Installing Windows XP without a CD drive

[microbert]

Hi,

I have a client that has brought a POS system. and he asked me to install him Windows XP as an OS.

But when I went to work on it I noticed that it doesn't have a DVD Rom.

So I was wondering is there a way to make a small partition on the hard disk and copy the Windows Installation Disk on it and then boot from that partition and start the setup?

any help will be very appreciated.

thanks

 

[pceinc]

There are guides available for doing this. We did it for Asus EEEPC's about a year ago and decided to modify that installation to work for desktops. If I remember correctly it was a bit of a process.

Your other option is to purchase an optical USB drive. It can come in handy for repairs as well. Especially if a customer wants data backed up and they don't have a CD writer, or their CD drive is dead.

 

[TLE]

There are plenty of tutorials on the net showing you how too build and use a USB memory stick to install Windows XP.

This is a fantastic tool for researching such a subject as this Here.

 

[totalPCTechs]

you can install xp from a flash drive

http://www.pctipsbox.com/installing-windows-xp-using-a-usb-flash-drive/

 

[Hercomputers]

you can install xp from a flash drive

http://www.pctipsbox.com/installing-windows-xp-using-a-usb-flash-drive/

Unlike the other link that was provided, this actual is really good. Thanks for sharing. I've added this to my bookmarks. I would also invest in a external CD/DVD drive as well.

 

[ATTech]

This is why it's always beneficial to have a simple PXE server up and running for network deployments.

 

[PC Ops]

This is why it's always beneficial to have a simple PXE server up and running for network deployments.

Can't do without anymore

 

[dannyd]

Wintoflash very simple
http://wintoflash.com/home/en/

 

[vdub12]

Unlike the other link that was provided, this actual is really good. Thanks for sharing. I've added this to my bookmarks. I would also invest in a external CD/DVD drive as well.

I got one of these a while ago.

With it you can use a standard CD drive on a USB port. It also makes for a great way to recover data. I originally purchased it for connecting hard drives and once i received it I found out that it works great for CD and DVD drives to.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812816014R&cm_re=nippon_labs-_-12-816-014R-_-Product

 

[ell]

Unlike the other link that was provided, this actual is really good. Thanks for sharing. I've added this to my bookmarks. I would also invest in a external CD/DVD drive as well.

yes it works, I've done it, but kind of a pain, I found going on ebay and buying a cheap usb adapter for a pulled dvd drive and use it externally.

 

[16k_zx81]

I just carry around a portable DVDrom. It contains a slimline laptop optical drive and is powered by a Y cable (2x USB) so does not require additional cables or power hook-up.

 

[Hercomputers]

I got one of these a while ago.

With it you can use a standard CD drive on a USB port. It also makes for a great way to recover data. I originally purchased it for connecting hard drives and once i received it I found out that it works great for CD and DVD drives to.

Vdub, I have something similiar in black that I use for hd data but this will work on CD drives too? H-m-m-m....this is good to know! Thanks!

 

[badkinsdesigns]

Yeah, the above usb to IDE / SATA cable is a great addition. Every once in awhile I run into a hdd it just won't read for some reason, but that has happened possibly a total of three times. Plus it is CHEAP. That may have been the best 12 dollars I have ever spent....

 

[microbert]

Thanks for all your reply.

I have solved this problem by:

1. connected the hard disk to another pc and partitioned it into 2 partition, the second partition being 700MB.
2. Copied the installation cd into the second partition
3. Run the Setup.exe and it asked for the directory to install windows and the product code
4. then connected the hdd into the computer and it continued to install windows normally

thanks guys for everything.

 

[Galdorf]

Since all netbooks do not have cdrom/dvdrom it is best to invest in an enclosure i have an a-byte 5 1/4 ide/sata does cd/dvd/hdd and a sliding aluminum cover.
I keep a dvd writer around to plug into it and i can use customers hard drives slaved to my workbench via usb so i don't have to shut down my machine.
I also have zip drive ect for data recovery that i can plug into it as well.

 

[JAG Computers]

Unlike the other link that was provided, this actual is really good. Thanks for sharing. I've added this to my bookmarks. I would also invest in a external CD/DVD drive as well.

I got one of these a while ago.

With it you can use a standard CD drive on a USB port. It also makes for a great way to recover data. I originally purchased it for connecting hard drives and once i received it I found out that it works great for CD and DVD drives to.

Vdub, I have something similiar in black that I use for hd data but this will work on CD drives too? H-m-m-m....this is good to know! Thanks!

I have just purchased a device just like this one. It is invaluable in connecting a device without having to mount it first. I have already used it with several old IDE hard drives. It works on all IDE & SATA drives including optical drives. I highly recommend one for every tech.

The adapter is from Rosewill and you can find it on Newegg.

 

[brokenmachine]

Pxe is the best way, although here is another way you could do it.

Install Windows XP on a system, then use Sysprep to "reseal" the installation using the instructions found here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302577

Next make an image of the entire drive using your tool of choice.

Finally, since you ended up pulling the hard drive anyways... connect the drive to your tech computer and restore the resealed image to the POS systems hard drive. Install the hard drive back into the POS System and complete the Windows OOBE and you're done.

Cheers,
Brokenmachine

 

[ATTech]

Pxe is the best way, although here is another way you could do it.

Install Windows XP on a system, then use Sysprep to "reseal" the installation using the instructions found here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302577

Next make an image of the entire drive using your tool of choice.

Finally, since you ended up pulling the hard drive anyways... connect the drive to your tech computer and restore the resealed image to the POS systems hard drive. Install the hard drive back into the POS System and complete the Windows OOBE and you're done.

Cheers,
Brokenmachine

This is a good option, but there are two caveats to it:

First, you need to make sure that you correctly set UpdateHAL and SysprepMassStorage properties to ensure that it will work properly on dissimilar hardware.