need to reinstall windows xp but cd-rom is dead

[dmaldonadoc]

Hi,
I need to reinstall windows xp on my dell inspiron notebook. As far as
I have seen in the web the best procedure seems to be (my computer does
no allow me to boot from a usb device)
1. format and partition the hdd in another computer
2. copy the i386 folder to a INSTALL directory in that hdd
3. copy to the same hdd the smartdrv.exe file
3. boot in dos and run smartdrv.exe and then run winnt to start the
installation procedure
I am not an expert in these things so I would like to ask some
questions before doing it myself:
Can anybody confirm that this procedure really works?
Is it any different running winnt32 instead of winnt?
The Reinstallation CD that came with my computer has much more than the
i386 directory, should I copy anything else to the INSTALL directory
after formatting the hdd?
Thanks in advance,
Dario

 

[DatabaseBen]

well, unfortunately i cannot advise you about
the best way to manage your dell.

previously, numerous postings from other
dell users have been hostile and unwarranted.

I think there is a newsgroup just for dell and if
you search this group with a dell criterian, you
should get the url of that dell group by reading
some of their postings.

however, i bit of advice. The install disk
for all pratical purposes has much less than
your current o.s.; as it is used to restore the original
factory configuration.....

 

[DatabaseBen]

ps: if your cd rom is dead
you REALLY should work on
getting one operational; as it
will likely be the only method
avail for you if your system becomes
inaccessible...

 

[Guest]

You are incorrect about the Dell disk. Dell does not have a restoration disk.
It is the same as a retail XP operating system disk and you boot to it to
reinstall or repair.
To the original poster--you must get your cd drive repaired. Go to Dell
Community site and post your question there. Another user will help you.
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=insp_general

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

You are incorrect about the Dell disk. Dell does not have a
restoration disk. It is the same as a retail XP operating system disk
and you boot to it to reinstall or repair.

Dell has provided Installation CDs, Restore CDs, or Restore partitions,
depending on which computer you bought from them and when.

 

[dmaldonadoc]

TY for your answers. It seems that the problem with my cd-rom is not
with the cd-rom itself but with the mother board. Is there any way to
be sure where the problem is?

 

[GateKeeper]

TY for your answers. It seems that the problem with my cd-rom is not
with the cd-rom itself but with the mother board. Is there any way to
be sure where the problem is?

Yes. You can replace your CD-ROM with one that you know is good. If it
doesn't work, then you know the problem is not the CD-ROM. Then you will
have to swap cables, etc., until you figure out which piece of hardware
is bad. This is called 'swap known good for suspected bad' testing.

 

[DatabaseBen]

well, i have heard that resetting the bios sometimes
help supposedly failed devices become recognized again.
If you want to try this
it will be simply a matter of pulling out the cmos battery
for about 10 seconds, then reinserting it back onto the
mobo. This is a long shot but might help.

However, first,double check to ensure the option to enable the cdrom
hasn't been disabled in the bios.

Also, it may be possible that the cd rom may have
wiggled loose from the connectors. So since you have nothing
to loose, pop open your laptop and doe
a visual check if you going to do the cmos reset as well.

If neither regains the functionality of the cd rom,
then it is likely the cdrom gave out.

There are diagnostic freewares that will test your system.
However, it is likely that it will tell you what you may already know:
Your cdrom died on you.

It would be worthwile to invest in a new one.
Although I would recommend an external one, the problem you will have
is not being able to access your laptop in an emergency without an internal
boot cd rom device.... Look for a cd-rw, so it can write cd's and give
you that benefit of creating back up cd's.....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

well, i have heard that resetting the bios sometimes
help supposedly failed devices become recognized again.

I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to try.

If you want to try this
it will be simply a matter of pulling out the cmos battery
for about 10 seconds, then reinserting it back onto the
mobo.

No, it's not that simple at all. Note two things:

1. First, and most important, removing the battery resets the BIOS to its
default settings. Those may or may not be what you were previously running
with and it's foolish to do this with first recording what those settings
are, and then checking them and putting them back again after reinserting
the battery.

In fact, I recommend that everyone keep a hard copy of those BIOS settings
all the time, just in case.

2. Ten seconds is often nowhere near enough to time to clear the BIOS
settings. It depends upon the computer. It's often as much as 15 minutes,
and I've occasionally seen situations where it's been as much as an hour or
more.