HELP!! installing windows xp without cd-rom drive.

clipto333 · 21st June 2007, 20:59

hi,

i need to install win xp without cd drive as the drive on my laptop is not working. i have an external hard disk(laptop HDD with usb casing).

guys please help me out as buying a new cd drive is out of question rightnow.

can anyone let me know the price of a cd dvd combo drive and a dvd writer for compaq presario 2203al?

thanks
clip

abhibh · 21st June 2007, 21:10

You got USB pen drive ? If yes then can your laptop boot from a USB storage if yes then i can help you.

Do laptop currently have any windows installed ?

unknown · 21st June 2007, 21:20

Download the Window's Xp off net on to your hd & run the setup from there !

abhibh · 21st June 2007, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown

Download the Window's Xp off net on to your hd & run the setup from there !

TeamBHP does not encourage illegal stuff. lol... I am taking the probability here that laptop HDD has no windows on it.

esteem_lover · 21st June 2007, 21:47

Copy the WinXp files to your external HDD using a friend's computer & change the bootup preference in the BIOS on your comp to boot from the USB port. I think that should work.

tsk1979 · 21st June 2007, 23:34

There are various ways possible, but I suggest do it the correct way.
For this to work you need to have a USB drive so that you can load the relevant files.
1. Step 1, make an .iso from the XP CD which you have on another computer
2. Step 2, make a virtual CD rom drive(google for this, its easy, free softwares available)
3. Transfer .iso to your PC and load the .iso in your virtual CDrom drive. Simple. Run the setup and off you go

If you want to do via floppy disk(I dunno why)
Install Windows XP without booting to CD
If your BIOS can boot from USB drive, then its simpler
Installation on ThinkPads without CD-ROM drive - ThinkWiki

low_bass_makker · 21st June 2007, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

There are various ways possible, but I suggest do it the correct way.
For this to work you need to have a USB drive so that you can load the relevant files.
1. Step 1, make an .iso from the XP CD which you have on another computer
2. Step 2, make a virtual CD rom drive(google for this, its easy, free softwares available)
3. Transfer .iso to your PC and load the .iso in your virtual CDrom drive. Simple. Run the setup and off you go

If you want to do via floppy disk(I dunno why)
Install Windows XP without booting to CD
If your BIOS can boot from USB drive, then its simpler
Installation on ThinkPads without CD-ROM drive - ThinkWiki

the above methods are the most easy way to do it...

Mugen_Power · 22nd June 2007, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by clipto333

can anyone let me know the price of a cd dvd combo drive and a dvd writer for compaq presario 2203al?

I dont know the prize but you can get a Usb Cd/Dvd writer.

Zappo · 22nd June 2007, 00:57

Ok, there you go. Tsk has already given you the key. The most straightforward way to do it.

By the way even a network install is possible if you can map your external USB HDD as a network drive. This of course takes into consideration that you have at least one OS currently running on the laptop (Even a free DOS will do).

cooldude1988765 · 22nd June 2007, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

There are various ways possible, but I suggest do it the correct way.
For this to work you need to have a USB drive so that you can load the relevant files.
1. Step 1, make an .iso from the XP CD which you have on another computer
2. Step 2, make a virtual CD rom drive(google for this, its easy, free softwares available)
3. Transfer .iso to your PC and load the .iso in your virtual CDrom drive. Simple. Run the setup and off you go

If you want to do via floppy disk(I dunno why)
Install Windows XP without booting to CD
If your BIOS can boot from USB drive, then its simpler
Installation on ThinkPads without CD-ROM drive - ThinkWiki

Doesnt the virtual cd software need windows for you to run it ??

low_bass_makker · 22nd June 2007, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooldude1988765

Doesnt the virtual cd software need windows for you to run it ??

yes. it is a simulation one so it require windows...but if you a bit of DOS you can load a CD drive drivers but it is a different thing...

DerAlte · 22nd June 2007, 10:21

Clip, is your laptop already booting from the current HDD (i.e. you are trying to repair the current installation) or has something hopelessly gone wrong that you want to completely reinstall it (maybe after a format)?

If it is booting, copying the install CD contents to a directory in the USB HDD (or any other USB storage) will allow you to run the "autorun.exe", which will take care of the reinstall (repair option). The install program copies all relevant files to the main HDD during the install process so that rebooting in between (does it a couple of times) does not cause problems with removable drives.

Post-install, It is normally a good policy to copy the CD contents in a directory in the main HDD (from where the machine boots), so that for problems other than in HDD you can reinstall easily.

Another method is to make a 'ghost' of the boot image after an install, so that you can simply copy the 'ghost' over the previous faulty image in case something goes wrong in future. Of course, you can't copy a ghost from a different machine to the one under repair - the settings, drivers and registry will be different.

tsk1979 · 22nd June 2007, 11:39

In non CD drive laptops(newer ones) install from USB drive is a good option.
Most modern laptops support boot from USB drive.

clipto333 · 22nd June 2007, 18:26

hi guys,

thanks for the replies. i was really busy with work so didnt have time to re install windows.

ok let me clarify a few things.

my laptop is 3 years old with the following config -

1.5 ghz pentium m centrino with 512mb ram 40 gb seagate hdd. there was a cd-dvd combo drive but now its not working at all. i have a 30 gb laptop hdd with the usb casing.

im using win xp and there is no trouble in booting. im getting a lot of errors which im not able to fix so i want to format my primary partition (c:\) and install win xp.

if there is any way to repair the os then its great cause its a pain to re install all the drivers and programs again.

thanks
clip

abhibh · 22nd June 2007, 19:28

Clipto,

There is windows repair but it does not work very well. I will suggest you to copy the files of Windows CD in a folder in yer laptop HDD via your external HDD.

