Installing windows pre sp2

I have a version of windowsxp pre sp2 i cant install it and then add sp2 as bootcamp wont allow it, I've produced a slipstreamed version which ive saved to a usb key but the only cd/dvd writer is on my mac, so is there anyway to produce a windows bootable cd on the mac, or is there anyway to get bootcamp to install it from the usb key, or an external HDD.

Have you tried just burning it on the Mac?

As far as I recall, I slipstreamed a copy of XP SP2, then burned it to a CD on the Mac with no problems. However, I was installing into Parallels, so maybe bootability was not an issue.

I had a parallels install but am having a few problems, so want to try and do a bootcamp install and see if that does any better, even tried burning the slipstreamed version within parallels, but it kept coming up with a buffer overun or kept crashing, which is why im going for the bootcamp version.

How did you produce the slipstreamed version and how is it saved (ISO, CDR, IMG)?

I'm pretty sure you wont be able to boot up the installer from a USB drive.

My approach would be to use a friends Windows PC (or a working windows environment that you have in a virtual machine) to create a Windows XP + SP2 slipstreamed disk. There are freeware/shareware applications on Windows to do this. The result should be your slipstreamed image file (ISO). Then I would transfer the file back to the mac to be burned to DVD, as I'm not too familiar or trusting of burning software in Windows. In Mac OS X, just right click on the image file and burn to disk.

What I have come accross before is the Bootcamp Setup Assistant failing to recognise a custom disk - In this case, as long as you have your Windows partition ready, just reboot your mac whilst holding down the option (alt) key. If the disk is bootable, its icon should appear so you can select it and boot up.

I slipstreamed using instructions on website through a windows install through parallels, but i keep getting a buffer underrun when when trying to burn it to disc using nero, either that or the windows sysytem goes bellyup, its save through nero as an iso.

If you can get that ISO file into Mac OS X it might burn more succesfully. As a guess, the buffer underuns could be caused by interuptions to the flow of data to the DVD drive due to it being bounced too much between Windows, Parallels and Mac OS X.

well ive copied it to a usb key, and when my head stops hurting, i will have a go, can't believe 'm giving myself all this grief for three programs.

You might be able to drag and drop the file from the Windows desktop in parallels straight onto the desktop of the mac, but the usb key method should work fine.

Once you've got it on the Mac:
Insert a blank disk.
Start Disk Utility.
From the File menu, choose Open Disk Image and select the ISO to be burned.
In the list of volumes, you will now see an item representing the ISO file. Select it.
Click the Burn button

Then I would reboot the mac whilst holding down alt and see if the disk appears.

Which three programs do you need to run in Windows out of curiosity?

microsft money, quicken and theres a sub simulation, but that isnt that important, have tried other home account programs but they dont seem to have the statement download that money has for keeping accounts upto date.