would i be right in saying i could using a crossover cable from pc hard disk to laptop hard disk, so i could format/wipe laptop and load xp.(looking forward to any advise you can give me) ps reason lappy cd writer knackered.
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someone posted xp on a usb a week or 2 ago on here.
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no, as far as i am aware it is not possible to use this method as laptop does not support it.(toshiba a50 notebook).Comment
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Hmm, Is quite easy to install XP on a device without CD, you have to make your HDD to boot in MS-DOS mode(see some boot disks), copy the i386 content to hdd and run setup from there.
PS: the partition where you have the i386 files must be fat32, other wise the MS-DOS won't recognize it.Comment
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But how does he get the files on to the hdd .Comment
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Just plug in a external cd/dvd drive ... its the easiest way.
Or ... lets assume you are using a legit copy of xp ... use say nero to back up the xp disk as a iso file on your main pc.
download a program program like power iso, put both on a usb stick. transfer to your lappy.
install power iso, create a virtual drive, load in the img file.
run the xp disc as if its in a real drive and install xp to your lappy.
easy as that.
@manxComment
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manx i dont think the a50 allows booting from usb.Comment
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Yep, you can do that, using crossover cable
On the laptop, you set it up as a network client. If it's an old laptop, and still has
floppy maybe, load the network client software to the laptop by booting floppy that will access the server (yourpc)
If you can do that, you'll be able to load OS on laptop.
Honestly, done this many many years ago when studying MCSE.
The link for the network boot disk
software is here, and the site has changed since I last used it, and I've long since forgotten.....
Bart's Network Boot Disk
Don't ask me any more questions on this because the drink has long since killed off my brain cells,
Hope it points you in right direction though.......Comment
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You don't boot from the usb , you create a virtual drive , then load the iso img onto the virtual drive and carry on as normal.
The op said that the cd drive was bust , so am assuming that the rest of the lappy is working, as this method does depend on access to a working pc.
@manxComment
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Drive f is a virtual drive with the img loaded onto it.Comment
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if you are doing this to simply restore your operating system, just repeatedly pres F10 when the laptop starts this will start the recovery software that came bundled with it and install the os from a hidden partition on the hdd.Comment
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