All IT guys,

 

I just need a laptop to boot into a command prompt. I know I need a command.com file but what should it contain and where can I get one?

 

I have two partitions on the drive:

 

C:

D:

 

and the XP setup files are on D: so I just need the laptop to boot into C: and then I can explore to the D: and run the setup file.

 

Any ideas?

Get a windows 98 setup/startup disk or create one from another machine, then use that to boot up your computer with cd-rom support, then you will have access to all your drives !!!

 

Make sure you have set in the bios to boot from floppy/cd-rom and to press the key when prompted to boot from cd.

again, http://www.bootdisk.com - download and create your own bootdisk :)

Guys this would work fine but the laptop has no CD-Rom drive or 3 1/2 drive....

 

See my problem...

 

Bloody Portege's...........

 

I tried to be clever by putting the hard disk into another laptop and then installing XP. Then, putting the hard disk back into the laptop! no no!!!

 

This used to work with 98se, but with XP it just Blue Screens.....

See if this helps, mate:

 

http://www.weethet.nl/english/hardware_bootfromusbstick.php

if you format the drive with format /s it should copy the system files over and make that disk bootable. very basic

if you format the drive with format /s it should copy the system files over and make that disk bootable. very basic

 

Yeah I thought about that too Mike but with DOS 7.1 (XP) you dont get the /s switch, thats why I need 6.2.

 

I will try that disk I downloaded from bootdisk.com....

will this help?

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=96cc3197-b7e5-4b31-badb-ddaac771295f&displaylang=en

 

 

woops edit: i read steup as setup, silly MS

Mark in general its hard to install xp from a dos prompt but here is a link on howto do it.

link

 

However failing that if i was you i would buy an external usb laptop hard disk caddy, insert the hard disk and make the c:\ drive bootable and have a win 98 installation directory on the c:\ drive too.

 

Install 98 then xp.

 

But thats just me, good luck.

I can send you a Toshiba usb floppy drive, you can boot from that. I might even be able to get you an XP Boot disk....

 

Would that help? PM me if you want it.

 

Oh - but I would want it back..

 

Isn't this post in the wrong place?

YOu will need to make the drives FAT32. Windows XP uses NTFS which dos can not see.

Mark in general its hard to install xp from a dos prompt but here is a link on howto do it.

link

 

However failing that if i was you i would buy an external usb laptop hard disk caddy, insert the hard disk and make the c:\ drive bootable and have a win 98 installation directory on the c:\ drive too.

 

Install 98 then xp.

 

But thats just me, good luck.

 

Hi Matt,

 

I think your right, I will have to install 98 first onto the disk and I believe you can run the 98 setup files from DOS, so all is good there.

 

BUT

 

I need to make the hard disk bootable as the laptop has no cd/floppy drives. How can I achieve this?? I do have a HOTDRIVE, like you say, a little USB caddy for 2.5" drives but how can I make the laptop drive bootablewhilst it is in the caddy connected to my PC??

 

I can send you a Toshiba usb floppy drive, you can boot from that. I might even be able to get you an XP Boot disk....

 

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks very much for the offer matey but I already have a USB drive. The portege I am trying to confiugure does have USB port but the BIOS is so old it wont boot from it?!? The portege is a 7020CT came with its own floppy drive and a special Toshiba connection but this laptop I am working on doesnt have one so I am trying to find a workaround.

 

But thanks again mate.....

 

YOu will need to make the drives FAT32. Windows XP uses NTFS which dos can not see.

 

Thanks for the reminder... ;) SO easy to overlook the simple things...

Mark,

 

i would either connect the caddy to a windows 98 machine and format c:\ and make it bootable, or get hold of a windows 98 startup disk and copy the files across not too sure if this will work though.

 

Tests it boots up then put it back in the caddy and copy the win 98 install files across.

 

If you need the files for a windows 98 boot up disk let me know i can host them for you somewhere to download.

 

Hi Matt,

 

I think your right, I will have to install 98 first onto the disk and I believe you can run the 98 setup files from DOS, so all is good there.

 

BUT

 

I need to make the hard disk bootable as the laptop has no cd/floppy drives. How can I achieve this?? I do have a HOTDRIVE, like you say, a little USB caddy for 2.5" drives but how can I make the laptop drive bootablewhilst it is in the caddy connected to my PC??

 

 

 

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks very much for the offer matey but I already have a USB drive. The portege I am trying to confiugure does have USB port but the BIOS is so old it wont boot from it?!? The portege is a 7020CT came with its own floppy drive and a special Toshiba connection but this laptop I am working on doesnt have one so I am trying to find a workaround.

 

But thanks again mate.....

 

 

 

Thanks for the reminder... ;) SO easy to overlook the simple things...

You have PM MAte

 

basilcally - put drive back in a pc running xp, and do a WINNT32 /SYSPART

this will partially install xp onto the 2nd drive then when you unplug it and plug it into laptop it will resume XP installation. It will be made bootable for you.

You have PM MAte

 

basilcally - put drive back in a pc running xp, and do a WINNT32 /SYSPART

this will partially install xp onto the 2nd drive then when you unplug it and plug it into laptop it will resume XP installation. It will be made bootable for you.

 

Jay,

 

Have done this now and XP is installing in the CD-Rom-less and Floppy-drive-less Portege as I type.

 

Thanks you everyone for your help and especially you Jay, you've bin a great help.

 

Cheques in the post mate! :duffer: :duffer: :duffer: :duffer: :duffer: :duffer: