Reinstalling Windows on laptop without CD drive?

killerwombat · 2nd September 2004, 4:34 PM

I am considering getting an IBM X31, but it doesn't come with a CD drive (and I don't want to fork out for a media slice + optical drive).

So how can you reinstall Windows (and any other OS for that matter) if it doesn't have a CD? Other than removing the HDD and installing on another laptop (may not work given differing hardware) or using an external USB drive (may not work if you can't boot from it)...

max223 · 2nd September 2004, 9:23 PM

You can connect the HD to a PC (need a convertor), copy the windows installation files on it and install from HD. You need to create a bootable floppy disk or USB drive though. There are plenty of guide on the Internet about that.

...or you can just install Linux, which can be done or the network or the Internet.

theyetti · 2nd September 2004, 9:33 PM

Trick I used to use to load Windows is install the HDD in another computer, create a seperate partition and copy the install/setup files to that . Then you boot from floppy and instead of setting up from the CDROM type in the path to the install files. Of course this takes a little bit longer as you're copying from one partion to another on the same HDD. With a laptop drive you'd need a 3.5" to 2.5" adaptor which is around $20.00. You could also leave the install files on the partition so next time you need them they are already on the laptop.

It's easier with the Win9X line as you only need one floppy where as WinNT/Win2000/WinXP you need four boot floppies. Of course with USB drives you could most probalby put all four floppies on one USB disk provided the laptop and USB Drive support booting.

Other problems are this most probably doesn't work with Linux and the like but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else knows.

Other way to do it is if it's got a network card boot with network support and install from a network source.

If it's got USB 2.0 which I think it has I'd check whether it boots form USB CDROM and then go down to Office Works where they had Imation external USB 2.0 CDR/W for $99.00 and buy one of those. Should allow you to install lots of different O/S :-)

Cheers Pedro :-)

Noah · 3rd September 2004, 8:15 PM

RIS - Remote installation services on a win2k server / 2k3 server.

and network boot.

Jaff · 5th September 2004, 8:48 PM

The X31 should have a recovery partition on it. It contains an image of the OS as it shipped out from the IBM warehouse. The current IBM machines (AFAIK) all have this feature and this is a recent model, albeit not a current model. Other than that though - got no suggestions...

killerwombat · 6th September 2004, 8:11 AM

Thanks Jaff! I vaguely remember reading that somewhere, so thank you for confirming

taity · 3rd November 2004, 8:57 PM

im having the same drama, but my cdrom is dead.... but anyways... i had it work before installing windows on my desktop then chucking the drive into the laptop worked fine... but this time i dont rember if i did anything different but it wont work....goes through the xp boot screen but never makes it to the welcomescreen...

so ive tried partitonin and copy windows to the partition to do it that way... with a boot disk.. but i keep getting invalid drive spec!!!!! is this because the boot disk is a fat and and the drive is formatted ntfs? hwo can i fix this.. need to get it done pronto as io need to take the bastard away with me to study next weekend and dont really want to pay to have it done and a new cdrom is like 350 biggies!!!

any ideas guys?

Cheersw
Taity.

TheOneWhoIsMany · 3rd November 2004, 9:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theyetti

Trick I used to use to load Windows is install the HDD in another computer, create a seperate partition and copy the install/setup files to that . Then you boot from floppy and instead of setting up from the CDROM type in the path to the install files. Of course this takes a little bit longer as you're copying from one partion to another on the same HDD. With a laptop drive you'd need a 3.5" to 2.5" adaptor which is around $20.00. You could also leave the install files on the partition so next time you need them they are already on the laptop.

how do you chance the install path from the cd rom to a partition?

theyetti · 3rd November 2004, 11:05 PM

This was for the Windows 98, WinMe etc. Once you have the install files on a HDD partition separate from the boot partition and boot from floppy, USB Drive, etc. you navigate to where you have the Windows setup files and run setup file from there. It's similar to installing from a network location. Windows will use the path to where the install takes place from.

Cheers Pedro :-)

TheOneWhoIsMany · 4th November 2004, 6:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theyetti

This was for the Windows 98, WinMe etc. Once you have the install files on a HDD partition separate from the boot partition and boot from floppy, USB Drive, etc. you navigate to where you have the Windows setup files and run setup file from there. It's similar to installing from a network location. Windows will use the path to where the install takes place from.

Cheers Pedro :-)

i knew how it was done in 9X i was just hoping there was a way in 2k, XP.

i guess i could do an upgrade from 9X to XP but thats a litle messy for my likings.

