Installing Windows Xp without cd rom

I thought I would add this on here, since when I got my toughbook I had problems installing since i had no cd rom. I found where you could download a windows xp install disks. I found this at www.microsoft.com and searched for windows xp boot install. I put this self extracting program on 6 floppy disks, as mine came with a floppy drive. I then had an old external usb cd rom that i hooked to the usb port. It was as easy as that. I put the first disk in, went through all six disks, then it booted from the usb cdrom. I did have some problems with the disks, some files were not coppied correctly the first time, so if it doesnt work try it again.

 

When I first got mine, I just got a cheap $4 2.5" to 3.5" IDE adapter at CompUSA, and threw it in my Linux box (which happened to be the only x86 machine I had at the time besides my new Toughbook). Installed it that way, and it worked great.

Otherwise though, it's far easier to just get a CD drive for the toughbook. Might not be cheaper, but it's far more convenient in the long run.

 

ok, I have the SAME problem, & cannot get anything to work!!!
Have a cf18, new drive, xp o/s disk. Have an external usb harddrive adapter that I use to format etc. drives off pc. I have tried (many times) the remove the pc drive & install the lap. drive & install o/s & turn off when reboots & put into 18. NO LUCK!!! Everytime the xp disk boots to install it checks out the system FIRST, not last. What am I doing wrong??? I'll try anything!!! Have a beautiful 18 sitting around & can't do anything with it!!! What do I do???
Thanks for any help!

 

I agree with Modly... You'll need a CD Rom... I don't think you will get the BIOS to recognize the USB for booting purposes. Another thing you might try... Some Toughbook BIOS's allow for network boot. You might look to see if that is an option for you.

 

can't you format the drive and then copy the contents of the XP CD onto it, then put it in the 18 and start the install? I would swear I've done that before. (not on a 18 tho.. never even seen one)

 

I would think you could install XP in another laptop and then put it in the Toughbook. XP should pick up the new drivers and go from there. Is that what you are talking about?

 

Do you have the original floppy drive? I was able to boot up from a floppy with USB Drivers, and use an external USB CD drive. It was slow though.

 

I was thinking along the lines of sticking it in a desktop computer (with a notebook IDE adapter) and copying all the XP install files to a folder on the notebook drive. Then putting it back in the toughbook, booting from a floppy (or off the HD if it has system files) and installing XP.

I wouldn't be able to do it that way with the copy of XP I've got though, because it seems to only be able to launch the setup program from inside windows 98. so what I've had to do is first install 98 and then load XP from the 98 desktop. Its a PITA but a small price to pay for using XP without the activation junk

 

Ok...
Seems easier to answer this way...
1. I do not have the pana. external floppy drive.
2. I do not have the pana. external cd drive.
3. 18 CAN boot from lan.
18 can boot from floppy if it is dedicated (pana.) floppy.
18 can boot from usb if it is dedicated (pana.) cd drive.
These will work but don't apply. (Because I have not the floppy drive)
18 can boot from usb with non pana. cd drive IF you have the floppy drive.
18 can boot from pcmcia with non pana. cd drive IF you have the floppy drive.
4. I have tried (with drive formatted already) putting drive into laptop (28) & desktop (as master) & installed xp, removed at reboot, & stuck in 18. No luck.

You can boot from lan, enabled in bios. But you have to know what you're doing. I don't.

I KNOW THIS CAN BE DONE!!!

By the way Gravi, is it COLD up there yet? 89 here today, BUT I HAVE TO WORK ON CRAPPY BUSES!!! So that negates the nice weather...

 

I'm not far from gravitar, and it was fairly chilly today... In the 40's all day, and rainy. I still have an exhaust leak in my ex-cop car, so I have to drive around with some windows down.

Back to your problem.

Got a desktop that can run windows?
http://addonics.com/products/io/aa25ide35.asp

Cheap adapter, throw it in your desktop, install windows on the desktop onto the drive, and install it in your toughbook. It will work, as long as you have an IDE drive.

 

Refer to previous post, #4. I have tried that, more than once. Its not working. I have an internal adapter like you referanced, & an external. Have tried it with both. I really fell like I am missing something here. I have heard people refer to patches when doing this type of install. Any ideas?

Sorry about your car. Exhaust leaks suck. If you lived here, I would fix it for you. Oh well.

 

I could fix it too, I just don't feel like welding upwards Too many burns and cuts on my hands and arms already.

I'm not familiar with the 18s, but in the BIOS does it mention the hard drive being there? If you installed an OS on a 28, and it didn't boot the 18 it sounds like something might be wrong with the 18. Check out your boot list in the BIOS too.

