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technical => computers, technology and the internet => Topic started by: account_inactive on September 24, 2007, 11:00:57 am

Title: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: account_inactive on September 24, 2007, 11:00:57 am

I've spent ages trying to sort this out and drawn a blank :(

My old computer has been failing bit by bit over the last few months.  The cd/dvd drive has stopped working and removed its entry from the Bios.  This means I couldn't do a re-install.  The hard drive is partitioned into c: (system) and D: (data).  I bought a IDE/USB adapter to try to recover the c: drive (d: is ok) from my new laptop.  I ran Fdisk on C: and its totally fucked. Instead of repairing it just deleted the drive.  Since then I have formated both drives and am looking to install XP.

All the info I find on the web is about installing to a usb pen or hard drive and seems very complicated.

Help :wave:

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: unclesomebody on September 24, 2007, 11:17:05 am

you can install via a network or from a USB stick. Easier than both of those is just buying a CD-ROM drive for under £10.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Super-Slim-External-USB-Portable-24x-CD-ROM-Drive-CC_W0QQitemZ330168235996QQihZ014QQcategoryZ3754QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: account_inactive on September 24, 2007, 11:28:38 am

My computer won't boot from a USB device :( 

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: Jim on September 24, 2007, 11:43:00 am

what laptop have you got dylan?
easiest and probably only way is to replace the cd drive
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CD%2FDVD+Drives/DVD-R%2FRW+Writer/Optiarc+8x+Slimline%2FLaptop+internal+DVDRW+-+Black+?productId=28346

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: account_inactive on September 24, 2007, 11:51:18 am

The knacked one is an Acer.  Before I shell out I'm concerned that the Bios is not recognising the drive.  That's a bit weird is it not? I've never heard of that happening. 

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 24, 2007, 12:02:10 pm

You may be able to take the harddrive out and install XP on it from another machine. Could be a bit of a hassle. Is it really worth it now you have a new machine? Most options I can think of need it either to boot from USB or firewire etc.

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: account_inactive on September 24, 2007, 12:12:37 pm

I've removed the hardrive and linked it up to the ide converter and taken off the useful files. I need a seperate computer to the wife as I take ithe other one away with me to work. 

I knew this would be a nightmare

Thanks for the help

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: Jim on September 24, 2007, 03:35:12 pm

the reason the bios isn't recognising it is because the drive is knackered.
It's easy to replace the drive, I did it recently with someone else's computer and it fixed it just fine

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: Jim on September 24, 2007, 03:35:55 pm

If you have got 2 laptops, just take the drive out of one and test it in the other, should confirm the knackered drive

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: account_inactive on October 29, 2007, 02:38:25 pm

Finally figured it out ;D

My last ditch attempt was to put the laptop hard drive into another computer.  I managed to get an install, but when I replaced the hard drive I saw a blue screen of death!  Luckily I still had the old ACER install disks.  These installed fine, but would not boot on the other laptop but ................worked when I swapped the drives around!

Thanks for all the help along the way guys

BTW the CD/DVD drive is working (sometimes) but still does not show up in the BIOS.  Weird

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: Jim on October 29, 2007, 06:45:24 pm

Quote from: Dylan on October 29, 2007, 02:38:25 pm

BTW the CD/DVD drive is working (sometimes) but still does not show up in the BIOS.  Weird

That means its not working

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: account_inactive on October 29, 2007, 07:02:38 pm

Then why is it working now?

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: Jim on October 30, 2007, 12:29:47 pm

Ok, when I say not working, I mean faulty, which is probably why its not been picked up by the bios

Title: Re: Installing XP on a laptop without cd drive
Post by: xelaxela on February 09, 2008, 03:35:47 am

you could try flashing your bios but i would reseach using google and make shure you understand what your doing first