How to install XP on a mini notebook with no CD-ROM?

[loic2003]

Hi I have a JVC XP3210 sub notebook that requres a re-install of windows XP. The problem is a lack of drives inside it. It has no floppy or CD-ROM drive. I do however have a USB Zip drive and a USB CD-ROM.

I'm looking to delete the two partitions it has, format them both as a single partition and then install a fresh copy of XP on the top of it. This means I can't just copy the windows CD onto the hard drive and install it that way.

In the BIOS is does have the option to boot from a USB FDD, so could the Zip drive be used for this? Alternatively it can be booted from a network, but I'm unsure how to do this.

Is it possible to get a driver to run a USB CD-ROM, put it on the Zip drive and have it boot from the zip drive& install the driver?

I've tried booting from the CD-ROM but I just get a flashin cursor on the screen and it does very little.

thanks in advance.

 

[loic2003]

I've been looking around and have seena couple of people with the kind of problem, does anyone know where I can get hold of a DOS USB driver, and also how to call it if I actually manage to boot the thing,

Thanks.

 

[Oyeve]

Go to bootdisk.com

 

[loic2003]

ok, found a solution for future reference:

Turns out the computer's drive had three partitions, one of which being hidden. If you hold alt+F8 whilst booting it runs a recovery setup. This reformats the two main partitions and reinstalls windows XP along with some other apps that JVC wants you to use.

no need to muck around with DOS drivers or anything.

 

[oogabooga]

thanks loic, i'll pass that on to a friend who has a computer that needs a formatting, but lacks a cd rom drive onboard. We'll see if that or bootdisk.com prove useful, thanks oyeve

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: loic2003
ok, found a solution for future reference:

Turns out the computer's drive had three partitions, one of which being hidden. If you hold alt+F8 whilst booting it runs a recovery setup. This reformats the two main partitions and reinstalls windows XP along with some other apps that JVC wants you to use.

no need to muck around with DOS drivers or anything.

But woudnt you want that space that the JVC partition takes up?