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Thread: WinXP install on a laptop with no CD

  1. #1
    Goron goron Kumagoro's Avatar
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    WinXP install on a laptop with no CD

    I am trying to install xp on a mini laptop which doesnt have
    a CD drive and im not having much luck.

    Its a pretty old PIII and comes with the proper USB floppy
    drive but doesnt have a USB CD drive. I have tried a USB
    cd drive from I O DATA but it doesnt recognise it.
    I have tried using DOS drivers e.g DUSE, the panasonic ones,
    Motto Hairu and DAToptic. None of which work.

    I have tried making a USB thumb drive bootable but that
    didnt work.

    The only thing I can think of next is to try and do a network
    boot but Im not sure it has an ethernet connection.
    Besides I have never done it before.

    Then there is linux, I have tried using floppy disk linux but
    I need a gui. I am wondering if a floppy boot of knoppix
    would work.

    All I need to do is get some XP folders off the CD and onto
    the HDD then do an install from that but I cant think of
    any other ways to get it on.

    If anyone has had experience of using the above dos drivers and getting them to work I would appreciate some pointers.


    Cheers

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    HEXUS.social member Agent's Avatar
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    Take the HDD out and put it in a PC?
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

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    Chillie in here j.o.s.h.1408's Avatar
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    can you fit a laptop hdd in a pc? even if you can, you cant use it on your laptop has the drivers and stuff installed on xp will be used only for the desktop's motherboard. Your xp will become unstable when you do it that way

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    Senior Member this_is_gav's Avatar
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    Yeah, you can get PATA adapters and USB ones.

    Can you use Microsoft's boot floppies that launch the setup stage of the WinXP install and then get it to see the CD drive?

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    HEXUS.social member Agent's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by j.o.s.h.1408 View Post
    can you fit a laptop hdd in a pc? even if you can, you cant use it on your laptop has the drivers and stuff installed on xp will be used only for the desktop's motherboard. Your xp will become unstable when you do it that way
    Yes, there are adaptors avaliable.

    I didnt say install it on the PC. You can copy the windows XP installation directory to the HD, put it in the laptop, then install from there.
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

  6. #6
    Goron goron Kumagoro's Avatar
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    I am currently on the otherside of the planet at the mo trying to sort this out so its even more difficult.

    The laptop is a little ULV mini laptop thing and looking at it
    doesnt look like it would be as easy as a normal laptop to take apart. I was hoping not to spend any money (I dont have a laptop HDD caddy) If it comes down to it I could have a go but its a last resort apart from taking it to the local PC place and have it done there.

    Thanks for the replies.

    Any other ideas are welcome.

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