Strange system questions.

[Flash]

Hello, it's been a while, but I com back looking for the expert advice I know I will get here.

I am looking to set upu a very small system, simply to play audio through.

The question I need an answer to is is there a system that can run an operating system simply from one of the USB pendrives?

All I need is an OS that will load, and then an audio player to access the HDD (external USB HDD) to play the audio.

I have seen OSes that run from a CD and utilise RAM disk, so is there one that can be installed onto a USB pendrive and run without a fixed floppy, CDrom or HDD?

I nkow this may be a strange set-up, but I am curious.

Thanks for any help.

[AllGamer]

Not Possible with the USB Keys

mainly cuz you can't boot a USB key without first loading an OS + USB drivers

so it's futile

:t

[rraehal]

I would say I agree at this point. Someone would need to write a simple boot disk with USB drivers so you could access the device. It would cause problem when the real OS loaded its own USB drivers.

[Flash]

That's what I figured, just didn't know if there were any motherboards out there yet with the USB boot in the board itself, like some on board NIC's.

Thanks anyway, I guess I'll use a small 2.5" HDD.

[AllGamer]

yeah until they make BOOTABLE USB support on mobo BIOSes what you planned will not be possible

heck even i've though of doing that a few times

but is futile cuz if you need a FDD or a CD to boot from to load the driver, to then finally load the OS in the USB device

geez.... why not just load the OS from the CD itself or FDD

Linux fits just fine on FDD, and any OS fits well in CD

so all that makes the whole idea very pointless... :D