help installing os on a pc without a cd drive

jash · 05-31-2008, 09:18 AM

a buddy of mine just gave me his old laptop, an ibm thinkpad T20. the computer has no cd drive, just a floppy drive. is there any way i can load xp on it? i have no access to the current os because it is password protected, so i just want to reload xp. i looked all over the place for this, never really got a good answer.

Rob 1 · 05-31-2008, 10:31 AM

One way or another it's going to take a cd drive.

You could look for an ext USB cd drive, if you don't want to spend the money for original replacement notebook drive.

Or if you check Ebay, you could get lucky and find the right one for cheap.

jash · 05-31-2008, 10:33 AM

theres gotta be some other way

Rob 1 · 05-31-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jash

theres gotta be some other way

Well if the notebook allows for a bootable USB device, you could try get the HP utility to make a USB thumb drive bootable.
Then you could load windows onto it, and maybe get windows to install.

No guarantee it will work on your setup.

Rob 1 · 05-31-2008, 10:46 AM

I was tinkering around with this a while back, and this place has some info on that.

http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

**justpassingby** · 05-31-2008, 11:37 AM

If there's a recovery partition on the drive then you can press some key at startup to access it and restore the factory default installation. If prompted for a password ask your friend.

If there's no recovery partition then you'll need to replace the CD drive or use an external USB one. Your laptop may not support booting from USB so you'll probably need the XP boot floppies : How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks

If possible use the recovery partition or CD that came with the laptop to reinstall, ask your friend for it (if he still has it he can't do anything with it anyway) or order it from IBM if they still support that model. A retail CD may not have the proper drivers for your model.

Possible solutions to install XP without a CD drive :
http://www.syschat.com/install-windo...py-cd-463.html
http://www.syschat.com/install-windo....html#post4442

Never tried it so can't tell you if it'll work.

The idea is to slave the drive in another computer to create a FAT32 partition, hook the drive as primary master and boot on a DOS floppy to install DOS on it, slave the drive again to copy the content of the XP CD on the hard drive then place the drive back in the laptop, boot in DOS, run smartdrv.exe to speed up the process and start the installation by running i386\winnt.exe. Read the instructions carefully to make sure you install DOS on your drive when it's the primary master drive and not on the desktop's drive.

The second solution is to create 2 FAT32 partitions, make the first partition active and copy WIN98SE system files on it, copy the I386 folder and smartdrv.exe to the second partition, make the first partition bootable with the WIN98SE boot floppy then place the drive back in the laptop, boot on the drive, switch to the second partition and run smartdrv.exe and winnt.exe.

jash · 05-31-2008, 12:16 PM

hey justpassingby, you were a huge help with this other pc problem i had, almost a year ago! anyway, can you be more detailed about the second method that you're talking about? maybe a guide on how to do that stuff? this is an old laptop, i don't have anything that might have came with it.

**justpassingby** · 05-31-2008, 01:49 PM

It's not my method and I haven't tested it. You'll have to follow the instructions :
http://www.syschat.com/install-windo...py-cd-463.html
http://www.syschat.com/install-windo....html#post4442

As for me I'd use an USB CD drive and XP boot floppies. Have you checked if there was a recovery partition on the drive ?

jash · 05-31-2008, 01:52 PM

how do you check for that?

**justpassingby** · 05-31-2008, 02:21 PM

Look for some "press xx to start recovery" or similar message at startup. On a second though that thinkpad is an old model that probably came with Windows 98 or ME so I don't think the recovery partition, if there's one, could be of any help with XP anyway.

If you manage to reinstall XP and get to the internet your drivers will be here :
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...GR-4JSQHB.html

jash · 05-31-2008, 09:36 PM

yeah i don't have a message like that. any other options?

kgdaniel · 05-31-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jash

theres gotta be some other way

Lol! yeah if you want to try installing windows 98 on 20'od floppy's.

