Installing Windows from an external cd rom

[Yeagermeister]

I'm trying to reinstall XP on my mothers Dell Mini 9. It doesn't have a built in cd rom so I'm using an external. It will go through the initial setup where you can format the drive but when it tries to install the actual OS it doesn't recognize the external drive so it can't find the files. The warranty has expired so I can't call Dell.

Any suggestions?

 

[YosemiteSam]

I'm trying to reinstall XP on my mothers Dell Mini 9. It doesn't have a built in cd rom so I'm using an external. It will go through the initial setup where you can format the drive but when it tries to install the actual OS it doesn't recognize the external drive so it can't find the files. The warranty has expired so I can't call Dell.

Any suggestions?

Download the driver and hit I think it's F4 during Installer boot up to install the driver. (it will ask if you if you need to install a driver) You usually do this for hard drive controllers, but I think it works for USB cdroms too.

You need a floppy disk for this. (even a USB one, which I always keep around)

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I'm trying to reinstall XP on my mothers Dell Mini 9. It doesn't have a built in cd rom so I'm using an external. It will go through the initial setup where you can format the drive but when it tries to install the actual OS it doesn't recognize the external drive so it can't find the files. The warranty has expired so I can't call Dell.

Any suggestions?

The USB connection is the problem I take it.

Well...why don't you just take the cd rom out of another computer, install it into hers, install the OS. After that you can just take out the CD rom?

I have done this some at work. You don't even have to mount he cd rom. Just connect it to the mother board and plug in the power. Install the software, take the cd rom out and you are good to go.

 

[VietCowboy]

can you load that CD content onto a USB thumb drive? Then you can boot from Thumb drive.

I had a Dell Mini, hackentoshed it but then I didn't like it that much so gave it my cousin.

I'm a Lenovo girl for life (or until I find something better, and haven't found an Apple product that is better for me)

 

[Yeagermeister]

Download the driver and hit I think it's F4 during Installer boot up to install the driver. (it will ask if you if you need to install a driver) You usually do this for hard drive controllers, but I think it works for USB cdroms too.

You need a floppy disk for this. (even a USB one, which I always keep around)

I thought about that but wasn't sure if that worked for cd roms.

The USB connection is the problem I take it.

Well...why don't you just take the cd rom out of another computer, install it into hers, install the OS. After that you can just take out the CD rom?

I have done this some at work. You don't even have to mount he cd rom. Just connect it to the mother board and plug in the power. Install the software, take the cd rom out and you are good to go.

It doesn't have an opening for a cd rom.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I thought about that but wasn't sure if that worked for cd roms.

It should work for any hardware that it doesn't recognize. Once the driver is loaded, the kernel should be able to identify it.

 

[Dallas]

Use this guide. It works great. It works on all computers btw.

Good Luck!

http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installing-windows-xp-from-usb-thumb.html

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I thought about that but wasn't sure if that worked for cd roms.



It doesn't have an opening for a cd rom.

Are you talking about an opening in the front of the computer or are you talking about a port on the mother board.

If it is the first, you don't have to mount the cd rom.

 

[Yeagermeister]

It should work for any hardware that it doesn't recognize. Once the driver is loaded, the kernel should be able to identify it.

I'll try that when I get home if I can find the cd rom drivers or VC's suggestion.