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Thread ID: 37121 2003-08-29 02:45:00 How to load an OS without CD Rom Drive desdog (3014) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
171411 2003-08-29 02:45:00 I have a spare PC but the CD drive just won't read CD's, hence I am unable to load any OS off a CD. The hard drive is formatted, ready to go.
How can I load an OS on to this machine? I could network the two boxes together but how do I set this up with a blank HDD?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. NB: the CD drive is knackered and too expensive to replace (compaq slimline needed at about $200) - portable CD drive not an option at the moment either. Thx in advance!
desdog (3014)
171412 2003-08-29 02:52:00 Why don't you just temporarily install the CD-ROM drive from your other machine to get the OS loaded? Jen C (20)
171413 2003-08-29 03:04:00 install CD Drive for meantime while its hanging out - install windows. therefore less fuss and at the end disconnect the cd drive. no need to buy a slimline cd-rom.

or u could create a DOS network bootdisk. do a google search.. it is complicated. this process prob take more time than to install windows from the CD, cos its not a automated process. it needs user intervention.

one's here:
appdeploy.com
nomad (3693)
171414 2003-08-29 03:15:00 I have tried a number of CD drives and none seem to work - box just shuts down as soon as I plug them in - dunno why (power prob perhaps)! May take a look at the DOS network boot scenario. desdog (3014)
171415 2003-08-29 05:22:00 try to pull the floppy out and any not essential cards then put the cdrom back in - does it fix it? nomad (3693)
171416 2003-08-29 06:52:00 You could set up a network with a Dos network driver. I have found out how to do this in the past.

www.wown.com

There are very good step-by-step instructions, even though I never managed to get it going.

One way - disk-span the OS's CD(s) onto floppy disks, and transfer it bit by bit - could take hours, but it would get the job done.
somebody (208)
171417 2003-08-29 08:44:00 Most people are missing the essential basic fact.
If the CDROM wont work then there is absolutely no point in loading an OS (other than a basic dos system and cd drivers off floppy), until that problem is resolved.
Terry Porritt (14)
171418 2003-08-29 09:00:00 Why don't you take the hard drive out and connect it to another PC and installl the OS, and copy all drivers into hard drive as well. And then put it back, i think it probably the easiest way to sort it out. zkeasy (3278)
171419 2003-08-29 10:26:00 Hah? You can have a PC with a fully functional OS without a CDROM installed. mark.p (383)
171420 2003-08-29 10:42:00 Well, I suppose you can Mark, but these days most software, drivers, etc come on CD not floppies.
Also if the CD drive/IDE controller has an inherent fault then that may reflect back on satisfactory operation of the system.

I would have thought it was a question order of priorities.
Terry Porritt (14)
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