CD · 4th November 2004, 4:55 PM

connect your 2.5" HDD to a desktop, and create a small (~1G) FAT partition on your 2.5" HDD if you don't already have one (and make it active).

copy the windows "i386" folder to the FAT partition.

put 2.5" HDD back into laptop

boot with a win9x floppy

run "smartdrv" from a: (i usually run "smartdrv 32000" to use ~32MB memory for caching)

navigate to the "i386" folder on your FAT partition

run "winnt", and it'll copy some files around and ask you to reboot the computer

remove floppy and boot from HDD as normal

windows installation will continue

TheOneWhoIsMany · 4th November 2004, 5:18 PM

man you rock! that sounds like it should work, i'll give it a go tomorrow when i get a chance!

taity · 5th November 2004, 1:58 AM

does that work? i wish i had know this arvo!!! cracked the shit and took my laptop in to get serviced... although i think it may be due to booze being spilt on it..... maybe i will tell them not to go ahead with it....

how does that go with unattend scripts? will they still work?

taity · 8th November 2004, 8:08 PM

alrighty, decided to try and save 185 bux by doin this myself only to achieve the same outcome... did the smartdrv install from a partition, all funky dorie, but still when it goes to boot up to the next phase of install, when you check for connectivity and all that it wont boot upto there... any ideas? think im gonna have to bite the bullet tomorrow and cough up the dough

CD · 8th November 2004, 8:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taity

alrighty, decided to try and save 185 bux by doin this myself only to achieve the same outcome... did the smartdrv install from a partition, all funky dorie, but still when it goes to boot up to the next phase of install, when you check for connectivity and all that it wont boot upto there... any ideas? think im gonna have to bite the bullet tomorrow and cough up the dough

what do you mean by "when you check for connectivity and all that it wont boot upto there" ?

there are 3 phases of install with the method i described:
1. running "winnt" copies the files from the install source to a temp directory and modifies the boot settings on the hard drive (i think you still need to make sure that c: is made "active" with fdisk beforehand)

2. the win2k boot menu is presented, defaulting to "windows installation/upgrade" after 5 secs or so. then it boots into the same screen as booting from the CD (choose SCSI drivers, agree to licence, choose install destination etc.

3. boots into the install GUI where you enter the cdkey etc.

2nd September 2004, 4:34 PM	#1
killerwombat Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sydney, Aust. Trades: 221 Posts: 591	Reinstalling Windows on laptop without CD drive? I am considering getting an IBM X31, but it doesn't come with a CD drive (and I don't want to fork out for a media slice + optical drive). So how can you reinstall Windows (and any other OS for that matter) if it doesn't have a CD? Other than removing the HDD and installing on another laptop (may not work given differing hardware) or using an external USB drive (may not work if you can't boot from it)... __________________ PC: Core 2 Quad Q9400 @ 3.3 \| 8GB Corsair Dominator \| DFI LT-X48-T2R \| ATi HD3870 512MB \| Storm G4+MCW60+MCP-350+BIX

3rd September 2004, 8:15 PM	#4
Noah Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,062	RIS - Remote installation services on a win2k server / 2k3 server. and network boot. __________________ Seti 5,000 Club

5th September 2004, 8:48 PM	#5
Jaff Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: St Peters, NSW Posts: 3,951	The X31 should have a recovery partition on it. It contains an image of the OS as it shipped out from the IBM warehouse. The current IBM machines (AFAIK) all have this feature and this is a recent model, albeit not a current model. Other than that though - got no suggestions... __________________ Got hangover? Click for almost 1,001 cures \| "Maybe he is from the International Pretentious Association, and he’s here to remove your goatee."

6th September 2004, 8:11 AM	#6
killerwombat Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sydney, Aust. Trades: 221 Posts: 591	Thanks Jaff! I vaguely remember reading that somewhere, so thank you for confirming __________________ PC: Core 2 Quad Q9400 @ 3.3 \| 8GB Corsair Dominator \| DFI LT-X48-T2R \| ATi HD3870 512MB \| Storm G4+MCW60+MCP-350+BIX

3rd November 2004, 8:57 PM	#7
taity Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Perth Posts: 157	im having the same drama, but my cdrom is dead.... but anyways... i had it work before installing windows on my desktop then chucking the drive into the laptop worked fine... but this time i dont rember if i did anything different but it wont work....goes through the xp boot screen but never makes it to the welcomescreen... so ive tried partitonin and copy windows to the partition to do it that way... with a boot disk.. but i keep getting invalid drive spec!!!!! is this because the boot disk is a fat and and the drive is formatted ntfs? hwo can i fix this.. need to get it done pronto as io need to take the bastard away with me to study next weekend and dont really want to pay to have it done and a new cdrom is like 350 biggies!!! any ideas guys? Cheersw Taity. __________________ If a man says something in a forest, and there is no woman to hear him... Is he still wrong? Main Rig:: Gigabyte GA8IPE1000 Pro 2 : P4 3.06 @ 3.06 : 2x 512bm DDR 400 : 2 x WD 120gb SATA : WD 120gb PATA : 2x 250 GB IDE : 200 GB IDE : PCI Raid : 12x LG Dual Layer Burner : 52x LG Combo : TV Tuner : Ricoh PCMCIA - PCI adapter : Water Cooled. Lappy:: ITC Millenia 6100 - Centrin 1.7ghz - 1024mb - 80gb - 15" 1400x1050 http://pcdb.overclockers.com.au/view.php?name=Taity

2nd September 2004, 9:23 PM	#2
max223 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: NSW 2114 Posts: 1,327	You can connect the HD to a PC (need a convertor), copy the windows installation files on it and install from HD. You need to create a bootable floppy disk or USB drive though. There are plenty of guide on the Internet about that. ...or you can just install Linux, which can be done or the network or the Internet.

