Installing XP via Network Boot?

[Kondrath]

I've got an old Dell Latitude L400 (lol) that I use frequently while I'm in bed and don't feel like getting on the desktop. Everything was working fine, then yesterday windows decided it would freeze during boot. Got into safemode and did a scan with malwarebytes and found nothing. Scheduled a boot disk check and restarted, but windows froze again. Tried to get back into safemode, but now that's corrupt too and it won't boot.

The bios it has does not support USB boot. The newer version does, but you can't update the bios without a bunch of floppies. Well, the L400 doesn't have a floppy drive.

I noticed a network boot, though. Can I access my Winxp CD through my desktop's CD drive? or ISO? I guess I'd have to set up a server or something? Not really sure how that would work.

I'm not spending money on a 2.5 IDE to normal IDE so I can hook up the HDD to desktop. That's probably more expensive than what the laptop's worth, lol.

I don't really have many options, do I?

Hmm...

Summary:

• Dumb Laptop
  
• Does not boot from USB
  
• Has no CD Drive
  
• Has no Floppy Drive
  
• Can't Update Bios without floppy drive
  
• Too cheap to buy parts needed to fix it
  

[Kondrath]

New IPB3 won't let me edit my post...

Anyway, somehow I kept on trying "last known good configuration" and I'm finally IN! I'm in XP right now. Not sure what to do. Reinstall XP through XP? Install Ubuntu?

Afraid to turn it off now, lol.

Edited January 25, 2010 by Kondrath

[+BudMan MVC]

Well a 2.5 ide to 3.5 ide cable is only a couple of bucks and is handy item to have in your tool belt anyway.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RW8002/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00006B8C2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1G9XY6RD2C4E5YY5ECKH

$5 - plus shipping, sure you can find it cheaper as well.

As to setting being able to install from a network boot, sure can be done -- but going to involve some setup. Be it a MS RIS server, or using something like the ultimate deployment appliance (virtual machine)

http://www.ultimatedeployment.org/

I haved used the UDA quite a bit to be honest, it can be very handy to have running on a laptop when you need to install an OS to lots of machines at a location ;) But like I said there is some initial setup that can be a bit involved.

Here is info on how you would do it the MS way.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc786442%28WS.10%29.aspx

Remote Installation Services

[Kondrath]

Wow, sounds like that IDE converter will save me a bunch of trouble... Thanks for the links.

The laptop can boot into windows now, but now it has trouble shutting down. Just hangs at the shutting down screen. Ran a check disk, nothing wrong. I tried clean installing from within the OS using my XP CD and the laptop's serial, but apparently it's invalid. I was under the impression that it was a genuine copy of XP, but I guess it isn't... So now I can not clean install. (Laptop was given to me by a friend who could not get it to turn on. Turns out the ac adaoter was just not put together all the way :rofl: )

Would it be possible to hook up a normal computer's floppy to the laptop, if only temporary? Not sure how the connections are inside of laptop - I've never had to open one up really. But if I could update the BIOS all of my problems would be solved. I could boot from USB and install a new OS...

[+BudMan MVC]

I doubt you could install a standard floppy to a laptop, everyone I have seen had a proprietary connection. But you should be able to get a simple PXE (network boot) going of say a dos disk image with the bios update on it to allow you to flash the bios.

There are lots of guides out there on how to setup PXE boot system - pretty easy to do on any linux system. There might even be some virtual appliances out there you could use that have everything setup for you.. The UDA for example is virtual machine you run -- just have to config it, you should be able to boot a floppy image this way to get your bios updated.

[Kondrath]

  On 25/01/2010 at 19:42, BudMan said:

I doubt you could install a standard floppy to a laptop, everyone I have seen had a proprietary connection. But you should be able to get a simple PXE (network boot) going of say a dos disk image with the bios update on it to allow you to flash the bios.

There are lots of guides out there on how to setup PXE boot system - pretty easy to do on any linux system. There might even be some virtual appliances out there you could use that have everything setup for you.. The UDA for example is virtual machine you run -- just have to config it, you should be able to boot a floppy image this way to get your bios updated.

Interesting. So UDA is like a VM of linux that I can use to make a PXE boot system... And mount a floppy image so my laptop can see it via network boot. Sounds easy, but it's probably a little complicated. I'm going to have to research this a lot. Although I've built my own computers and am the local "repair" guy, I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to this type of thing....

Thanks for your information, Budman.

[+BudMan MVC]

Yup UDA is virtual machine, you run it on a vmware server (free).. I have had better luck with the 1.4 version vs the 2.0 beta.. Once its running you config it using web interface -- so its not all that difficult to get running.. But like I said it does take some setup and is more involved than just clicking go ;) So yeah going to have to do a bit of research if you want to use that.

