I have a dell latitude c640..
it doesnt come with a dvd-rom drive only a floppy disk drive.
It has been completely reformatted (so its wiped clean) i did this using an external usb dvd drive..
Now my problem is that i cannot boot using the external drive because it doesnt recognise usb when no operating system is present.
I have tried many 'BOOT' disks in the floppy drive but none have been succesful..
If you can help me...
How can i boot using my external dvd-rom, (to load vista).
Or how can i boot using my floppy drive.
I need help please...
Tell me if you find or know of any programs or boots i can use to solve my problem..

Hi spunkyfella, welcome to the PCHF - and thanks for posting

If you check the BIOS, you should have an option to Boot off USB.

My work supports plenty of Latitudes, and they all have this option.

Well,
i have been able to boot using the floppy drive so its all good...

BUT!!!

When i go to install windows xp onto the labtop, a message appears saying that there is no hard disk found setup cannot contiue.

There is a hard drive but how can i get it running so i can install windows xp onto it...

This is my last problem if i can get this sorted out its full speed ahead!

Can anyone help?

Good question...the hard drive should be detected automatically.

Did you not get a recovery disk when you got the laptop? That should do it all automatically.

No i didnt get a recovery disk..
Is there any chance i can fix the problem..
Maybe using another recovery disk?

Unfortunately not - due to driver issues and what not.

You can contact Dell and ask them for one - it'll cost something like $15 or so...but then you've always got it and you can restore to factory defaults very easily.

I am having the same problem. My Dell c640 also has an external, USB cd drive. The BIOS has no option for booting from USB. I went to Dell's site to see if there is an updated BIOS flash. They list A10 as the most current version. My PC is already running A10.

I received the PC with the dard drive divided into 2 discs, C: and D:. It is running Windows 2000. I want to upgrade to XP Pro.

As an internal drive isn't an option, I need to know how to install XP Pro from an external drive on a PC that won't boot to a USB drive.