Install Windows XP without CD drive on a computer without USB or Network boot op

[bikalpapaudel]

Hello, I have to make an old laptop operational, as a bare bones office computer.

Situation
Unfortunately, it's Windows installation is corrupt. Also, it's DVD drive is damaged.

Also, there is NO support for USB or Network boot (it's an old 1Ghz machine) and no scope of getting it via a BIOS update.

There is a Floppy drive though, if that can help.

Tools I have
I have a Windows XP Professional Retail CD.

I have a USB to IDE converter.
(I wondered if I could take the laptop HDD out and install Windows XP via some other computer and put it back to the laptop. Alas, it does not seem straightforward.)

I have another Windows XP PC as a desktop. And a MacBook with VMWare Fusion, should that be required.

What do I want?
I am fairly acquainted with the Internet but am not a programmer or a coder. The command line scares me a bit.

I want to have Windows XP installed on the laptop with minimum hassle. I've looked but it's all confusing. 🙁

 

[bikalpapaudel]

The title cut off at "... Network boot op -- "

Should have read : Install Windows XP without CD drive on a computer without USB or Network boot option.

 

[mibix19]

Is there an option in the bios which says enable support for legacy usb. You are unlucky if there isn't, as usually there is. Failing that you will have to replace the cd/dvd drive

 

[hang-the-9]

+1^ get a new drive. Your last line "with minimum hassle" is totally out of place in your situation without a new CD drive. In order to do what you want you need to install a Windows XP on another computer, clear out the HAL info, clone the drive, and restore the drive onto the laptop. Then you need to load up all the drivers for it, which you would have needed to load all the drivers for your system via usb.

You basically posted, my eyes are glued shut, my hands are tied, and I have plugs in my ears, but I want to run across the house without tripping over furniture.

 

[Ijack]

Have a look at this article which explains how to install XP from a hard disk and a floppy. Take the disk out of the laptop, connect it to a PC with a working CD drive, copy the contents to the laptop hard disk and away you go.

Depending upon how much free space there is on the laptop hard disk, you may want to delete the installation files when you have finished. But if you have enough free space it might be an idea to keep them there.

 

[bikalpapaudel]

Is there an option in the bios which says enable support for legacy usb. You are unlucky if there isn't, as usually there is. Failing that you will have to replace the cd/dvd drive

There just isn't any kind of USB boot support via BIOS. The laptop has just one USB 1.1 port.

I would get a CD/DVD drive, just that I don't see any value in buying extra accessories for what is a dilapidated and obsolete machine. I'd say a new DVD drive would get fairly close to the price I'd be able to sell this junk for. I know it contradicts trying to keep it, but it's actually my dad's old laptop that he wants to put to use.

@ hang-the-9

+1^ get a new drive. Your last line "with minimum hassle" is totally out of place in your situation without a new CD drive. In order to do what you want you need to install a Windows XP on another computer, clear out the HAL info, clone the drive, and restore the drive onto the laptop. Then you need to load up all the drivers for it, which you would have needed to load all the drivers for your system via usb.

I am up for getting my hands a bit dirty if it's called for.

It's a PATA HDD and wont go to my desktop w/o an adapter. I have a USB-to-IDE adapter though. I tried but XP setup did not let me install into the USB drive, despite showing it under available choices.

I would like to know more about what you described in brief. The HAL thing.

@ ijack

Have a look at this article which explains how to install XP from a hard disk and a floppy. Take the disk out of the laptop, connect it to a PC with a working CD drive, copy the contents to the laptop hard disk and away you go.

Depending upon how much free space there is on the laptop hard disk, you may want to delete the installation files when you have finished. But if you have enough free space it might be an idea to keep them there.

Yeah. I did come across that. I would need a Windows 98 startup disk for that, which I wont be able to make without a Windows 98 computer. 🙁 Maybe we get to download the files and put it in a Floppy?

This is what I tried, yesterday.

I connected the laptop HDD via USB to my MacBook. Then, I did a fresh install of Windows XP in a Virtual Machine.

Since Windows would not let me copy the fresh installation to the Laptop HDD, I booted Ubuntu Linux in another VM and simply copy-pasted the contents of freshly installed Windows partition to the first partition of Laptop HDD.

I put the HDD back into the laptop. It found an OS and started booting it but I did not get to see "Windows XP" booting or anything.

Next time, it presented me with the option to choose Safe Mode. I did and saw that it stuck at loading agp440.sys. Apparently, the Windows installation is loading a display driver as configured in the Virtual Machine and since it's now in my Laptop, it just stays there. 🙁

So now, it seems that installing in any other computer is no use, unless I am able to make it always start up using VESA drivers.

------------

I see that installing with a floppy is way easier, since I have Windows XP setup copied to another drive in the laptop HDD. I just need a startup disk. :|

 

[bikalpapaudel]

Best answer selected by bikalpapaudel.

 

[Frustrated_43]

Jesus are you guys ******* dense? he wants to boot the Windows XP installer from the C:\ hard drive and install it like vista, without booting from a CD drive or USB, he wants to boot from the internal hard drive.

 

[Frustrated_43]

Now what do you need to do to launch the windows xp installation from the C drive ?

 

[Frustrated_43]

Assume his system is crashed to the point he can't click the installer, he has to copy the files manually like preparing a CDless and USBless vista install/.