how to make a New Notebook HD bootable 2

[eman6]

I have an HP Compaq notebook without floppy.
I have formatted a new Hard disk (via USB) to use as replacement disk.
I want to prepare this new HD so that when I place it instead of the one I have in my notebook, it boots and supports the CD, so that I can install Windows XP.

The utility provided by WD or Maxtor help copy the entire old HD into the new one, but I don't want this. I just want the new HD to boot and support CD (can read) so I can run Windows setup.
My next question is: do I need to re-activate my Win-XP again after this?

______________________________________
Eman6
Technical User

 

[rvnguy]

eman6,

I think you have two questions:
After you install the formated clean drive,the install procedure should be as follows, place cd in drive and during post press 'F9' to be presented with a select boot device screen. Select CD > enter and so forth.

Second: Do I need to re-acivate: Normally "Yes" but

If this is the same system that the original install was on(owing to hardware dependence of XP), you can collect two files from the current install:

Go to your _:\WINDOWS\System32\ and find a file called "wpa.dbl" and "wpa.bak" back those files up to a floppy, CD or whatever you want to put it on.

After you install to the new HD you will want to restore these files:
go into safe mode and put them into your windows\system32 directory. When you reboot you should be activated without actually going through MS.

Please note this will only work on the same system and is not a "crack" that will prevent leagal ownership.

Hope This Answers Your Concerns




rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[paparazi]

eman6
Hmmm, not necessarily, because there won't be a bootable hard drive installed the system should just search for the first "BOOTABLE" device which will be the CDrom.
So although the HDD or floppy will be set as FIRST in the boot sequence, in the absence of a boot floppy or boot sector detected, the system should just skip them and find the "Bootable" XP disk in the CDrom (as long as the Cdrom is set somewhere in the boot sequence)

Yes it will need to be reactivated unless you use rvnguy's suggestion.

Martin


We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Williamc1977]

To create a bootable hdisk all you need is to format it and make it bootable by

Format c: /s

This will make your hdisk bootable

But if you want to make a fresh install of O/S all you need is to put the window disk into the cd-rom and it will bootup and install it onto that new hdisk which will then make your new hdisk bootable

 

[eman6]

Thank you for the reply.
Format c:/S is not enough to read CD after boot, which is what I was trying to achieve.
But I understand one can boot into CD by BIOS setting and installl Windows.

Thanks anyway.

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Eman6
Technical User