USB key ''LinuxLive key'' .getting started.

I have a usb key that a mate put linux onto so I can run it in my sony laptop (windows vista) straight from the usb key. the key contains a portable virtual box folder containing folders such as app64, data, linuxlive, source, vbox additions and a portable virtual box app. outside of this folder there are 2 other apps called virtual box and virtualize_this_key. I need to know how to boot all my system to that memory key and also what else has to be done to run linux from the key. I presume I have to patch the app64 folder contents to my harddrive? help much appreciated.