The usage of the words in this page, below, have me only slightly confused and
I suggest you read this thread and that page if you want to install XP on a flash drive or memory card.

http://www.ngine.de/index.jsp?pageid=4176

Most people will consider takking the flash drive with them to boot and store programs.

Why not use any memory and a usb reader?

So that's my question. Can I use any memory and any usb memory reader to boot* ?

*Assuming BIOS allows booting from USB.

Not sure why you would want to carry a USB card reader and a memory card around with you as opposed to a flash drive, but to answer your question - once properly configured and assuming there isn't a chipset conflict, the device itself doesn't matter.

Booting from USB means booting from USB - it is not limited to one type of USB device. Flash drive, USB hard drive, etc...

FWIW, you can also boot to a memory card if your PC has an on board card reader. I boot puppy linux from a 1 GB SD card in my MSI wind's card reader.

minidrag said:Sure, that makes sense. After all, that card reader connects via USB.

great answers.

Irritating.
I found that my ACER which uses, I think, a Phoenix/Award Bios where the Mobo is similar to the
Foxconn MCP61SM2MA. My board does not seem to provide booting from anything but the following:

Removable (is this equal to memory in the USB reader) ?
HDD
CD ROM

It does not have Network booting.

Irritaing after spending money on two computers. I wish I could force it to boot from memory.

Any chance to install a phoenix/award bios in the Acer board if the Foxconn is nearly or is identical?

I know. Buy another mobo.

And re: why I'd carry memory and reader. I might only have memory available
to me and not a flash drive depending on where I am or how I'm equipped.