Microsoft has announced that Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 Feature Pack 2007 has shipped to RTM. An enhancement of Windows XP Embedded SP2, Feature Pack 2007 comes with a plethora of additional features and one of them is the ability to boot from a USB device. The Embedded enabling feature referred to as USB Boot is designed to allow a custom made Windows XPe image to boot from an USB flash drive (UFD), including an USB thumb drive or an USB key. "The build process is straightforward using Target Designer, and preparing the UFD for boot is just as easy using ufdprep.exe," revealed Cuong Pham, Program Manager with the Windows Embedded team.

Although booting from an external USB HDD is also supported in Feature Pack 2007, UFDs are less impacted by mechanical issues and are therefore a more comprehensive choice. USB Boot optimizes deployment, servicing diagnostics and troubleshooting processes.

"USB Boot enables deployment and servicing scenarios for which our customers have been asking and provides them with additional options for boot media on embedded devices. USB Boot considerably extends Windows XPe Embedded Enabling Feature set, offering many extra benefits and enabling more flexible and versatile usage scenarios," added Pham.

Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 Feature Pack 2007 is available for download here.