Guest tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it to DOS and run the setup program from there. The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that does not have fdisk on it. Any ideas? Thanks, Tim.
Guest Kelly Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy Attach an external CD/DVD drive ... -- All the Best, Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm Is it October already? Either way, Happy Birthday if today is your birthday! <tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:1186589945.085167.241960@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" > drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. > > It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not > important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach > (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it > to DOS and run the setup program from there. > > The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in > the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to > the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have > this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that > does not have fdisk on it. > > Any ideas? > > Thanks, > > Tim. >
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy <tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:1186589945.085167.241960@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" > drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. > > It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not > important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach > (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it > to DOS and run the setup program from there. > > The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in > the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to > the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have > this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that > does not have fdisk on it. > > Any ideas? > > Thanks, > > Tim. the laptop will have either a docking station with CD, or USB ports to which you can connect an external CD drive. That's probably the best approach. HTH -pk
Guest tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy On 8 Aug, 17:55, "Patrick Keenan" <t...@dev.null> wrote: > <tim_milst...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message > > news:1186589945.085167.241960@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > > > > > My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" > > drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. > > > It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not > > important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach > > (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it > > to DOS and run the setup program from there. > > > The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in > > the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to > > the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have > > this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that > > does not have fdisk on it. > > > Any ideas? > > > Thanks, > > > Tim. > > the laptop will have either a docking station with CD, or USB ports to which > you can connect an external CD drive. That's probably the best approach. > > HTH > -pk Unfortunately the machine does not support USB cdrom or USB floppy at boot or DOS. It does have an IDE port at the back but the person has lost the CD drive. Hence the question.
Guest John John Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk wrote: > My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" > drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. > > It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not > important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach > (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it > to DOS and run the setup program from there. > > The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in > the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to > the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have > this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that > does not have fdisk on it. You basically have it figured out. Get a Windows 98 startup disk (bootdisk.com has them) and prepare the drive using that. Format the drive FAT32 (you can convert it after Windows is installed) and make the drive bootable by transferring the system files to it (a:\format c: /s) and then copy the files to the drive, you have to copy the W98/DOS boot files for the computer to boot and you have to copy the i386 folder to carry out the installation. There are plenty of step by step guides on the net showing you exactly how to do this, these may be helpful. http://www.defectivekit.net/2007/02/guide-install-windows-without-cd-rom-or.html http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-501&cop=mss&p=install+windows+on+laptop+without+cdrom+or+floppy+drive&x=86&y=12 John
Guest Gary S. Terhune Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy On *your* computer, can you access the 2.5 drive using a Win98 boot disk? -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com <tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:1186589945.085167.241960@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" > drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. > > It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not > important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach > (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it > to DOS and run the setup program from there. > > The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in > the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to > the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have > this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that > does not have fdisk on it. > > Any ideas? > > Thanks, > > Tim. >
Guest Kelly Posted August 10, 2007 Posted August 10, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy USB CD/DVD Rom - Place the CD in and hold down the shift key. As for fdisk, download a better boot disk - http://www.bootdisk.com/ -- All the Best, Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm Is it October already? Either way, Happy Birthday if today is your birthday! <tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:1186598452.987811.166910@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com... > On 8 Aug, 17:55, "Patrick Keenan" <t...@dev.null> wrote: >> <tim_milst...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >> >> news:1186589945.085167.241960@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... >> >> >> >> > My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" >> > drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. >> >> > It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not >> > important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach >> > (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it >> > to DOS and run the setup program from there. >> >> > The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in >> > the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to >> > the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have >> > this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that >> > does not have fdisk on it. >> >> > Any ideas? >> >> > Thanks, >> >> > Tim. >> >> the laptop will have either a docking station with CD, or USB ports to >> which >> you can connect an external CD drive. That's probably the best >> approach. >> >> HTH >> -pk > > Unfortunately the machine does not support USB cdrom or USB floppy at > boot or DOS. It does have an IDE port at the back but the person has > lost the CD drive. > > Hence the question. >
Guest tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk Posted August 12, 2007 Posted August 12, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy On 8 Aug, 20:07, John John <audetw...@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote: > tim_milst...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: > > My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" > > drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. > > > It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not > > important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach > > (other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it > > to DOS and run the setup program from there. > > > The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in > > the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to > > the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have > > this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that > > does not have fdisk on it. > > You basically have it figured out. Get a Windows 98 startup disk > (bootdisk.com has them) and prepare the drive using that. Format the > drive FAT32 (you can convert it after Windows is installed) and make the > drive bootable by transferring the system files to it (a:\format c: /s) > and then copy the files to the drive, you have to copy the W98/DOS boot > files for the computer to boot and you have to copy the i386 folder to > carry out the installation. There are plenty of step by step guides on > the net showing you exactly how to do this, these may be helpful. > > http://www.defectivekit.net/2007/02/guide-install-windows-without-cd-...http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-501&cop=mss&p=instal... > > John John, Thanks for the info. I'll look for a boot disk, but as Gary has spotted the 2.5" disk is connected to my computer via USB and is unlikely to be available when I boot using a Windows 98 boot disk. I am really looking for a way of preparing the disk from Windows. I suspect this might be impossible because I get the feeling it is impossible to do a fdisk /cbr e: equivalent from inside windows. Tim.
Guest John John Posted August 15, 2007 Posted August 15, 2007 Re: Install Windows Without CDROM or Floppy tim_milstead@yahoo.co.uk wrote: > On 8 Aug, 20:07, John John <audetw...@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote: > >>tim_milst...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: >> >>>My friend has a Dell laptop without CD or floppy drives. It has a 2.5" >>>drive that I can connect to my computer using a USB adaptor. >> >>>It needs Windows reinstalling on it (2000 not XP but that's not >>>important - I am running Windows XP). I am guessing the only approach >>>(other than PXE) is to copy the Windows CD onto the hard disk, boot it >>>to DOS and run the setup program from there. >> >>>The only problem is getting that hard disk to boot once it is back in >>>the computer. I have no way of doing fdisk /mbr (on NT equivalent) to >>>the 2.5" disk to make it boot. Windows software does not seem to have >>>this capability - I have to boot using a Windows Floppy Disk and that >>>does not have fdisk on it. >> >>You basically have it figured out. Get a Windows 98 startup disk >>(bootdisk.com has them) and prepare the drive using that. Format the >>drive FAT32 (you can convert it after Windows is installed) and make the >>drive bootable by transferring the system files to it (a:\format c: /s) >>and then copy the files to the drive, you have to copy the W98/DOS boot >>files for the computer to boot and you have to copy the i386 folder to >>carry out the installation. There are plenty of step by step guides on >>the net showing you exactly how to do this, these may be helpful. >> >>http://www.defectivekit.net/2007/02/guide-install-windows-without-cd-...http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-501&cop=mss&p=instal... >> >>John > > > John, > > Thanks for the info. I'll look for a boot disk, but as Gary has > spotted the 2.5" disk is connected to my computer via USB and is > unlikely to be available when I boot using a Windows 98 boot disk. > > I am really looking for a way of preparing the disk from Windows. I > suspect this might be impossible because I get the feeling it is > impossible to do a fdisk /cbr e: equivalent from inside windows. > > Tim. You can try the Motto Hairu (AKA Panasonic) DOS USB drivers and see if they will allow you to prepare the disk from a DOS session. Or get a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch IDE Adapter and stick the disk on the IDE controller in your desktop, you can buy these adapters for a couple of dollars. John
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