Windows XP install

[Ice_Cube]

How can I install Windows XP without a CD-ROM drive? Can I perform some kind of network install?

Thanks for the help.

[erjin999]

If you can copy the contents of the network drive to your Hard Drive (HD) somehow, or take your HD to another computer and copy the contents of the CD to the HD then yes, you would not need the CD.

As for network install, maybe Gryp would know about that sort of thing ?

[Ice_Cube]

Hm I would rather not clone my hard drives  :-

If I transfer the CD files onto the hard-drive, how would I install XP after formatting? As I would like to do a clean install....

I was hoping I could do some kind of network install off another machine. So I'll wait for Gryphon.

P.S.  Licences have been sorted  :)

[erjin999]

Use partitions.

Make a small partition, copy XP there only, then format first/bigger/main partition.

Boot using floppy. Browse to partition (make it Fat32 so you can "see" it). Run setup and away you go !

Later, you can merge the partition using other tools, like partition magic.

[gryphon]

you can install Windows over a network. Although for the easy way to do so you will need an Windows Remote Installation Server and a network bootable bootdisk.

An more easy way is to try and install it from a mapped network share which has the Windows CD on it.

Although the easiest way is to copy the Windows install CD to an harddrive on another PC and then install from the HD.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/windows2000/install/RIS.htm

[Ice_Cube]

Thanks for the help people, but I've changed my mind (as you do!) and I've decided to give linux a try.... the reason why it doesn't have a CD drive is that its an old box and it was purchased to act as a small file server for the network.

Now I understand I need the (free!) software "samba" to help with the file+printer sharing and there are lots of websites dedicated to the installation of linux so I shouldn't have a problem, as its possible to install linux (debian) off the internet by using boot disks and as I have a permenant connection, that works for me.

And if things go wrong (as they usually do  :-) I'll follow both of your advice and install off the hard-drive.

Thanks again

[gryphon]

I have recently installed Debian on an Alpha server over the internet.

Debian for example has network install ISO's. If they find your network adapter the rest of the install is a piece of cake. Note that you do need an internet connection during install.

[Ice_Cube]

I have a ADSL router that provides a permentant conenction to the 'net so thats ok. Will the boot disks give me the ability to configure my network card? (3COM)

[gryphon]

The version we had autodetected it. If you have a 3Com ethernet card it probably won't be a problem. :)

[Ice_Cube]

Alas, the Linux debian installation did not go to plan  :(

Unfortunatley, there were problems starting the X server, as I think I messed up the driver installation for the video. My box was very old, salvaged from business throw-outs ..... so I will be formatting and installing windows XP  :'(

Nevermind, at least I know that this route works