OS Installation from usb HD

[sarah]

i want to format a desktop machine previously loaded with
win xp. no cd rom available. instead, i have an external
harddisc with many programs, softwares and operating
systems copied to it. this harddisc could interact with
the computer via usb connection.
- can i format the desktop harddisc using the fdisk
utility that i have it on a seperate floppy?
once the harddisc is formattted, will the usb HD be
supported so i can call the windows setup file and
install the operating system that i want?
your imput to my questions is appreciated and will
appreciate any idea to have the job done.

 

[Thomas Wendell]

On that floppy you would need DOS-mode drivers for the USB port and disk
(and I haven't seen such creatures)

It's be like adding CD support to DOS, ie. in config.sys a statement
"device=a:\oakcdrom.sys /dakcd"
and in autoexec.bat "a:\mscdex.exe /dakcd /l:e"


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[Edward W. Thompson]

i want to format a desktop machine previously loaded with
win xp. no cd rom available. instead, i have an external
harddisc with many programs, softwares and operating
systems copied to it. this harddisc could interact with
the computer via usb connection.
- can i format the desktop harddisc using the fdisk
utility that i have it on a seperate floppy?
once the harddisc is formattted, will the usb HD be
supported so i can call the windows setup file and
install the operating system that i want?
your imput to my questions is appreciated and will
appreciate any idea to have the job done.

The simple answer is yes. If your motherboard allows you to boot from the
USB-HDD you need to have a DOS Ver 7 (preferable) OS system on the USB-HDD
to allow it to boot. If you cannot boot directly from the USB-HDD you need
to have a bootable floppy with USB drivers. I use 'duse' as my USB dos
drivers, just search for 'duse' in Google.