How to install OS without CD-ROM drive?

I have a Dell laptop that I replaced the hard drive on. I want to re-install Windows, but cannot find the CD-ROM drive.

I have an external USB hard drive. Is it possible to copy certain files to the USB drive, tell the laptops BIOS to boot from the USB port and then expect the Windows installer to run?

I've also heard of booting from the NIC.

Anyway, how to I get a OS on a laptop with no CD-ROM drive? Theres got to be a way.


Thanks!

 

Can you see the drive in the BIOS or is it in Windows that you cannot see it?

 

No, I mean I physically cannot find the CD-ROM drive. I took it out and somehow misplaced it before I put the laptop back together.

 

Oy, I see your predicament. Installing over a network is pretty difficult and a pain. Ideally, if you can get your hands on a USB CD-ROM (even briefly), that would be your best bet.

But if that doesn't work, you can copy the i386 folder on another computer to a USB flash drive and install through that. You'd need something like a floppy boot disk though. Boot to the floppy, then change from A:\ to %USB Drive Letter%:\i386 and run winnt (I think). I can get into more specifics if you go this route.

I'll tell you right now though that this is not guaranteed to work but there is a chance, if all the stars align....

 

Thanks, but I forgot to mention... there is no floppy either.

I do have a USB hard drive, and can copy the files to that, but is a floppy still necessary?

 

Ummm, ok, cruddy. You can, in theory, make the flash drive bootable. Then copy the i386 folder onto that. Then boot to the flash drive and run winnt in the i386 folder.

Can someone else confirm this?

http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm has some more info on doing this.

 

Can't confirm, but from everything I know it should work in theory. USB installations are generally pretty flaky, though, so real world success may be a low percentage undertaking.

Just make sure you have a copy of "smartdrv.exe" on the flash drive and run it before launching winnt.exe, or the installation will be VERY slow.

For more info on how to run an XP setup from withen DOS, try this MS article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307848/en-us

 

If your installing windows xp pro New Installation you can copy setup files to your hard drive and then install it, if you can grab hold of a working cd drive for just a few minutes you might be able to get xp up and running i got the instructions in an attachment sorry i cant proceed any farther on the picture.
Sorry picture quality is so crappy