Then boot up in dos via USB / Floppy if it has one into dos. Don/t forget to have copy 2 files DELTREE.EXE and SMARTDRV.EXE in you laptop HDD as they will make your work easier for deleting old windows folders.

Then when u boot up in DOS just type: SMARTDRV.EXE once and then use DELTREE.EXE to delete windows, program files, system etc files and folders which u dont need.

After that just go to that folder where you copied the files of windows installation and run setup.exe.

P.S. can write the full steps with help url where to get the stuff once i reach home as i m on mobile lol..

21st June 2007, 20:59	#1
clipto333 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jalandhar Posts: 912 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	HELP!! installing windows xp without cd-rom drive. hi, i need to install win xp without cd drive as the drive on my laptop is not working. i have an external hard disk(laptop HDD with usb casing). guys please help me out as buying a new cd drive is out of question rightnow. can anyone let me know the price of a cd dvd combo drive and a dvd writer for compaq presario 2203al? thanks clip
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 21:10	#2
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	You got USB pen drive ? If yes then can your laptop boot from a USB storage if yes then i can help you. Do laptop currently have any windows installed ? Last edited by abhibh : 21st June 2007 at 21:11.
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 21:20	#3
unknown BANNED Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 439 Thanked: 23 Times	Download the Window's Xp off net on to your hd & run the setup from there !
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 21:47	#5
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	Copy the WinXp files to your external HDD using a friend's computer & change the bootup preference in the BIOS on your comp to boot from the USB port. I think that should work.
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 23:34	#6
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,811 Times View My Garage	There are various ways possible, but I suggest do it the correct way. For this to work you need to have a USB drive so that you can load the relevant files. 1. Step 1, make an .iso from the XP CD which you have on another computer 2. Step 2, make a virtual CD rom drive(google for this, its easy, free softwares available) 3. Transfer .iso to your PC and load the .iso in your virtual CDrom drive. Simple. Run the setup and off you go If you want to do via floppy disk(I dunno why) Install Windows XP without booting to CD If your BIOS can boot from USB drive, then its simpler Installation on ThinkPads without CD-ROM drive - ThinkWiki
	() Thanks

22nd June 2007, 00:57	#9
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,918 Thanked: 2,652 Times	Ok, there you go. Tsk has already given you the key. The most straightforward way to do it. By the way even a network install is possible if you can map your external USB HDD as a network drive. This of course takes into consideration that you have at least one OS currently running on the laptop (Even a free DOS will do).
	() Thanks

22nd June 2007, 10:21	#12
DerAlte Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8,069 Thanked: 2,919 Times	Clip, is your laptop already booting from the current HDD (i.e. you are trying to repair the current installation) or has something hopelessly gone wrong that you want to completely reinstall it (maybe after a format)? If it is booting, copying the install CD contents to a directory in the USB HDD (or any other USB storage) will allow you to run the "autorun.exe", which will take care of the reinstall (repair option). The install program copies all relevant files to the main HDD during the install process so that rebooting in between (does it a couple of times) does not cause problems with removable drives. Post-install, It is normally a good policy to copy the CD contents in a directory in the main HDD (from where the machine boots), so that for problems other than in HDD you can reinstall easily. Another method is to make a 'ghost' of the boot image after an install, so that you can simply copy the 'ghost' over the previous faulty image in case something goes wrong in future. Of course, you can't copy a ghost from a different machine to the one under repair - the settings, drivers and registry will be different. Last edited by DerAlte : 22nd June 2007 at 10:25.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2007, 11:39	#13
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,811 Times View My Garage	In non CD drive laptops(newer ones) install from USB drive is a good option. Most modern laptops support boot from USB drive.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2007, 18:26	#14
clipto333 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jalandhar Posts: 912 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	hi guys, thanks for the replies. i was really busy with work so didnt have time to re install windows. ok let me clarify a few things. my laptop is 3 years old with the following config - 1.5 ghz pentium m centrino with 512mb ram 40 gb seagate hdd. there was a cd-dvd combo drive but now its not working at all. i have a 30 gb laptop hdd with the usb casing. im using win xp and there is no trouble in booting. im getting a lot of errors which im not able to fix so i want to format my primary partition (c:\) and install win xp. if there is any way to repair the os then its great cause its a pain to re install all the drivers and programs again. thanks clip
	() Thanks

22nd June 2007, 19:28	#15
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	Clipto, There is windows repair but it does not work very well. I will suggest you to copy the files of Windows CD in a folder in yer laptop HDD via your external HDD. Then boot up in dos via USB / Floppy if it has one into dos. Don/t forget to have copy 2 files DELTREE.EXE and SMARTDRV.EXE in you laptop HDD as they will make your work easier for deleting old windows folders. Then when u boot up in DOS just type: SMARTDRV.EXE once and then use DELTREE.EXE to delete windows, program files, system etc files and folders which u dont need. After that just go to that folder where you copied the files of windows installation and run setup.exe. P.S. can write the full steps with help url where to get the stuff once i reach home as i m on mobile lol..
	() Thanks

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