Instal winxp without cdrom

Dear all,

I'm using laptop from compaq. But the cdrom drive is spoil.Try to buy new 1 but it is too expensive for me. So since I only have a floppy drive to boot, and an external cd rom drive connect via USB port.
My question is. it is possible for me to install windows with my current situation.
I've try norton Ghost 2001 to copy the file from cd rom to my hard disk ( I'm sure if I can copy the winxp file to my hd, I can install the OS. (btw, i cannot acces to windows right now) since i can use floppy to boot.

Do we have any program outside the that can boot from USB. I read some bout it but it need the BIOS to support USB. I mean from BIOS there an option to select boot from USB. but my BIOS don't have the feature.
So from the norton ghost 2001 the only option i can choice is used LPT1. but I don have the cable. I already search to a nerby shop and they said they don;t have that type of thing.So now I stuck again.
Then I buy network cable in hope that can find a software make me able to make peer to peer connection. which i can access the cd rom from the other computer. But still no luck at all.
I also have try to update my bios but since I don;t know what type of BIOS I have (I already try twice which is both failed said that, that is the wrong driver). So here again I stuck.

So here, does any program can boot from a floppy and make me able to access the cd rom via USB, or can make peer to peer connection using network card.
(the is option at norton ghost 2001 for peer to peer connection but it seem for me that i mean a network. what I mean is just a simple connection, computer 1 connect to computer 2.)

Tq for ur opinion and suggestion.

Howdy.

Why not use a windows boot disk to boot the computer up with.
Then escape the setupmenu, and exit to the Dos prompt, then move to the USB cdrom and then start the setup from there.

Once it does the first part of the setup it will reboot the machine, and it should auto re-direct itself to the external usb cdrom drive.

Have a look on http://www.bootdisk.com. Pick a network enabled bootdisk. Install from the network. All you need is access to the I386 dir.

front2back, Tq for ur reply. I already install the windows xp start up disk. But still it no automatically detect my usb cdrom. would u mind give me the command or anything so i can access my usb cdrom.

sirDice, I already go to www.bootdisk.com, after doing some copy and paste, seem like no luck for me. Although it said can detect my cdrom but for a command mscdex /d"usbcdrom /s /m:15 /v it still display bad commant or file name.
some of the command I also don't understand. what I see is, it got lot command refer to *.sys, but I dont see any *.sys to download.

then I found this website http://www.madboot.com/index.php?opt...=30&Itemid=49. But here again I still don get it what it all about.

But tq so much for the reply. I already tried for whole night without success. Anything can help me to settle this problem is much appreaciated.tq

Dear all,
After several error.Now I manage to access my usb cd rom. But when I try to install windows via usb cdrom it display an error message. So I try to boot using win98se boot disk.But when I try to fdisk it display, fdisk error. Any idea.
My plan is, format hd and make partition. at partition D: i'll install all the winxp file(become my source file).so I can run the installation using my D:
Any idea

Hello y2k

Quote:

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But when I try to install windows via usb cdrom it display an error message

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Can you tell us the exact error message that you get?

I understand your comment about the price of replacement parts for laptops, I hear the same thing frequently :(

What operating system was on the machine before you started to have problems?

What happened that made you want to install/re-install Windows XP?

I believe that your Windows 98SE 3.5" floppy boot disk should have SCANDISK on it, so you might try running that.

It sounds as if you might have a hard drive problem, as it will not let you format it?

The exact fdisk error message would also be useful.

:)

Update:
When I boot using win xp boot disk. after access my usb cd rom. then go to i382 dir. when I type winnt.exe or winnt it said "the command is not recognized Type help for a list of supported commands. How I can execute winnt??

Dear nihil,
my computer pop up a msg saying cannot load to windows because got error and prevent futher damage to my system and bla bla. the code error is 0x0000007B. After searching regarding the error, It seem like it is about hardware but I don't dare to messed up with the hardware.So I'm thinking to re install the winxp right now in hope it can settle the prob.
Before this I'm running winxp home edition sp1.

now I'm thinking formatting my hd. I alraedy try used diskpart but not working. error msg, cannot delete this partition (sth like that)

the fdisk error is "Error reading fixed disk".

TQ for your reply but Still a help :(

I must admit I've never tried to do a clean install his way, but isn't it possible to just copy the i386 to your d: partition and install from there?

OK,

It does not sound good, as this sort of problem might be a hardware error.

Are you using a 3.5" floppy to boot with, then going to the CD drive?

If the answer is "no" then please go to your boot sequence settings (in your BIOS set-up) and change the sequence.

Then go here:

http://www.me.umn.edu/~ap/wipeout/

There are two programs:

CLEAN.exe and Wipeout .exe

The ReadMe.txt file is the instructions for using Wipeout.

Copy the programs to your Windows 98SE boot disk and try running CLEAN.exe first. If that doesn't work try Wipeout.

WARNING! This will completely clear your hard drive, and leave you with one partition.

You should then be able to do a clean install of Windows XP. If you cannot, it probably means that your hard drive is damaged.

Please let me know what happens, and any error messages.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED:

Clean.exe is the same as the CLEAN1K command in the HDDUTIL folder ;)

Wipe0ut pwns. i use it on clients pc's when doing repairs.

so any word on whether the utilities worked or not?

Hi Fronties~

At least it should tell us if there is a hard drive problem?

y2k I forgot to mention this, but some BIOSes, particularly those on brand name machines are rather sparse in their options.

If yours is an older machine you might have a "search for other bootable devices" which just might detect a USB drive, as you obviously have USB support. Naturally you would have to set that above the hard drive, or take the hard drive out of the sequence.



:)

Dear nihil,
After run clean.exe, nothing happen after I confirm to run the program. THen I run wipeout.exe. Here It display error msg, windows has disable direct disk access to protect your long filenames. To override this protection, see the lock/? command for more information.
so after restart the run lock c:. I manage to wipeout my hd. now i'm on my way to run fdisk. wish me luck.
Tq to all of you who give brilliant idea.Will update later the progress

Good luck my friend! :D

Thankyou for the feedback.

Dear nihil,

So after done everything, copy i386 folder to drive d: and everything inside the cd inside drive d:. when I run setup, (d:\i386\winnt.exe). It display this message, :windows xp require at least 417Mb of free space to continue setup. But I have 9Gb of memory space.HOw come it still detect i have low memory space.
NOw I plan to install win98 first then after win98 finish install, I'll boot normally and from windows I'll try to install clean installation at my c:.

any idea why it say I have low of free space.

UPdate:
After format c:, it no more display low space. Then I try to instal winxp. Then it say copy files to my hd. AFter finish copying, then nothing happen. but at the screen still display "plz wait windows copy file sth like that.".
When install win98, after done setup, restart and it pop up msg ntldr mising. what the hex.

Any idea

UPdate:
So what I do is, change bios, boot from hd 1st, 2nd floppy.Then everything look fine for me.So install win98 1st, after done, proceed with winxp(upgrade).
At last my computer back to normal.To all who have gave great idea, TQ very much and to the one who create the website,(dunno what the add, too many, can't remmember). You all done a very good job.TQ

Hi y2k ,

Thank you for the update. I am glad that everything worked in the end.

:)