**justpassingby** · 06-01-2008, 06:45 AM

Win98 didn't come on floppies, Win95 did

@ jash : why can't you ask your buddy for the password so that you can log in once and change the password ? Have you tried loging as "administrator" in safe mode (repeatedly press F8 when the laptop starts) to create your own account ?

jash · 06-01-2008, 09:33 PM

well he doesn't have the passwords, and was a company computer so if i logged in it would bring me right to their network, which i'm pretty sure would be illigal.

kgdaniel · 06-02-2008, 02:32 AM

lol, it wont bring you to "their network" XD, you would need a lan cable or wireless network card/dongle for that lol,
and to justpassingby, i allways messed arround with the networks in school, thhey had a flaw in the network system where using windows media player would allow you to see the ENTIRE network share, including the electronic registration system files LOL!.. but either way.. i deleted a few files from the network quite regularly lol.. and evry time i did, id see the tech walkin round with 20'od windows 98 floppys lol

**vladimirb** · 06-02-2008, 02:46 AM

Is the administrator account password protected? Hold Ctrl + Alt and hit Del two times. Try to enter administrator as user name and leave blank password.
If it pass, go and reset password of yours friend user account...
But I can assume that if it is companies laptop, administrator account should be password protected :)...

**justpassingby** · 06-02-2008, 06:31 AM

Is there a sticker with the XP product key somewhere on the laptop ? What kind of product key do you have (Pro OEM, Home retail, ...) ?

How did he log in the computer if he didn't know the password ? He could bring it back to the company so that their network admin removes your friend's account from their domain and changes his password. I suppose the company would like to know about him giving away one of their laptops.

You'll need to know the admin password to remove the computer from the domain.

jash · 06-03-2008, 07:27 PM

okay so the admin is password protected. there is a sticker but it is for an older version of windows, i guess it was upgraded to xp. i think i got the admin password by useing a program called password recovery, but i enter it and the pc says it could not log into the network.

rosiesdad · 06-03-2008, 08:40 PM

I had one of those old IBM Thinkpads, VERY slow processor, no USB ports and a CD read drive only. It didnt have enough RAM to even run XP, and the HD was way small.
Check it closely and think it over, is it worth foolin with?

LIL L · 06-03-2008, 08:54 PM

if you can boot in safe mode with networking (and have internet connection), i can fix your problem

05-31-2008, 09:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
jash Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 120 OS: windows xp	help installing os on a pc without a cd drive a buddy of mine just gave me his old laptop, an ibm thinkpad T20. the computer has no cd drive, just a floppy drive. is there any way i can load xp on it? i have no access to the current os because it is password protected, so i just want to reload xp. i looked all over the place for this, never really got a good answer.

05-31-2008, 10:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rob 1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 326 OS: XP Pro	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive One way or another it's going to take a cd drive. You could look for an ext USB cd drive, if you don't want to spend the money for original replacement notebook drive. Or if you check Ebay, you could get lucky and find the right one for cheap.

05-31-2008, 10:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
jash Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 120 OS: windows xp	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive theres gotta be some other way

05-31-2008, 10:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rob 1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 326 OS: XP Pro	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive I was tinkering around with this a while back, and this place has some info on that. http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

05-31-2008, 11:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,219 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive If there's a recovery partition on the drive then you can press some key at startup to access it and restore the factory default installation. If prompted for a password ask your friend. If there's no recovery partition then you'll need to replace the CD drive or use an external USB one. Your laptop may not support booting from USB so you'll probably need the XP boot floppies : How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks If possible use the recovery partition or CD that came with the laptop to reinstall, ask your friend for it (if he still has it he can't do anything with it anyway) or order it from IBM if they still support that model. A retail CD may not have the proper drivers for your model. Possible solutions to install XP without a CD drive : http://www.syschat.com/install-windo...py-cd-463.html http://www.syschat.com/install-windo....html#post4442 Never tried it so can't tell you if it'll work. The idea is to slave the drive in another computer to create a FAT32 partition, hook the drive as primary master and boot on a DOS floppy to install DOS on it, slave the drive again to copy the content of the XP CD on the hard drive then place the drive back in the laptop, boot in DOS, run smartdrv.exe to speed up the process and start the installation by running i386\winnt.exe. Read the instructions carefully to make sure you install DOS on your drive when it's the primary master drive and not on the desktop's drive. The second solution is to create 2 FAT32 partitions, make the first partition active and copy WIN98SE system files on it, copy the I386 folder and smartdrv.exe to the second partition, make the first partition bootable with the WIN98SE boot floppy then place the drive back in the laptop, boot on the drive, switch to the second partition and run smartdrv.exe and winnt.exe. __________________ Malware removal steps. Post your logs there and not here ! Posting system specs Last edited by justpassingby; 05-31-2008 at 11:53 AM.