 

sc**w you man, it was snowing/hailing earlier today

i'd work on the crappiest bus in that weather than the nicest bus in the lousy weather we have up here!

 

Side note: what's up with the network boot option? how do you set up a server to give it what it needs to boot up? might be a good thing to have available just in case

 

You know.. I always just assumed that USB drives were only recognized in windows. but then one day I left a thumb drive in the computer and ran ghost (in a straight DOS environment). To my shock and amazement, ghost fully recognized the USB stick! No foolin'.. I was able to save a hard drive image to it! (slow as molasses though) I'm not sure this has been taken advantage of by anyone else, but the capability exists nonetheless.

 

I would recommend one of these adapters to ANYONE that does any work on laptops. It makes life SO much easier when you can attach all the resources of a desktop system to your notebook drive!

 

Gravitar, we're gonna get some full on snow this weekend from the sounds of it. Time to start wearing a real coat I suppose

As for network boot, I've really got no clue how to do it with windows. Back in the day I used to do it with Macs just for fun, but those were pretty easy if you had the dedicated computer setup. Kinda interesting running an OS on something without a hard drive even installed.

 

To all you non-Michiganians, let me put this in perspective.. Just 3 short weeks ago, it WAS 90 here! My wife and kids were swimming in the pool and frolicking around the yard in shorts and t-shirts. (I was in missouri at the time, where it was COLDER) Heck just last week it was 60s-low 70s. And now.. SNOW. I swear, if it wasn't for (what's left of) the auto industry, NOBODY would live here!

 

I would say pony up the duckets for a CD-DVD drive and install it the right way. This is starting to sound like the guy who wanted to wire his hard drive up without the caddy.

 

You don't need a Panasonic drive to boot of the USB on the CF18. We use an addonics drive and it works just fine. Also the teac USB floppy seems to work on all USB bootable toughbooks.

 

Hi! guys, let me share my exp. Installing windows xp on formatted drive from one computer and then put to another computer will not work at all except with the same model of pc but when it is windows 98se it will work to any pc with 300mhz at least PII and above. After the installation process (windows 98) to a harddrive copy the file 1386 from xp cd and save it on a file. Now pull out the harddrive and install it to a pc the one without a cd rom. Boot the computer and let windows 98 finish the setup on the new host if there are hardware that need a driver ignore it coz you are only interested to install xp. when its done go to a file where you save the file 1386, open the file and look for winnt32 file, open it and computer will start installing windows XP. you can choose either "upgrade or new installation. It worked to my cf-18 but i already sold the unit 8 months ago. Good Luck



Note: Can you guys tell me what is the best gps module that i can install to my cf-m34 internally and also to what terminal? it seems like there are three available on the mbo. but i've got no detail pin out of them.

 

IT WORKS!!! IT WORKS!!! IT WORKS!!!
First of all, thanks for all the suggestions/help trying to get the 18 up & running!!! IT WORKS!!! The CF-VDRT3 (Pana. usb external dvd cdr/rw drive) finally came in, & it works like a charm!!! (nice unit, & it has four dip switches on the bottom, have to find out what they are for) Paid one bill for it on ebay. 18 recognised it instantly, booted & installed using xp pro disc, not restore disk. I have two other external usb disc drives, and one pcmcia drive, 18 would not touch them. If anyone needs to use the Panny drive & you live around Austin, or you want to drive here or whatever, let me know & I will gladly let you use the thing! It will save you alot of trouble!!! I also have the external usb floppy drive (scored it on ebay for fifteen bucks!!!) I had to get another harddrive cable as I put a hole thru the new one that I had just bought!!! Heartland came thru again, they did a little research & found out that just the cable could be purchased, so I did not have to buy another complete caddy. In case anyone needs to know, the prices I paid were (for new parts, from Heartland) Hard drive mounting kit (complete caddy with heater) $84.12 Battery $140.19 hdd fpc ass'y (hard drive cable I had to replace) $33.72 Heartland is great! They carry 28 parts too!
Also, if anyone needs to borrow (I don't know if they could be copied or how) I have a few Panny restore disks. MK1-2KM-TS (CF 28 600) MK3-XP1M (CF 28 1 GIG XP) MK1-98M (CF 48 600)

Anyhow...

YOU SHOVELIN' SNOW GRAVI??? IT'S 90 HERE TODAY!!!

THANKS EVERYBODY!!!

 

you suck man.. i hope you drop your 28 on your foot! (i'm just waiting for that to happen, i just know it would break something!

actually it was cold/raining/snowing all last week while i was outside working under cars, but now that i'm in a nice warm classroom all week its actually decent out!