Harddrive Windows XP installation - no floppy/CD drive
This method costs about $20, but is guaranteed to work every time.
- put the harddrive into desktop PC (buy laptop to IDE converter, suggested: www.tigerdirect.ca)
-format the drive to FAT32 (you can always switch it to ntfs later, with a prog such as partition magic)
- Copy I386 folder from WinXP cd onto the laptop harddrive
- put smartdrv.exe in the root directory (speeds up dos transers)
- install dos 7.10 on drive (free download, but I suggest putting your laptop harddrive in IDE 1 to be sure of it’s detection on startup)
- put the harddrive back in the laptop
-When you turn on the laptop DOS should load, otherwise select it from the list
- run smartdrv.exe (type C:\smartdrv.exe at command prompt)
- run 16bit Windows XP installer (type C:\I386\winnt.exe)
- now let the laptop sit! Even if it appears to stall, it will continue, some older harddrives do not spin very fast and need time to load (5-10min is not an unreasonable wait *with smartdrv.exe installed, expect longer without it!
- follow the Windows installer directions!
(Total time, depending on computer speeds: 1-2hrs - though most of this is waiting for Windows XP to install)
*you will now have dos and windows on the drive, you can remove dos, or leave it, it is up to you!!
**The best part about this installation method is it is much cheaper than buying an external drive, as long as you have access to a desktop computer.
***Any questions or comments about this installation method can be sent to: william_a_wilson@hotmail.com
Hope this helps solve your driveless installation problems!!!






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