But I do believe there are some easier methods.. Im fairly sure you could use a simple tool like tftpd32 which has a dhcp server and tftp server features (both needed for pxe booting)

Here is a simple writeup I found using tftpd32 to boot floppy images -- you could create one that has your bios update on it for example.

http://home.allegiance.tv/~joem298/

This should only take a few minutes to setup actually -- when I get home I might fire it up just to know how long it should take.. If you want I could setup a image for you with your bios update for the L400 on it, etc. I could prob just zip it up for you to run, etc. I will take a look when I get a chance.

[Kondrath]

  On 25/01/2010 at 21:43, BudMan said:

Yup UDA is virtual machine, you run it on a vmware server (free).. I have had better luck with the 1.4 version vs the 2.0 beta.. Once its running you config it using web interface -- so its not all that difficult to get running.. But like I said it does take some setup and is more involved than just clicking go ;) So yeah going to have to do a bit of research if you want to use that.

But I do believe there are some easier methods.. Im fairly sure you could use a simple tool like tftpd32 which has a dhcp server and tftp server features (both needed for pxe booting)

Here is a simple writeup I found using tftpd32 to boot floppy images -- you could create one that has your bios update on it for example.

http://home.allegiance.tv/~joem298/

This should only take a few minutes to setup actually -- when I get home I might fire it up just to know how long it should take.. If you want I could setup a image for you with your bios update for the L400 on it, etc. I could prob just zip it up for you to run, etc. I will take a look when I get a chance.

That would be a great, great help.

I tried following the directions myself and got stuck at

"#5

The last file that you will need for your PXE server is a boot disk image. If you have a bootable floppy disk that you want to use for booting your M200, you can skip this step. Otherwise, find a blank floppy disk and insert it into your PXE server. Unzip the contents of 'BFD full package v1.0.7.zip' into a temporary directory. Open a command prompt and browse to that temporary folder. Run the command 'bfd msnet' in order to create the bootable floppy. "

It seems as if my host computer still needs a floppy disk in order to complete this step.

Unless I find a floppy emulator...maybe...?

EDIT: Man, this is ridiculous. I can't find a x64 compatible virtual floppy drive anywhere.....

Edited January 25, 2010 by Kondrath

[+BudMan MVC]

here you go dude -- I did a test run.. I could not get the latest version of tftp32 to work (will look into that later I think), backed off to version 3.03 or something.

Anyway.. I even made a floppy image for you ;)

Everything you need is in the Zip file.. Just unzip it to say c:\tftpd, run the tftp32 exe and make sure you setup the dchp server stuff. here is screen shot of mine. You might need to change the network to match up to your machines IP etc.

Make sure you turn off any other dhcp servers on your network (your router for example when doing this) Then boot your machine with pxe.. You will end up at a A:\ prompt -- and then just run the bios boot file for the L400A9.exe I put into the image.

See here is the virtual machine booting from the pxe server.

You will then see it load the image file and boot caldera dos, etc..

Now If this F's up your machine -- thats on you dude.. Just trying to help.. Don't use my bios update file if your worried, etc. I grabbed the one for the L400 so if that is what your machine is - it should work.

tftpd.zip 509.37 kB · 107 downloads

[kaffra]

  On 25/01/2010 at 22:15, Kondrath said:

..

EDIT: Man, this is ridiculous. I can't find a x64 compatible virtual floppy drive anywhere.....

x64? as in 64bit? i dont think the laptop supports that. look for 32bit or x86.

btw if this is a dell, cant you install the bios from windows?

if not another possibility is creating a boot cd with the bios files.

do you have access to a cdrom somewhere temporarily? you could burn a bootable dos disk from your desktop and then add in the bios file.

http://www.bay-wolf.com/bootcd-bios.htm

[+BudMan MVC]

Im not sure why he think he needs some 64bit virtual floppy drive? Unless he was looking to create the floppy image.. I just grabbed freedos.exe and extract the files using winimage, then added his bios file to create the imz file.

I agree with you more modern stuff allow for updating the bios by running a file inside windows - but for that old L400 the only bios files I saw were one to create a floppy image, and the exe you put on your own floppy.

[Kondrath]

Sorry for that last PM, the boards were messing up and I couldn't update you on the progress. I figured out how to do everything, and the bios is successfully flashed!

Thank you very much for all of your help!

Though, I don't see a boot from USB in the BIOS... :rofl: ... Hopefully I'll figure the rest out!

Edit: Nevermind, it added support for an F12 boot menu.

Thanks again!

Edit again: Still not booting into the USB. I really hope it's just my USB stick or something. But it seems that the USB is not getting any power until windows starts. Sigh.

Edited January 26, 2010 by Kondrath

[+BudMan MVC]

If you having problems booting from a usb.. You can do the same pxe thing -- just need a boot image that has network support.. Boot a WinPE disk, Bart disk for example that has network drivers and then you can run the setup over the network.

