had a problem at the second part. There are 8 options, one default, with the suggestion to choose one that works. For me it was the 4th.

Next, how to get grub (or burg) back in the mbr, after XP installation, to be able to boot the existent Ubuntu also.

USB Camera in Skype in Ubuntu 10.10

    I've connected a basic USB webcam. It seemed to work correctly, but in Skype it didn't start showing anything. It's detected by lsusb as Microdia:

$ lsusb 
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0c45:612a Microdia PC Camera (SN9C325)
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

To see that the camera it's working correctly (has modules installed), I used cheese (sudo apt-get install cheese  and then Applications->Sound and Video->Cheese Webcam Booth and I see myself:). 
The workaround to work also in Skype is to specify some libraries at start, in the LD_PRELOAD environment variable. If I run Skype with:


sh -c 'export XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 && LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype'


I got image, so I modified the command to start the program (Right click on Applications Menu, Edit Menus and edited the command for Skype).

Install Ubuntu 10.10 on usb with persistence

I used the Universal USB Installer from the link below and downloaded and installed Ubuntu 10.10 with persistence on a 2 GB usb stick. Great article!


Full article:

• Universal USB Installer