CF-M34 adventure - thought please

Alright let get into it - just got my latest project in the mail the other day. The goal is to try and set up a CF-M34 to handle ADV riding, this is off road (Street Legal adventure riding) I went with the M34 obviously because it is small but very capable. I want to end up with a GPS capable, dual boot XP/Ubuntu with wifi that can rock and roll in the much and mud. Before I can dig into this I am stuck at the beginning feeling like I am missing the Forrest through the trees trying to get the OS loaded on the blank HD. First try was to load the OS's onto the HD while loaded in a spare 28 I had on hand but XP gives me Blue Screen of death at start up - Ubuntu works perfect (of course) . I have a USB CD ROM but the BIOS I have will not BOOT from USB? not sure why you would do this on a unit that does not have a media but anyway I digress.
I have tons of questions to ask but first thing I need is any suggestions on getting the OS's loaded so I can get playing so I thought I would as the brain trust for suggestions - the model number is CF-M34NEVZOM which I believe is an MK3 with BIOS version V3.01L15

Thanks guys and appreciate your thoughts - later

 

First
Did you have the option in the bios to boot from usb cd rom


Alex

 

nope
CD Drive
Floppy Disk
Hard Disk

 

I do have USB Floppy Boot under the Advanced tab but not USB CD Rom, should this not also pick up a CD Rom? or no

 

Since the unit doesn't have a built in CD it stands to reason that the boot option of CD-ROM refers to a USB drive. Have you tried to boot it with the CD-ROM boot selected?

 

If cd-rom is the first boot device, you should be able to boot to it


Alex

 

I suppose it could be the external drive having an issue, don't use it much - guess I need to check it as well before I start getting crazy -
As far as WIN XP - is it possible to use another computer to load the OS or does it really need to be installed on the correct unit - I only ask because I have seen multiple references about people saying they loaded XP with HD in another computer then moved the HD over - That is what I did and assume the reason for the Blue Screen of death.

Thanks for you thoughts and will let you know how it works out - Thanks

 

You can do it if the other computer is of the same type. I have a CF-M34 that will boot from a USB CD and I used it to format the HDD from three or four others and then just transferred them to the unit in which they were to be used. I have also done it with both 28's and 29's, still, they had to be of the same type of Toughbook in order for XP to work without the BSOD. XP will take bits of info from several areas in your computer in order to formulate the 50+ character key it uses to register each computer and that is why you can only use a key on a single unit starting with XP.

 

OK - got it, took many hours burning up Al Gores internet but found the simple solution. Here is the link
http://www.techtroupe.com/os/windows-xp/how-to-install-windows-xp-on-a-laptop-with-no-cd-drive/
First option worked perfect for me and was able to have XP load up from the HD no sweat. Just used my $20 Roswell IDE 3in1 USB converter adapter add the run command and when I put the HD back into the 34 it loaded right up slicker than snot on a doorknob. Now gotta get Ubuntu back on it and rock on.