laptop, no CD drive to reinstall tcp/ip. help!

[chibacity99]

I have a used laptop and need to reinstall tcp/ip and possibly dial-up networking. I have no CDROM drive for the laptop. Does anyone know if I can use a cross over cable (and do they make one that goes from parrallel to laptop?), so I can then (i hope) use a windows CD from my desktop PC to extract/transfer the necessary CAB files to the laptop. Also, the laptop is running 98 "plus", which I heard was an OEM of 98 SE. I don't have a "98 plus" CD, but I assume I can use my desktop's 98 CD. Yes?
Any info that will help prevent me from having to buy an external CDROM drive for this laptop will be greatly appreciated.

 

[tk149]

I'm not sure what Windows 98 "Plus" is, but maybe you're referring to Windows 98 with "Plus for Windows" installed? Plus was just a bunch of extra crud that Microsoft decided to sell/bundle that added a few features to Windows (e.g. Desktop Themes, more card games, etc).

If so, then there is hope! Here's what you need:

Somebody to tell you what files to extract from the Win98 CD, or what files to copy from an existing installation. Unfortunately, I ain't that bright, so here's what I'd do.

Check to see if you have a network card built into your laptop. If so, see if you have IPX enabled. If you do, just hook up to another computer and get the files from there. If your hard drive is big enough, just copy all the files from the Windows 98 CD SETUP directory to your hard drive.

If you don't have a network card, things are more complicated. Go to START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, COMMUNICATIONS. See if you have "Direct Cable Connection" installed. If you do, get a null-modem (crossover) cable - either parallel or serial. Yes, they do exist. Then just hook up to another computer. If you don't, then I think you're stuck trying to get a 3rd party program like LapLink, or the old DOS 6.x Interlink program.

 

[joinT]

well, if u know enough DOS commands to copy the files over & have the dos drivers (if avail.) for your network card, you could try Nick's network boot disk. I used it to install Win98 from shared CDrom drive on my old laptop.
link

gl

 

[Souka]

Only copy the Win98 directory to your HD. Don't copy the sub-dirs or any other dirs. Total file space should be around 70mb if memory serves me right. Run the setup.exe from the HD and Windows98 will always be able to find the CAB files when it needs it.


also, the CaB files are made to fit on a 1.44MB 3.5" floppy. You can just hand-copy the necessary files to get TCP/IP going. I would guess-timate about 4 cabs are needed. (it'll state what cab it needs. If really desperate, I believe there are 27 cab files total.....27 disks....


Good Luck!

 

[Spuffin]

Easiest solution that has worked for me MANY MANY times:

When asked for the files point it at
c:\windows\system
and
c:\windows\

I'm sure you realize you need to substitute windows directories if yours are any different

If it cant find the files in one of the directories try the other. Hope this helps you