Dec 02

Install Windows XP on an Old Notebook without CDROM drive

Tutorials 1 Comment »

If your notebook does not support boot from USB and does not have CDROM/DVDROM drive, you will wonder how to install Operating System into it.

I wrote my walkaround solution to install Windows XP into a notebook without USB or CDROM support

Please follow the following steps:

Step 1: Removing the harddisk

  • Remove your notebook harddisk (usually is 2.5″ IDE harddisk for old notebook)
  • Connect it to an external enclosure for IDE harddisk
  • Connect the USB cable from external enclosure to another PC/Notebook

 

Step 2: Partitioning / Formating the harddisk

We need to make sure the File System on the partition is FAT32 because we need to copy DOS (Disk Operating System) files into that partition. FAT32 only support up to 32GB.

  • After you have connected the ext harddisk to your PC/Notebook, you need to check the partition size. If the size is more than 32GB, you need to delete the partition and re-create a primary partition from Disk Management or any harddisk partition software. Make sure the partition size is smaller than 32GB (< 32768 MB). Then format it as FAT32.
  • Set that partition as “Active Partition”, otherwise it will not able to boot up
  • Copy i386 folder from your Windows XP CD into that new partition
  • Download Bootable DOS CD then burn it to CD
  • Restart your PC and boot from CDROM (do not remove your external harddisk), then after you see A:\>, type dir D:\   <enter>, see if i386 is in that drive. If yes, type  sys d:    <enter>

 

Step 3: Put back the harddisk to your old notebook then run the Windows XP Setup

  • Unplug your 2.5″ IDE harddisk from the external enclosure
  • Plug it back to your old notebook
  • Power ON, then you will see Windows 98 boot screen
  • After you see the C:\>
  • type the following command:
  • cd i386         <enter>
  • winnt.exe     <enter>

Done!

Written by dozty | tags: ,