Using Compact Flash card as HDD for WinXP

[The Big One]

i was thinking of getting a fast 4Gb CF and use a CF->IDE/SATA card to use it as HDD for XP
is it a good idea? does it have any problems in it?

[emceepecks]

As another user pointed out in a similar thread, flash memory is not suitable for constant reading/writing. I'm no expert but I believe that flash memory can only be rewritten so many times before it fails to hold data.

[The Big One]

link?

[The Big One]

link?

[Archer36]

NOR-based flash has long erase and write times, but has a full address/data (memory) interface that allows random access to any location. This makes it suitable for storage of program code that needs to be infrequently updated, such as a computer's BIOS or the firmware of set-top boxes. Its endurance is 10,000 to 1,000,000 erase cycles. NOR-based flash was the basis of early flash-based removable media; Compact Flash was originally based on it, though later cards moved to the less expensive NAND flash.

NAND flash, which Toshiba announced at ISSCC in 1989, followed. It has faster erase and write times, higher density, and lower cost per bit than NOR flash, and ten times the endurance. However its I/O interface allows only sequential access to data. This makes it suitable for mass-storage devices such as PC cards and various memory cards, and somewhat less useful for computer memory. The first NAND-based removable media format was SmartMedia, and numerous others have followed: MMC, Secure Digital, Memory Stick and xD-Picture Cards. A new generation of these formats is becoming a reality with RS-MMC (Reduced Size MultiMedia Card), the micro- and miniSD variants of Secure Digital and the new USB/Memory card hybrid Intelligent Stick. The new formats exhibit a greatly reduced size, usually under 4 cm².
That info from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory

[dicecca112]

can you even fit XP on 4GB?

[core2due]

I think xp is just over 4gb.

[The Big One]

u can fit it on less then a 1gig if u make a slim XP from full xp

[adamwinn]

it's quite often done for computers where the OS rarely changes - like client computers that are just used for logging into remote-desktop servers, etc.

most implementations have the CF card set at read-only, with all temporary changes happening in a ram disk. when OS changes are needed, the CF card is unlocked, rewritten, and relocked.

[doublejack]

You can definitely put XP on a flash card or thumb drive. I've personally done it with linux, and see no reason XP would be any different.

[greenmaji]

XP isn't configured for read only operation normaly.. it would take some tweaking to get the pagefiles and the temp files into system ram (ramdisk) or another storage divice to get this to work long term IMHO.

[bing]

Full blown XP with all apps -> No way !

But XP Lite (or WinPE) with limited functionalities like network, disk and most of the time for recovery purpose then yes !

You can even put it into 3" CD or USB stick and boot from there ! Here (http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/)