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    Boot off a MemStick ???

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Fandarel, Nov 12, 2006.

  1. Fandarel

    Fandarel Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello All,

    Have been reading some interesting articles lately reguarding the use of flash based memory as a replacement for laptop hard drives. That got me thinking about the MEMstick slots present on all Sony Viao's...

    Now, this might be a stupid question but is it possible to boot from a Flash slot???

    I know that the TX series have a A/V mode that is accessible without booting to windows. That same software, on the older models, allows access to the MemStick content which would imply that the slot can be accessed via the bios???

    Also Sony now offers the MemStick Pro High speed flash memory in capacities up to 4GB. I know that a clean XP pro install takes up about 3-4 Gigs max with a limited amount of programs installed???

    Now I dont think this would offer much of a performance boost for the average laptop but for the TX series with their slow hard drives isn't it possible that this could speed up the boot sequence and use less power.

    ????


    Oh I dont know, probably just the late night coffee fix talking :)
     
    Fandarel, Nov 12, 2006
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  2. ivar

    ivar Notebook Deity

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    I was experimenting with several linux distros bootable off the USB memory stick,
    and I was using the fastest USB sticks on the market (Geil and Buffalo) whose nominal speed is higher than the speed of 1,8" hard disks. Unfortunately, even the booting of small distributions was taking longer than the booting of well optimised windows XP. I haven't tried yet with the booting of individually lightened Windows XP off the USB stick.
     
    ivar, Nov 12, 2006
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  3. sfiorito

    sfiorito Notebook Geek

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    I've booted slimmed versions of XP off USB flash drives. It takes some registry hacks and the right hardware. Mainly a motherboard which supports Hi-Speed USB booting in the BIOS. That would be PhoenixBIOS or AMIBIOS, not Award. You also need a very fast flash drive. OCZ makes some good flash drives and M-Systems has the uDOC which is for embedded systems (I use that for my CarPC, works great). Google "XP USB booting" and you should find lots of info.
     
    sfiorito, Nov 12, 2006
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  4. Fandarel

    Fandarel Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the info Guys,

    Dont have much experience with Sony's yet do either of you know how the Memstick/SD slot is connected to the Motherboard in the TX class...

    Is it USB???
     
    Fandarel, Nov 12, 2006
    #4