05-31-2008, 12:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
jash Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 120 OS: windows xp	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive hey justpassingby, you were a huge help with this other pc problem i had, almost a year ago! anyway, can you be more detailed about the second method that you're talking about? maybe a guide on how to do that stuff? this is an old laptop, i don't have anything that might have came with it.

05-31-2008, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,219 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive It's not my method and I haven't tested it. You'll have to follow the instructions : http://www.syschat.com/install-windo...py-cd-463.html http://www.syschat.com/install-windo....html#post4442 As for me I'd use an USB CD drive and XP boot floppies. Have you checked if there was a recovery partition on the drive ? __________________ Malware removal steps. Post your logs there and not here ! Posting system specs

05-31-2008, 01:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
jash Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 120 OS: windows xp	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive how do you check for that?

05-31-2008, 02:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,219 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive Look for some "press xx to start recovery" or similar message at startup. On a second though that thinkpad is an old model that probably came with Windows 98 or ME so I don't think the recovery partition, if there's one, could be of any help with XP anyway. If you manage to reinstall XP and get to the internet your drivers will be here : http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...GR-4JSQHB.html __________________ Malware removal steps. Post your logs there and not here ! Posting system specs

05-31-2008, 09:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
jash Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 120 OS: windows xp	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive yeah i don't have a message like that. any other options?

06-01-2008, 06:45 AM	#13 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,219 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive Win98 didn't come on floppies, Win95 did @ jash : why can't you ask your buddy for the password so that you can log in once and change the password ? Have you tried loging as "administrator" in safe mode (repeatedly press F8 when the laptop starts) to create your own account ? __________________ Malware removal steps. Post your logs there and not here ! Posting system specs Last edited by justpassingby; 06-01-2008 at 06:47 AM.

06-01-2008, 09:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
jash Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 120 OS: windows xp	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive well he doesn't have the passwords, and was a company computer so if i logged in it would bring me right to their network, which i'm pretty sure would be illigal.

06-02-2008, 02:32 AM	#15 (permalink)
kgdaniel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 39 OS: XP Home Sp2	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive lol, it wont bring you to "their network" XD, you would need a lan cable or wireless network card/dongle for that lol, and to justpassingby, i allways messed arround with the networks in school, thhey had a flaw in the network system where using windows media player would allow you to see the ENTIRE network share, including the electronic registration system files LOL!.. but either way.. i deleted a few files from the network quite regularly lol.. and evry time i did, id see the tech walkin round with 20'od windows 98 floppys lol Last edited by kgdaniel; 06-02-2008 at 02:34 AM.

06-02-2008, 02:46 AM	#16 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,608 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive Is the administrator account password protected? Hold Ctrl + Alt and hit Del two times. Try to enter administrator as user name and leave blank password. If it pass, go and reset password of yours friend user account... But I can assume that if it is companies laptop, administrator account should be password protected :)... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

06-02-2008, 06:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,219 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive Is there a sticker with the XP product key somewhere on the laptop ? What kind of product key do you have (Pro OEM, Home retail, ...) ? How did he log in the computer if he didn't know the password ? He could bring it back to the company so that their network admin removes your friend's account from their domain and changes his password. I suppose the company would like to know about him giving away one of their laptops. You'll need to know the admin password to remove the computer from the domain. __________________ Malware removal steps. Post your logs there and not here ! Posting system specs

06-03-2008, 07:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
jash Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 120 OS: windows xp	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive okay so the admin is password protected. there is a sticker but it is for an older version of windows, i guess it was upgraded to xp. i think i got the admin password by useing a program called password recovery, but i enter it and the pc says it could not log into the network.

06-03-2008, 08:40 PM	#19 (permalink)
rosiesdad Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 249 OS: XP SP3	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive I had one of those old IBM Thinkpads, VERY slow processor, no USB ports and a CD read drive only. It didnt have enough RAM to even run XP, and the HD was way small. Check it closely and think it over, is it worth foolin with?

06-03-2008, 08:54 PM	#20 (permalink)
LIL L Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 240 OS: xp home edition	Re: help installing os on a pc without a cd drive if you can boot in safe mode with networking (and have internet connection), i can fix your problem