2nd September 2004, 9:33 PM	#3
theyetti Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Adelaide Posts: 244	Trick I used to use to load Windows is install the HDD in another computer, create a seperate partition and copy the install/setup files to that . Then you boot from floppy and instead of setting up from the CDROM type in the path to the install files. Of course this takes a little bit longer as you're copying from one partion to another on the same HDD. With a laptop drive you'd need a 3.5" to 2.5" adaptor which is around $20.00. You could also leave the install files on the partition so next time you need them they are already on the laptop. It's easier with the Win9X line as you only need one floppy where as WinNT/Win2000/WinXP you need four boot floppies. Of course with USB drives you could most probalby put all four floppies on one USB disk provided the laptop and USB Drive support booting. Other problems are this most probably doesn't work with Linux and the like but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else knows. Other way to do it is if it's got a network card boot with network support and install from a network source. If it's got USB 2.0 which I think it has I'd check whether it boots form USB CDROM and then go down to Office Works where they had Imation external USB 2.0 CDR/W for $99.00 and buy one of those. Should allow you to install lots of different O/S :-) Cheers Pedro :-)

3rd November 2004, 11:05 PM	#9
theyetti Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Adelaide Posts: 244	This was for the Windows 98, WinMe etc. Once you have the install files on a HDD partition separate from the boot partition and boot from floppy, USB Drive, etc. you navigate to where you have the Windows setup files and run setup file from there. It's similar to installing from a network location. Windows will use the path to where the install takes place from. Cheers Pedro :-)

4th November 2004, 4:55 PM	#11
CD Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Mt Ommaney, Brisbane Posts: 1,845	connect your 2.5" HDD to a desktop, and create a small (~1G) FAT partition on your 2.5" HDD if you don't already have one (and make it active). copy the windows "i386" folder to the FAT partition. put 2.5" HDD back into laptop boot with a win9x floppy run "smartdrv" from a: (i usually run "smartdrv 32000" to use ~32MB memory for caching) navigate to the "i386" folder on your FAT partition run "winnt", and it'll copy some files around and ask you to reboot the computer remove floppy and boot from HDD as normal windows installation will continue

4th November 2004, 5:18 PM	#12
TheOneWhoIsMany Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 271	man you rock! that sounds like it should work, i'll give it a go tomorrow when i get a chance!

5th November 2004, 1:58 AM	#13
taity Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Perth Posts: 157	does that work? i wish i had know this arvo!!! cracked the shit and took my laptop in to get serviced... although i think it may be due to booze being spilt on it..... maybe i will tell them not to go ahead with it.... how does that go with unattend scripts? will they still work? __________________ If a man says something in a forest, and there is no woman to hear him... Is he still wrong? Main Rig:: Gigabyte GA8IPE1000 Pro 2 : P4 3.06 @ 3.06 : 2x 512bm DDR 400 : 2 x WD 120gb SATA : WD 120gb PATA : 2x 250 GB IDE : 200 GB IDE : PCI Raid : 12x LG Dual Layer Burner : 52x LG Combo : TV Tuner : Ricoh PCMCIA - PCI adapter : Water Cooled. Lappy:: ITC Millenia 6100 - Centrin 1.7ghz - 1024mb - 80gb - 15" 1400x1050 http://pcdb.overclockers.com.au/view.php?name=Taity

8th November 2004, 8:08 PM	#14
taity Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Perth Posts: 157	alrighty, decided to try and save 185 bux by doin this myself only to achieve the same outcome... did the smartdrv install from a partition, all funky dorie, but still when it goes to boot up to the next phase of install, when you check for connectivity and all that it wont boot upto there... any ideas? think im gonna have to bite the bullet tomorrow and cough up the dough __________________ If a man says something in a forest, and there is no woman to hear him... Is he still wrong? Main Rig:: Gigabyte GA8IPE1000 Pro 2 : P4 3.06 @ 3.06 : 2x 512bm DDR 400 : 2 x WD 120gb SATA : WD 120gb PATA : 2x 250 GB IDE : 200 GB IDE : PCI Raid : 12x LG Dual Layer Burner : 52x LG Combo : TV Tuner : Ricoh PCMCIA - PCI adapter : Water Cooled. Lappy:: ITC Millenia 6100 - Centrin 1.7ghz - 1024mb - 80gb - 15" 1400x1050 http://pcdb.overclockers.com.au/view.php?name=Taity