Jaz wrote:
> Does anybody know if it's possible to install windows XP on a
> laptop that has no floppy drive or CD-rom?
>
> My cd-rom is broken and I need to wipe the system. Can I do it
> through the network? What are my options?
Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
> The usual method consists of putting the laptop
> disk inside an external USB case so that you
> can connect it to some other PC to load up the
> WinXP installation files. Post again if you need
> further details.
philo wrote:
> No, you cannot do a network install.
> you'd need a boot floppy with network support
Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
> The OP has no floppy disk drive.
philo wrote:
> I know...that's why I said they could not do a network installation.
>
> If the bios supports booting from a USB device...an external cd
> would be an option
A network boot might actually be an option - if the BIOS supports it and the
OP has the proper setup/knows how to setup one...
Then no floppy diskette drive or CD drive would be necessary. *grin*
Seriously - the OP has all the options given.
The easiest - if the computer will do it - is a USB CDROM drive marked as
bootable in the BIOS. Then the installation is a normal installation by an
end-user. Boot from CD, continue install.
If the computer will not allow that - then removing the hard disk drive,
putting it in an external case or another computer and formatting it FAT32,
copying the Windows XP installation files to it and making the drive itself
accessbile from a startup (bootable with DOS - like the one that came with
Windows 98) is an option. Then the drive can be put back in the originating
system and booted to - the setup can be initiated by command line.
The latter is the most likely to happen, however.
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
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