cant install the OS because......


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hey i have a laptop wich does not support cd rom bootup:-( so i have a boot disk and i can boot up with that wich gives me support so i can install windows 98 but here is my problem. my laptop only has one disk drive so when i boot up from my boot disk i cant install win98 b/c i have to turn off my laptop then take out the disk drive and put in my cd rom drive and when i do that i dont have any cd rom support :-(. anyway i could copy the boot disk to the hardrive so it would work? all i have on my laptop is a dos command prompt when i boot up thats all. i dont know what i can do because of this problem any help would be appreciated.

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so if you do not have anything in it boots to a cmd prompt? Well if that is the case, try burning a cd with the info from the floppy so it will load what you need. but i am not sure if your cd rom will be found without being loaded by the floppy. In that case then you would have to load the floppy on the hd to run the basic cdrom drivers to be able to access the CD. Once you run that then you can access the cdrom and the install of the disk.

Did your laptop come with a cord to attach the floppy outside the case. I know dell did that for a while when you have only one bay you could stick the floppy out as long as you had the cord.

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copy the i386 folder to C

copy the file smartdrv to the floppy

then put in the floppy drive and boot from it

run smartdrv

then go to c:/i386 and run winnt

install XP

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hey thanks but i would do that but my laptop wont regonize the cd drive unless i have the boot disk in then it will but then i only have one bay so id have to turn off my computer then put the cd rom drive back then so they all the stuff from the boot disk is gone and i cant install windows :-( this sucks

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anyway i could copy the hold boot disk to the c drive and then when it boots up it will have those filse and it will reconize the cd rom dive? if so whats the command

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No, in Windows 98, copy the i386 folder to the C:

then copy the file smartdrv.exe to the boot disk (A:)

reboot the computer with the boot disk in

the run smartdrv from A:

then run winnt.exe in the C:i386

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What are the specs on your laptop?

I remember helping someone who had a Dell Latitude 233Mhz but because it was part of the Latitude Csomething series they continually updated the bios for it (because it was all part of that series laptop and the lastest wast a 933mhz I believe). So when I updated the BIOS it could read CDs.

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its an ibm thinkpad 765l its only 166mhz but i just want to get windows 98 on it or win me to hook it to my network and the internet upgrading the bios would be very nice if there is an upgrade

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This is an easy fix.

1. Boot off the floppy

2. Format your C drive with a /s option (copies over system files os it can boot)

3. Copy of contents of A over to C (so your CD-ROM drivers will load)

4. Shutdown and swap out drives

5. Boot from C drive and you should have access to your CD-ROM now.

6. Copy the i386 dir from CD to a dir on hard drive.

7. Go go C drive dir where files you copied are at.

8. Run winnt and there you go.

Oh and run smartdrv.exe before trying to install 2000/XP. Trust me on that one. It will save you 2 hours or more on the install time.

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Sorry guys for say this... but he is trying to install Win98 not XP... so he hasn't the i386 folder... ;)

So, in the instrucctions posted before, replace:

6. Copy the i386 dir from CD to a dir on hard drive.

and

8. Run winnt and there you go.

for

6. Copy the "Win98" dir from CD to a dir on hard drive.

and

8. Run "install /ie" and there you go.

:D

Anyways, after the step:

3. Copy of contents of A over to C (so your CD-ROM drivers will load)

you must edit the config.sys and autoexec.bat replacing each occurrence of A: by C:

Good luck... ;)

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Step 3:

copy a:*.* c:

Step 6:

Be sure you have the "edit" (edit.com or edit.exe, can't remember now) command in the diskette before start.

You must do the replace by hand, searching in each line... :ermm:

Edit:

Edit and replace in the files config.sys and autoexec.bat in C: !!!

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oh, in that case

copy the win98 folder from the CD to your hard drive

pop in your bootable boot disk in drive A and reboot

then type C:

then type cd win98

then type setup

install 98

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Most of what said is right, but to get it to boot off the hard drive

1. Boot off A:

2. Type sys C:

3. Copy A: *.* C:

4. Install CD Drive

5. Select CD Rom Support

6. Install Windows from the CD Like normal

Besure to get smartdrv on the Disk, it isnt there by default, and the install takes hours without it :)

PM my If you need more help :)

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Originally posted by nukenorman

why would i need to edit the edit.com? and edit it to what?

You need edit the files "config.sys" and "autoexec.bat" because that files contains commands pointing to files in the original diskette in A: so, if you are starting now from C:, you must edit that commands in accordance (pointing to C:, not to A: anymore)... ;)

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Originally posted by sailgreg

5. Select CD Rom Support

Besure to get smartdrv on the Disk, it isnt there by default, and the install takes hours without it :)

Good points... ;)

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i have no clue how to edit the config.sys and the autoexe.bat i can get into the editor and then i dont know what to do. also how do i excit the editor and save it?

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Originally posted by nukenorman

i have no clue how to edit the config.sys and the autoexe.bat i can get into the editor and then i dont know what to do. also how do i excit the editor and save it?

Type edit C:config.sys and edit c:autoexec.bat later to edit both files. Search in each line trying to find and replace each A: you encounter.

After modify each file, in the menu go to Files, Exit... you'll be asked to save the files...

Keep posting your advances... ;)

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Good news...??? hehehe...

I found a Win98 boot diskette here....

In "config.sys" nothing to replace...

In "autoexec.bat" I find just one occurrence for "A:"... but is not important...

So, forget edit those files and go to the next step.... ;)

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YAY!!!!!!! I THINK ITS WORKING!!!!!! its win the win98 setup! hopefully it will install smothly without any errors. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS SO MUCH!!!! if i run into any errors i will send feedback i couldnt of done this without you guys THANKS AGAIN!

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