Installing Windows Help Required

[johnny02004976]

i've just bought a oldish compaq machine from ebay to use as a download box and i've run into a few problems.

firstly, there's no OS on there so i'll need to install windows on it, the second problem i have is theres no CD/DVD drive so i've got no easy way of installing the OS.

i've looked into network booting which could be a last option but i wanted to know if there's an easy way around it?

i've got 4 icy boxes here, i wondered if i could just take the HD out of one and hook up a CD-RW drive i've got lying around and boot via USB. Is this a viable option?

any ideas?

[nichomach]

Erm...if you have a CDRW drive lying about, why not have the lid off the Compaq, whang the optical drive on one of the IDE channels and do it that way?

[johnny02004976]

i would except its a really strange case and would take quite alot of effort to get inside, possibly damaging it in the process.... if its the only way then i will but i was hoping of something a little easier first

[nichomach]

i would except its a really strange case and would take quite alot of effort to get inside, possibly damaging it in the process.... if its the only way then i will but i was hoping of something a little easier first

Really? Compaq cases are generally OK. Got any pictures? I'd be dubious about the USB approach, if only because I suspect that if the machine's old, it may not be available as a boot device.

[johnny02004976]

i'll try and snap a few pics mate - the BIOS does allow a USB device to boot so hopefully it should allow that.

with the case being difficult to get into, its more to do with the fact that there not standard screws, id need a star shaped allen key to get them off

EDIT: this is the style of case

[obvious]

A decent security bit set will come in handy :- http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...1520&doy=17m12

[nichomach]

Yep, see your problem; that's why I always keep THIS handy...

[jon bda]

I find with those wierd screws Compaq use, i have a little flathead screwdriver here that fits into them perfectly. Might be worth having a root around your toolbox, then as mentioned you can just plug your cd drive into an ide channel...

[johnny02004976]

I find with those wierd screws Compaq use, i have a little flathead screwdriver here that fits into them perfectly. Might be worth having a root around your toolbox, then as mentioned you can just plug your cd drive into an ide channel...

ahhh good idea i'll go rummaging now

thanks for all the suggestions guys

[Splash]

Ah the iPaqs, we have a few kicking around in a cupboard here at work. You got the floppy drive in that bay then? If so you could easily do a network install by booting from a floppy as detailed at http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/network/ - I did the same with a bunch of Dell GX150 Slimlines that we got without optical drives.

[johnny02004976]

Ah the iPaqs, we have a few kicking around in a cupboard here at work. You got the floppy drive in that bay then? If so you could easily do a network install by booting from a floppy as detailed at http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/network/ - I did the same with a bunch of Dell GX150 Slimlines that we got without optical drives.

there's just some sort of blanking plate in there - what sort of floppy drive would i need for it, i assume you just push it in?

[Splash]

There's a button at the back of that bay - give it a push and it'll pop the blanking plate out. You can then put in either a CD or Floppy drive like http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HP-Compaq-CD-R...QQcmdZViewItem

Does that help? I may even have a drive kicking around somewhere that I could lend you (but I would need it back)

[johnny02004976]

this is wicked cheers mate i'll get bidding

[Splash]

Just check that the blanking plate wants to come out before bidding...

Of course _another_ way to install would be through RIS using PXE, but that's probably about 8 steps in the "needless faff for one machine" direction.