I know what laptop you have -- let me see if I can see what nic it has to be able to have the driver for network booting, etc.

edit: hey ran across this site -- they even mention your laptop L400, and its using the tftpd setup, etc.. so with some very minor modifications to what you already have running you should be able to get xp installed

http://blog.webpirates.co.uk/?p=56=1

Windows XP PXE installation

Edited January 26, 2010 by BudMan

[Kondrath]

  On 26/01/2010 at 02:31, BudMan said:

If you having problems booting from a usb.. You can do the same pxe thing -- just need a boot image that has network support.. Boot a WinPE disk, Bart disk for example that has network drivers and then you can run the setup over the network.

I know what laptop you have -- let me see if I can see what nic it has to be able to have the driver for network booting, etc.

edit: hey ran across this site -- they even mention your laptop L400, and its using the tftpd setup, etc.. so with some very minor modifications to what you already have running you should be able to get xp installed

http://blog.webpirates.co.uk/?p=56=1

Windows XP PXE installation

Awesome. Looks like I'm saved! I was just about to try something crazy (I think I might still try it), but I was going to use my PSP and see if it would act as a USB device since it is powered. And if that failed, I was gonna try some SD card readers. :laugh:

After the PSP, I'll give that guide a go and report back.

EDIT: or my Nikon D40 :D

[Kondrath]

It has been done.

I don't think I've ever been so happy to see that screen.

The tutorial's steps (specifically the structure of folders and dos commands) did not work for me, so I had to figure it out myself and make a functioning directory. It was worth it, though!

Worst XP install EVER. :laugh:

[+BudMan MVC]

I would have to run through the tut myself to see know -- but looks like you got what you need done done.. And learned quite a bit in the process to boot! Which is always a plus.. Now you know and have a method of booting pxe on your network.. there are lots and lots of things you can do with that!! Its a nice tool to have in your tool belt.

You might want to still look into UDA if you want a slick way to install multiple OSes -- pick from a menu, etc.

[delukard]

HI! thanks for all this info and the files, But i get stuck at A: in dos, what file should i run? i dont see the bios file

thanks!!

[delukard]

  On 19/12/2010 at 17:07, delukard said:

HI! thanks for all this info and the files, But i get stuck at A: in dos, what file should i run? i dont see the bios file

thanks!!

Sorry i couldn't edit post.

I runs the name of the dell bios file and it updated the bios , TY very much for this image!.

all i need to see if i can boot fom usb now.

[hjf288]

You can Convert a floppy image or download a cd based bootdisk, inject your bios update then do it from cd.. Less hassle

[delukard]

Sorry for posting again, after flashing bios to A9, it doesn't boot from usb (so sad) so i was wondering, how hard would it be to install XP from PXE? hope someone helps.

I was reading a tutorial, but for some reason, i cant seem to find Bart Network Boot Disk. i finde the files, but they are incomplete.

[+BudMan MVC]

This whole thread is about doing install from PXE!!

And bios image was run from booting PXE ;)

Who every mentioned Barts network boot?? Grab the UDA I mentioned

http://www.ultimatedeployment.org/

[delukard]

  On 20/12/2010 at 01:05, BudMan said:

This whole thread is about doing install from PXE!!

And bios image was run from booting PXE ;)

Who every mentioned Barts network boot?? Grab the UDA I mentioned

http://www.ultimatedeployment.org/

yes budman i grabbed today the files you posted and then i flashed the bios by using PXE. Now i want to install xp trough PXE and was following a tutorial and the only file i can't get is the Barts network boot.

I'll download the file you mentioned (ultimate deployment) and try using that . I'm not that amateur, but i have never used that tool. i'll google some tutorials, hoping it let me install XP to the l400

BTW i read about a guy that installed xp on another laptop, and then removed the intel ide drivers (safe mode )and put the HDD again in the l400 and booted fine.

I did that but i got a cannot read disk error.

[delukard]

you guys seem very knowledgeable hope someone helps me.

I already installed lubuntu on the laptop. but the thing is that i got this laptop for my 9 yr daughter, and i don't think i can teach her to use lubuntu.

I was thinking of installing Windows ME on anotehr laptop and just move the drive.

All this trouble is because i want to teach her to transfer music to her mp3 and to use encarta (her mom doesn't have internet) and for this i need Windows.

I was following this guide but some of the files i cant get them pxelinux.0 memdisk menu.c32 bartdisk.IMA

I can follow instructions very well, and i feel confident that i i had teh files i can install xp to the laptop.

I'll apreciate it if someone has this files or point me to a valid link.

Thansk for your help!!

[+BudMan MVC]

What tutorial are you following?

edit:

Here is another easy way to install xp via pxe

http://www.windowsdream.com/winner.html

Edited December 20, 2010 by BudMan

[delukard]

  On 20/12/2010 at 14:20, BudMan said:

What tutorial are you following?

edit:

Here is another easy way to install xp via pxe

http://www.windowsdream.com/winner.html

TY BUDMAN, i'll try that tutorial and post my results.