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I currently have windows ME installed and I want to upgrade to Win 2000. I'm using an external CD ROM through a USB port. All goes well at the start, all set up files are downloaded but as soon as they try to load I get the message that there is no CD ROM drive. Any ideas as to how to overcome this?

Welcome to PCHF Mike.

Here is the solution;

1. Download the USB DOS driver and Save the file to your hard drive.
2. Use Winzip to extract the file. If you do not have the Winzip program you may get a shareware version here.
3. Extract the file, then open the folder named USBboot and execute the rawrite2.exe.
4. When prompted for the image name, enter dosboot.img
5. Enter the floppy drive as your destination drive, which in general is the A:\
6. When it is done, reboot with this disk to use the USB devices.
7. If everything went well, you should have a drive R:\ for the CDROM drive. You are now ready to copy the I386 folder from the Windows 2000 or XP installation CD to the hard drive.
8. Hard Drives will most likely be C: (the next letter available).
   Note: There will be no letter for the hard drive if it has not been partitioned and formatted. If you are not familiar with partitioning or formatting a hard drive, please go to the following Microsoft link for the information.
9. At the prompt, go to the CDROM drive (R: ) and run "Xcopy *.* /s C:\"
10. Now go to the I386 folder (C:\I386) then type Winnt.
11. Installation should now start. Follow instruction from your Operating System manual on how to install the OS. (Installation will take some time, Please be patient)

Source: netcal.com

Thanks very much for your response sadly I don't fully understand whats required. My laptop doesn't have any drives at all fitted. The only drive I have is the one external cd so I can't send anything to A.

Which Latitude model do you have?

Ls Pp01s

Been studying the solution offered, expertise lacking, why is it that ME will load and process with no problem but 2000 wont?
ight I have more luck with XP? I'm afraid to try as I've already got two sets of boot files (ME & 200) at start up. As an extra can I get rid of 2000 instalation Files? I'm getting to the state that I feel I should launch it and get somethihg else. Thanks.

Sorry Mike, I meant to get back to you on this but was pulled away....

You are incredibly limited at the moment and to properly achieve an XP or Win2k installation, your best bet would be to;

1) Get a floppy drive (this will enable you to run a boot floppy disk with the correct DOS USB drivers on it)
2) Get an internal CD Rom drive