Install XP onto Laptop without CD/Floppy

alf1969 · 03-21-2009

Hi Folks,

I have a small issue and tried a lot to fix that.

I have a older Compaq EVo 410c laptop, which only supports booting from either the harddisk or special Multibay/Docking Station external devices. Unfortunately I threw all the external stuff aways as I thought I could always use standard USB CD-Drives etc.
I have an official version of Windows XP on CD with Key and everything.

Now the my disk broke and I need to reinstall on an empty new disk.

I tried a to format the disk connecting it to another XP desktop via an IDE converter, copied the I386 to it, put Dos71 files on it etc. All done, but I failed to get the Disk bootable. My XP and Vista PCs do not allow to format it bootable and in the cmd the format /S or sys does not exist.
I even created a DOS71 bootable disk on my other desktop PC and booted with it, got the USB disk recognized, but the format /s does not work, because of "no memory".

Is there a way of connecting the disk externally to an XP PC and prepare the harddisk in a way that I can put it back to the Laptop and it will boot so that I either install XP from the disk itself or then via the DOS71 booting I could make the USB active and get an external USB Drive configured to my Laptop.

I hope I was clear enough....

Anyone can help here?

driver_ian · 03-21-2009

Hello and welcome to the forum alf. I'll mark your thread as "open" to encourage a response from the clever ones amongst us

driver_ian · 03-21-2009

alf, your IP puts you in the Netherlands and not Germany as your country flag suggests. You will get better, regionally accurate, assistance if you display your location correctly. This can be done by accessing the User CP. click the User CP button on the top left of the forum page.

jay2 · 03-21-2009

You should be able to use a USB Pen drive.

alf1969 · 03-21-2009

no, unfortunately not, my BIOS does not scan the USB. only the docking station and the internal harddisk.

Hengis · 03-22-2009

Hi there Alf1969.

This version of the BIOS for your laptop will add USB boot capability.
Compaq Evo n410c Notebook PC- HPQFlash for HP Notebook System BIOS (686A2 ROM) - Windows-based - HP Business Support Center

03-21-2009	#1
alf1969 Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: Experienced	Install XP onto Laptop without CD/Floppy Hi Folks, I have a small issue and tried a lot to fix that. I have a older Compaq EVo 410c laptop, which only supports booting from either the harddisk or special Multibay/Docking Station external devices. Unfortunately I threw all the external stuff aways as I thought I could always use standard USB CD-Drives etc. I have an official version of Windows XP on CD with Key and everything. Now the my disk broke and I need to reinstall on an empty new disk. I tried a to format the disk connecting it to another XP desktop via an IDE converter, copied the I386 to it, put Dos71 files on it etc. All done, but I failed to get the Disk bootable. My XP and Vista PCs do not allow to format it bootable and in the cmd the format /S or sys does not exist. I even created a DOS71 bootable disk on my other desktop PC and booted with it, got the USB disk recognized, but the format /s does not work, because of "no memory". Is there a way of connecting the disk externally to an XP PC and prepare the harddisk in a way that I can put it back to the Laptop and it will boot so that I either install XP from the disk itself or then via the DOS71 booting I could make the USB active and get an external USB Drive configured to my Laptop. I hope I was clear enough.... Anyone can help here?

03-21-2009	#2
driver_ian Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Plymouth.England Posts: 1,861 PC Experience: to learn a little, I messed up a lot	Re: Install XP onto Laptop without CD/Floppy Hello and welcome to the forum alf. I'll mark your thread as "open" to encourage a response from the clever ones amongst us __________________ There's teamwork in Moderation.......I will always do my best to help. Prework

03-21-2009	#3
driver_ian Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Plymouth.England Posts: 1,861 PC Experience: to learn a little, I messed up a lot	Re: Install XP onto Laptop without CD/Floppy alf, your IP puts you in the Netherlands and not Germany as your country flag suggests. You will get better, regionally accurate, assistance if you display your location correctly. This can be done by accessing the User CP. click the User CP button on the top left of the forum page. __________________ There's teamwork in Moderation.......I will always do my best to help. Prework

03-21-2009	#4
jay2 Tech Support Team Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: in the pic ;) Posts: 928 PC Experience: A lot.	Re: Install XP onto Laptop without CD/Floppy You should be able to use a USB Pen drive. __________________ Comptia A+/Network A+/CISCO/OCR/V-TEC Qualified. Home Updates/PC Fixer. Trainee Game Dev.

03-21-2009	#5
alf1969 Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Install XP onto Laptop without CD/Floppy no, unfortunately not, my BIOS does not scan the USB. only the docking station and the internal harddisk.

03-22-2009	#6
Hengis PCHF Founder & Owner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The PCHF Bunker Posts: 14,064 PC Experience: Microsoft Certified Professional	Re: Install XP onto Laptop without CD/Floppy Hi there Alf1969. This version of the BIOS for your laptop will add USB boot capability. Compaq Evo n410c Notebook PC- HPQFlash for HP Notebook System BIOS (686A2 ROM) - Windows-based - HP Business Support Center Comments on this post Sir Trews agrees: Great link Hengis!! Noted. __________________ Pre-Work / System File Checker / Promote PCHF!

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