Just got a CF-28, Windows Corrupt, No CD Drive - What to do?

So I was given a CF-28 from a friend. It had Windows XP installed but when I try to boot it has a bunch of errors about corrupt system files and doesn't boot to Windows, nor does it let me access Safe Mode.

I tried swapping a hard drive from my other working laptop and when it boots up, it will show the Windows XP boot/loading screen but quickly gives me a BSOD.. i'm guessing the drivers are conflicting because the hardware is totally different.

Now here is my problem, the CF-28 only came with a Floppy Disk drive, is there any possible way to somehow get Windows installed with just what I have? I have an external 2.5" enclosure that I can fiddle around with, but don't know of a way of doing a fresh OS install without a CD-drive.

Any suggestions? Any help would be appreciated!

Also, how much do you think I would be able to sell this laptop for? Model number is CF-28PCJAZZM. I know from BIOS it has 512MB ram, and reading the FAQ it should have a P3 800 Mhz, and a 13.3" Touchscreen.

 

I'm probably way over my head here but I just did a complete install on a MKIV CF-29 using my old reliable Dell XP SP2 restore disk. I did notice when I got out the disk that there was a separate driver and software disk packed with the OS restore disk. The Dell disk installs perfectly, you just have to spend about 30 minutes installing the drivers after XP loads. The driver install involves replacing nearly all of the drivers XP installs when it loads. The computer works fine, you just don't have maximum resolution on the display, no sound, no touch screen, etc. Maybe installing XP on the hard drive in your external enclosure and then putting it in the Toughbook would work? If you have a legitimate XP COA on the machine activation with M$ takes about 30 seconds online, they apparently don't know you used the Dell disk.
Or spring for $50 and get a cd drive.
CAP
Fully prepared for the abuse this will probably bring down on my dumb a**.

 

shoryuken.... Welcome to the forum!

I'd say pony up the money and buy a CD Rom drive off of ebay. Make sure you get the CADDY with it. This would be the easiest way to install windows. If you don't/won't/can't get the CD Rom... Do a search here about booting from USB... But it will save you a lot of agg and time if you buy the CD Rom...

 

I don't think you have a bootable usb cd rom from the bios the best bet is to search on the forum. Theres a lot way to install an OS without cd rom support. Just keep searching.


ohlip

 

The problem is that every boot environment that I know of that will work on a floppy disk, boots up to a 16 bit environment. Windows XP setup will not start in a 16 bit world. For the price of an external CD-ROM (which may or may not be bootable), you may as well just find an internal Panasonic CD or DVD drive. No to mention the amount you will save in aspirin. The drives are pretty easy to find on FleaBay (with caddy as Toughbook suggested) and you will probably want one in the future with your new toy anyways.

 

I'm not sure if I want to spend any additional money on this laptop as I'm not sure if I even have any real use for it. I just want to test it out, make sure everything functions, etc.

I also have an external USB CD-ROM drive. So I was thinking I would boot from that.. However, I don't see USB as an option in the BIOS Boot Sequence Menu. Only Hard Disk, CD Drive, Floppy Drive and LAN are my options.

If anyone has any ideas or could lead me to some links to OS install without CDROM, please let me know! I've tried searching here and on google and have had no luck!

Thanks again guys

 

If you have an external 2.5 HD enclosure, why dont you just hook that up to your "working" laptop (which I assume has a CD Drive) and do a clean install of XP to the external?

 

Have you tried the external CD? We have one at work that we use for imaging CF-18s, but I have never tried a CF-28 as we have an internal drive for them. Sometimes BIOS will recognize them as a CD and work. Other times no. Worth a shot if you haven't already.

 

Stewie has written an excellent guide on installing Windows on a PC without any optical media or floppy.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=309695&#post4030791

 

Thanks so much! Windows is now installing as we speak!

 

It sounds like you have it solved, but it is possible to boot from floppy and install XP from a USB cdrom.
The floppy images are downloadable here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...74-76af-4c21-b853-d9f07cbfa559&DisplayLang=en

nine

 

Hep!
Its not often a Dell guy teaches the Toughbook crowd something new! Props to you!

shoryuken,
Be sure to follow up with the hopefully happy outcome.

CAP

 

I'm not really a Dell guy, I'm a modder at heart, just like you guys.
I just don't have the cash to spend on a toughbook, and happened to have a lot of Dells in the past, just because they were viable options (read: cheap or free). In fact, most of my Dells even had been abandoned by their original owners and extensively repaired by me.
Thanks though

 

Hep!,
We don't have anything against Dells, I own a couple. Its just that people are always jumping on here who know nothing about Toughbooks and giving newbies bad advice. These aren't like most of the other boxes out there.
CAP

 

I'm well aware how different these systems are.
And also very envious.

I try to only give advice where I think it can be applied. If I don't know (and I want to know) I'll subscribe and learn from a valuable response.

 

Hep!
Look carefully on eBay, people here have been getting decent CF-29s for $250 or there abouts. Then you can spend all your time in the nut hous...er here on this forum.
CAP

 

I'm currently dumping about 250 into a project where I am attempting to internalize 64GB of solid state storage into a Sony PSP. Another laptop will probably be almost a year off, after I upgrade my desktop to an Intel i7.
When that time comes, I'll probably be somewhere around here asking about current deals

Actually, who knows where I'll be in a year.

 

Success! Windows XP up and running. Thanks again Hep. Everything on it seems to be running fine. Not sure how long the battery holds it charge for though.

Now to figure out what i'm going to do with this laptop...

 

The only thing that will make you happy is to buy a CF-28 internal drive. I was not happy until I picked up my DVD/CD drive.