bootable usb drive? how to?

Hi troops! first off, my son yesterday scored so high on his initial tests to go into the Marine Corps that they told him he can basically choose any job he wants. He is now DEP. (that puts him in Camp LaJeune in August- good timing dear boy...) I am REALLY proud, but scared too of course...
Anyway- I have checked the prior posts, but nothing seems applicable or is just a bit out of my ken- I go along fine and all of a sudden there's all this Dos-y code writing jargon.... I am trying to install XP to an Asus eee Surf (Linux), and found a walkthrough that isn't that just little bit out of my ability (what I really want to do is load XP to my external HD and boot from there, but the info I have found really is that much out of my knowledge curve)
In order to do this, I need to create a bootable usb stick or thumbdrive- the clearest instructions I have found, from a Dutch site, ask me to make a bootable floppy initially- heck, I don't have ANYTHING that has a floppy drive... that was three systems ago- can anyone give me clear instructions on how to make my cruzer mini 256 MB thumbdrive bootable?
Thanks! Have missed being on here, hope all are well! love, kat

 

Doing this would violate the XP EULA.
A copy of XP is registered to the chipset in the PC when installed.
If you want a portable copy of XP get a laptop.

 

Windows link
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/usb-boot.mspx

 

Asus issues XP drivers with the Linux eee, and instructions on how to load XP to it- if I own my own licensed copy of XP, want to retain my Linux, am no longer using my XP on my (defunct) Vaio, how is this a violation?