Install XP Pro from Hard drive second partition possible?

[benzguy777]

I plan to partition my hard drive to C and D and plan to install XP Pro from my D Drive. Is this possible? I could do this with Win98 (just click) on the setup from DOS prompt. Is this possible with XP Pro?

Reason I am doing this is that we have about 30 PCs without CDROMs that I have to Reformat and Reload XP Pro.

Please let me know is possible and how to do this.


Thanks!

 

[bcastner]

Are these clients on a LAN? If so using either Norton Ghost or Microsoft RIS "Remote Installation Service" seems like a saner approach. Both offer options to permit unattended installation in a network setting.

 

[bcastner]

As to the question of a hard disk drive installation of XP, the answer is that it can be done.

Under DOS, run i386\winnt.exe of your selected XP (it is strongly recommended to run DOS smartdrv.exe first).
Assuming Drive D: has a copy of the CD Rom I:\386 directory:
D:\i386\winnt.exe /s:\i386 /t:C

Under Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP:
D:\i386\winnt32.exe /s:\i386 /tempdrive:C

After you have input the Product-Key, you will be in "Windows Setup" screen. From there you click the "Advanced Options" button to go to that window, you then check one of the 2 boxes in the lower part of the window:
[tt]
[ ] Copy all installation files from the Setup CD

[X] I want to choose the install drive letter and partition during Setup
[/tt]

 

[benzguy777]

Thanks - bcastner.

How can Norton Ghost or Microsoft RIS "Remote Installation help me? Which is better to use?

I use ghost, But I still have to install FLOPPYs on my PCs as all my LAN PCs have no floppy and CDROM for security issues. My Ethernet cad also does NOT have BOOT function.

Where do I boot from the Workstation to load GHOST.EXE?

Appreciate your advise.