Installing OS on a laptop with no cd drive

phill106

I am going to reinstall Windows on a dell latittude c400 shortly.
Unlikely as it is, anyone have the external cd/dvd drive for that model knocking around? No? Ok next step!

Is it possible to transfer the drive from another laptop running windows already on it into this one? I have done it before with ubuntu, worked perfect, but ubuntu is more forgiving!
I understand drivers will need to be searched for etc, but would it actually boot?
I will try it this evening on a spare drive.

Another option I was thinking of is copying the windows cd to a drive, making it bootable and reinstalling from that. May be the best idea, as would be a clean install then. Anyone else try this? I did similar for my own laptop, where i made a bootable windows install partition in case of windows failure, so I have high hopes for this!

And for my final trick, what OS do you think i am going to put on it? Windows 7.... Yes thats right, Windows 7.
A friend has it running on his, says it is flying along. I shall see, and let you know!

Though if anyone does have a dell c400 external cd or dvd drive, please let me know! Not a normal usb one, would look like this one

http://www.ukclearancecentre.co.uk/192-dell-c400-external-cd-rom-drive.html

Knasher

Here is a step by step for windows from a USB key if it helps. http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

IrishTonyO

That Dell should have a restore partition unless you have previously deleted it. Hitting CTRL F11 as the system is booting up should give you access to the partiton and let you restore it to the way it was when you bought it.

phill106

Thanks tony and gnasher, dont think either of those will work as bios does not support booting for usb.
I will retry the original drive that came with it, see if the recovery partition is still on it, but I believe it was wiped. Cant hurt trying though!

Enter Username

Flash the Bios to the latest version - A10 I think - this will then enable booting from USB

phill106

Enter Username wrote: »

Flash the Bios to the latest version - A10 I think - this will then enable booting from USB

You sure? I believe i have A12 on it already. Must check tonight.
If so, thanks!

scottyboy

I have the same laptop and had the same problem. I used PXE boot to install Windows without CD drive and it worked a treat. A bit of Googling will present you with the instructions.

I don't think the USB Boot drive option worked, as far as I remember, as tried with portable CD drive etc.. but don't remember which BIOS version I was on.

Good luck

phill106

I tried pxe before, never found a good walk through?

scottyboy

this guide here looks very similar to the walkthrough I used in the past (which I can't find!!)

http://www.lockstockmods.net/2008/04/25/install-windows-over-network-with-pxe/

hshortt

If you do get booting from USB enabled, would you consider to use the Microsoft Windows 7 USB tool? It's a freebie and it will guide you through the process. You need at least a 4GB USB drive. The program makes the drive bootable and copies the source files from an ISO to the key to make it all work.

Simple & free. You can get the program here

phill106

Well i shall try a few different tools mentioned here, thanks.

phill106

Ok, did the "install on other lappie, and swap drives".
Worked!
I am now running windows 7 on a pIII with 750ish meg of ram. Runs fine!
Had some fun with drivers etc, but nearly got them all sorted now.
The other laptop btw was totally different make and model and hardware, so was pleasantly surprised :P