Can you copy windows xp cd to hard drive and do a fresh install?

[omniviper]

Here's my rpoblem. I have an ibm x31 without any optical drives.

that means i cant use my windows xp cd to install

fortunately i have a 2.5" adapter. I take out the lappie HD and put it there to conenct it to my desktop

here's my question

1) can i copy my win xp cd to a partition in the lappie HD so that i can install xp from there?

ive already tried using a usb hard drive to boot from (copied the windows cd to there) to no avail. ive googled this subject too but there seems to be nothing on the subject

 

[Bluestealth]

Or you can start the first part of the install, but stop when it tells you to reboot... should work... can't remember how to get the windows install to boot of a harddrive though... haven't done that since 2k!

 

[omniviper]

well here's the problem though. this HD has nothing on it except the boot cd whihc i copied over.

I'm basically trying to do what big name companies are doing. They partition a aprt of their drive and install a bootable partition that acts as a recovery drive. If sopemthing goes wrong, users can simply just boot that partition instead of the nromal one and resetup windows again without the need for a cd

 

[Bluestealth]

Originally posted by: omniviper
well here's the problem though. this HD has nothing on it except the boot cd whihc i copied over.

I'm basically trying to do what big name companies are doing. They partition a aprt of their drive and install a bootable partition that acts as a recovery drive. If sopemthing goes wrong, users can simply just boot that partition instead of the nromal one and resetup windows again without the need for a cd

Most of them do this with a drive image that is taken right after 2nd stage install is complete but before the last stage is complete(setting up users... blah)... Maybe a MSCE guy will come along and tell you that you can't do this without the microsoft tools or something that they only give to OEMs... btw some of them use a bios hook to launch this...

 

[RBBRMADE]

Originally posted by: omniviper


ive already tried using a usb hard drive to boot from (copied the windows cd to there) to no avail. ive googled this subject too but there seems to be nothing on the subject

What kind of USB hard drive? Is it a case that you install your own hard drive in?
If so, you should be able to take it apart, and connect a CD-ROM to it instead of a hard drive. Boot from it, and you are good to go.


Doesn't your X31 have the hidden partition for reloading the OS?

Ron

 

[Bluestealth]

Originally posted by: RBBRMADE

Originally posted by: omniviper


ive already tried using a usb hard drive to boot from (copied the windows cd to there) to no avail. ive googled this subject too but there seems to be nothing on the subject

What kind of USB hard drive? Is it a case that you install your own hard drive in?
If so, you should be able to take it apart, and connect a CD-ROM to it instead of a hard drive. Boot from it, and you are good to go.


Doesn't your X31 have the hidden partition for reloading the OS?

Ron

I don't believe that will work at all.... you need an atapi capable ide to usb chip...

 

[omniviper]

Originally posted by: RBBRMADE

Originally posted by: omniviper


ive already tried using a usb hard drive to boot from (copied the windows cd to there) to no avail. ive googled this subject too but there seems to be nothing on the subject

What kind of USB hard drive? Is it a case that you install your own hard drive in?
If so, you should be able to take it apart, and connect a CD-ROM to it instead of a hard drive. Boot from it, and you are good to go.


Doesn't your X31 have the hidden partition for reloading the OS?

Ron

i actually did it that way. took out my desktop cd rom and plugged it into a 5.25 enclosure. the x31 doesnt have a hidden partition... sucks which is why i wanted to make on in the first place

 

[abracadabra]

u can do it if u have a support of an ethernet card. note that the ethernet card should be present for both the desktop and the laptop. Read More at Deploying Windows Remotely

 

[RBBRMADE]

Originally posted by: omniviper

Originally posted by: RBBRMADE

Originally posted by: omniviper


ive already tried using a usb hard drive to boot from (copied the windows cd to there) to no avail. ive googled this subject too but there seems to be nothing on the subject

What kind of USB hard drive? Is it a case that you install your own hard drive in?
If so, you should be able to take it apart, and connect a CD-ROM to it instead of a hard drive. Boot from it, and you are good to go.


Doesn't your X31 have the hidden partition for reloading the OS?

Ron

i actually did it that way. took out my desktop cd rom and plugged it into a 5.25 enclosure. the x31 doesnt have a hidden partition... sucks which is why i wanted to make on in the first place

What happened? Did it not boot to the USB device?
Ron

 

[Bluestealth]

The CD image can't be booted off a HD like your trying... even the files can't.... its not bootable... you have to make it bootable... something needs to load NT then launch the installer

 

[Seeruk]

I've done it before:

Copy files over to your blank rig's HD

Boot using DOS disk

Load himem.sys (or it will take forevaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrr to install)

Start the XP install from \location of files\winnt.exe