How to install XP without using a CD drive?

[olin]

I am dealing with a computer in my lab, which has a bad CD drive.

I've tried to put the hard drive to another computer and copy all files in XP installation CD. then I used bootable floppy disk to boot the machine, and then run smartdrv.ext, then \I386\winnt.exe. It run the installation, but after finishing the file copy and reboot, it couldn't contintue the installation.

I've read the article on Microsoft website:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...8d-5e10-49b5-b80c-0a0205368124&displaylang=en

but it is only used to install XP with bootable floppy and a non-bootable installation CD, i.e. I still need a CD drive.

How can I install XP only using a bootable floppy and installation files on hard drive? Thank you!

 

[bcastner]

You need to tell winnt.exe where to find its files:

/s:SourcePath
Specifies the source location of the Windows XP files. The location must be a full path and can use UNC locations.

/t:TempDrive
Directs Setup to place temporary files on the specified drive and to install Windows XP on that drive.

 

[olin]

Actually, I finished that part. Although I didn't specify the scource path, when I ran winnt.exe, it popup a window to let me to specify the path. and then, you know, it did checking, copying files to the disk (~5 minutes). After that, it need to reboot. I have installed Windows for many times with a installation CD, I know what would happen next normally (i.e. a blue screen, start installation, from 39 minutes left at first on the left pane, some comments on the right pane.....). But now when it rebooted, it said no operation system, etc. can not continue the installation.

I guess it didn't write the necessary codes to MBR (Main boot record) when I installed like this.

Help me!

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp&NoWebContent=1

 

[bcastner]

Also, have you cosidered using the floppy setup method? This would at least allow the preparation of the hard drive.

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994

 

[lamar225]

Why not just Install xp On the hd while in the other machine, reinstall go online then update it