Installing Windows XP without booting CD drive

[madcow53]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to format my laptop and re-install windows xp on it. Unfortunately, the external usb CD drive (hp 8200 cd-writer) I have does not (seem to) support booting.

Now, here are the other options I was thinking:
1) Format a bootable partition in my hard drive with FAT32, install DOS in it, and dump the data from the Windows install CD, the boot to that partition and install Windows from there.
2) I already have Linux installed on an external hard drive, I could try using wine to install windows.

Does anyone have any other suggestions or think that these ideas will/won't work?

Thanks!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

If you have a second PC (I assume from the other options that you've got the necessary skills) - try a network install.

http://www.itpro.co.uk/howtos/88300/set...tended-network-windows-xp-install.html

- M4H

 

[madcow53]

Thanks, yes I do. I'll try that.

 

[madcow53]

Ok, a couple of questions before I try this:
1. Will this perform a clean install on my laptop?
2. I am curious as to if this will work because my ethernet port does not work in my laptop, instead I have a usb ethernet adapter and a wireless card. Will the install require a boot triggered by the network and if so do you think it will be able to identify that signal with these third party hardware?

Thanks

 

[Bluefront]

Can you boot a floppy? If so that's an easy option. You can download a MS prog that makes a bootable set of floppies for your XP version.

 

[madcow53]

Nope, no floppy drive.