In windows XP, you would most probably use DVD/CD burning software such as Nero or DeepBurner to make iso images, and software like alcohol 120% or daemon tools to mount the images.
There are so many reasons why having a Linux distribution on a USB drive can come in handy. From having a “rescue” OS on your keyring to being able to install a new distribution on your EeePC, a “thumb drive” Linux has many uses. But getting Linux onto a USB drive can’t be simple. Right? Wrong. There is a tool, UNetbootin, that makes installing Linux
on a USB drive simple.