Installing Windows 2000 from DOS mode

[Bmccarty]

I have a computer that doesn't have a CD Rom drive (it's
an industrial embedded controller). The only way that I
can see to install Windows 2000 is from the Win 2K boot
disks and the process requires a CD Rom drive. Is there
any way to install Windows 2000 in DOS mode when booting
the computer from a Windows 98 boot disk?

 

[Dave Patrick]

Can't you temp connect a CD-Rom to get you through the install? Else copy
the \i386 directory to the drive and run
winnt.exe
from there

 

[Dan Seur]

If you really can't temp attach a CD drive as Dave Patrick suggested,
and must somehow get the CD's install directory into the machine via
DOS, there may be a couple of ways to do that depending on the machine's
hardware. First, though, you should check carefully that the embedded
machine actually meets W2k's requirements, including a fairly large hard
drive, and that W2k drivers are available for all the componentry you
wish to be able to use (including mainboard chipsets). W2k itself really
needs to reside in at least a 4GB partition if you'll have more than the
simplest applications. And the install directory (i386) contains 4000
files, 11 of which are >1MB. Of those 11, 3 are too big to fit on a
1.44floppy, and one of those - the file of drivers - is 51MB.

If the machine has a tape drive, or some sort of lan-like connectivity
to a standard PC, perhaps you can move that directory over that way. If
you have a very large hard drive, it would be a good idea to move all
the CD directories associated with an Intel-based install.

Your headaches may continue over the long haul, unless the embedded
machine has internet connectivity. The service pack files, if you plan
to use them, are also huge. SP4, the latest, is 132.3MB. The SPs are
available only on CD or by download.

 

[John Thow]

I have a computer that doesn't have a CD Rom drive (it's
an industrial embedded controller). The only way that I
can see to install Windows 2000 is from the Win 2K boot
disks and the process requires a CD Rom drive. Is there
any way to install Windows 2000 in DOS mode when booting
the computer from a Windows 98 boot disk?

Are you sure you want to do this?? Does it work now? What advantage do you
think you're going to get from W2K on an embedded controller? Will the
supplier of the controller still support it if you do this?

I think this may be a case for the old adage - "If it ain't broke, don't fix
it!"
--
John Thow
an optimist is a guy/ that has never had/ much experience -
certain maxims of archie; Don Marquis.

To e-mail me, replace the DOTs in the Reply-To: address with dots!