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    use a desktop to format notebook drive?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by shokan, Mar 17, 2009.

  1. shokan

    shokan Notebook Enthusiast

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    I want to use my desktop to install XP on a notebook drive that I will then put in an Insiron 8000 notebook. It's too long to explain why I don't just use the notebook to do this. So, is it possible to do with the PC? I assume I have to get a special type of connecting cable, but can it power the external notebook drive and can the data transfer handle a Windows full install and, finally, from where on the PC do I connect it?

    Thanks.
     
    shokan, Mar 17, 2009
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  2. Vchat20

    Vchat20 Notebook Enthusiast

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    It's possible, but extremely time consuming. Number one thing is the desktop and notebook chipsets will not be the same and in most cases, XP will not boot after the drive is put back into the notebook. You could try it, but you'd be on your own.

    Depending on the drive type (IDE or SATA), you can usually find an adapter no problem that will connect the drive to the desktop using the internal IDE or SATA connections. One good place to start looking would be around newegg for one.

    Past that, the drive will work no differently than a standard desktop drive when hooked up properly.
     
    Vchat20, Mar 17, 2009
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  3. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    You can format it but not install the os with it. You will have too many incompatibilities with chipset drives etc not working.
     
    nizzy1115, Mar 17, 2009
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  4. shokan

    shokan Notebook Enthusiast

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    OK.
    This notebook was given to me by an IT guy over a year ago. It had WinME on it so I installed w2K. He asked for it back so he could get a few files off it and also, so he explained, "got rid" of his logon password. When I got it back, the logon box appears with his username and a blank field for the PW. But, it there is still a PW there because it blocks every attempt to proceed past the logon, saying PW is not correct.

    This machine is only worth about $100. I keep getting "Fixed optical drive not found" when trying tot install with XP with a CD-ROM module in the slot where the floppy used to be and no CD-ROM where there was one originally. The two slots are of different size and the new CD-ROM is made to go in the floppy slot so you can have two CD-ROMs working at the same time, I suppose. I'm not willing to spend $40 on a CD-ROM to go in that original slot.

    The BIOS settings say it checks floppy, hard drive and CD-ROM successively, but with the XP disc in the CD-ROM module in the floppy slot, and a new unformatted blank HD, all I ever get is "fixed optical drive not found."

    Long explanation, I know. The XP disc does start loading drivers if I have old HD in with the unknown PW, but then it will go no further, probably because of no PW.

    I think I'm going to give up on this man vs machine mission I have with this old laptop.
     
    shokan, Mar 17, 2009
    #4