installing an os with out a cdrom?

ApltnHkyMutt · 04-14-2004, 02:47 PM

is it possible to install an operating system on one of my old laptops that doesnt have a cdrom drive. i want to install windows 2000 on it and would like to know if i can do it via network. or via floppy drive and how i would go about doing such a thing.

DarkFury · 04-14-2004, 03:28 PM

I'm sure that you'd have to have the 3.5 floppy disk set.... but good luck finding that.

Dayuuum... if your laptop doesn't even have a CD-ROM, do you think it will be able to handle Windows 2000?

Tommy Boomfiger · 04-14-2004, 06:47 PM

you should be able to install it over a network using the instructions here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...l/BootDisk.asp

but, you will need to have dos drivers for you NIC.

IIRC, there is a batch file called MAKEDISK.BAT somewhere on the win2k cd. it could be .com or .exe also, im not sure. but i think that program will make a set of floppy install disks, but it will only include the base set of drivers for the install so you may run into problems with drivers for the laptop

ApltnHkyMutt · 04-14-2004, 11:24 PM

its fully capable of running windows 2k. i just aquired the laptop from a friend for free but it didnt include a cdrom drive. the slot is there it just doesnt have it.

thanks Dark,

TommyBoomfiger, thanks for the reply im going to look into the network install first. if that doesnt work then ill try and find that makedisc.bat file and try that option. thanks for the great reply!

GilbertsGrape · 04-15-2004, 01:03 PM

been there b4. and this is how i did it. i was in luck and the machine already had an os on it. so what i did was connect it to the network, then share the CD rom of another one of my box's then i created a dir called install or soemthing like that on the pc i wanted a new os on. then i copied the entire CD over the network to the install directory. next boot i booted to dos and then changed directories to install " cd install

now your prompt looks like

C:\install\
then all i had to do was type in setup and away it went

another option is to borrow a external cd rom and do the same thing.

and the last OS MS made that i can remembr that could be installed from a disk set was MS windows 95 if i am correct.

ApltnHkyMutt · 04-15-2004, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy Boomfiger

IIRC, there is a batch file called MAKEDISK.BAT somewhere on the win2k cd. it could be .com or .exe also, im not sure. but i think that program will make a set of floppy install disks, but it will only include the base set of drivers for the install so you may run into problems with drivers for the laptop

will the makedisc.exe files that i load to a disc give me a usable os that i can install from or is it just a pre-install procedure if your system cant find the cdrom?

ApltnHkyMutt · 04-18-2004, 05:58 PM

update..

I was able to do the network install. pretty simple to do actually, i just networked the 2 computers together and stuck in the windows 2k cd in my good pc, then just ran the install of the shared cdrom drive and it copied and installed all for me. thanks for all the help you guys gave me!!!

04-14-2004, 02:47 PM	#1
ApltnHkyMutt Captain Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wisconsin, Appleton Posts: 1,870	installing an os with out a cdrom? is it possible to install an operating system on one of my old laptops that doesnt have a cdrom drive. i want to install windows 2000 on it and would like to know if i can do it via network. or via floppy drive and how i would go about doing such a thing.

04-14-2004, 03:28 PM	#2
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	I'm sure that you'd have to have the 3.5 floppy disk set.... but good luck finding that. Dayuuum... if your laptop doesn't even have a CD-ROM, do you think it will be able to handle Windows 2000? __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

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04-14-2004, 06:47 PM	#3
Tommy Boomfiger Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Chi town Posts: 2,348	you should be able to install it over a network using the instructions here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...l/BootDisk.asp but, you will need to have dos drivers for you NIC. IIRC, there is a batch file called MAKEDISK.BAT somewhere on the win2k cd. it could be .com or .exe also, im not sure. but i think that program will make a set of floppy install disks, but it will only include the base set of drivers for the install so you may run into problems with drivers for the laptop

04-14-2004, 11:24 PM	#4
ApltnHkyMutt Captain Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wisconsin, Appleton Posts: 1,870	its fully capable of running windows 2k. i just aquired the laptop from a friend for free but it didnt include a cdrom drive. the slot is there it just doesnt have it. thanks Dark, TommyBoomfiger, thanks for the reply im going to look into the network install first. if that doesnt work then ill try and find that makedisc.bat file and try that option. thanks for the great reply!

04-15-2004, 01:03 PM	#5
GilbertsGrape Captain Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: You can’t get there from here, USA Posts: 1,797	been there b4. and this is how i did it. i was in luck and the machine already had an os on it. so what i did was connect it to the network, then share the CD rom of another one of my box's then i created a dir called install or soemthing like that on the pc i wanted a new os on. then i copied the entire CD over the network to the install directory. next boot i booted to dos and then changed directories to install " cd install now your prompt looks like C:\install\ then all i had to do was type in setup and away it went another option is to borrow a external cd rom and do the same thing. and the last OS MS made that i can remembr that could be installed from a disk set was MS windows 95 if i am correct.

04-18-2004, 05:58 PM	#7
ApltnHkyMutt Captain Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wisconsin, Appleton Posts: 1,870	update.. I was able to do the network install. pretty simple to do actually, i just networked the 2 computers together and stuck in the windows 2k cd in my good pc, then just ran the install of the shared cdrom drive and it copied and installed all for me. thanks for all the help you guys gave me!!!

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