Install XP without CD

[Dave]

I want to do a full install of XP on my laptop. The
problem is I do not have a internal CD drive, I have an
external USB CD/RW. I know DOS will not recoganize the
drive. What are my options for installing XP? Any help
would be appreciated.

 

[Nicholas]

Don't try to install Windows from the drive. Instead, copy
the i386 folder to the hard drive and run the WINNT32.EXE file
in there to start setup. Do not choose Upgrade. C:\WINNT as your
installation path and simply delete the Windows folder when done.
Choose "Install to another location" and specify C:\WINNT.

When done, go to the Program Files folder and remove program
folders that are now obsolete. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced >
Startup and Recovery and click Edit. Remove the lines with C:\Windows in
them and reduce the "timeout" to zero. Now delete the Windows folder.

Leave the i386 folder on the drive. You may need it later.

--
Nicholas

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| I want to do a full install of XP on my laptop. The
| problem is I do not have a internal CD drive, I have an
| external USB CD/RW. I know DOS will not recoganize the
| drive. What are my options for installing XP? Any help
| would be appreciated.