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Latitude X300: How can I install an OS via. USB?

post #1 of 13
4/20/09 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 
Our non-profit recently acquired a Latitude X300 laptop without any support manuals, software, etc. the machine does not have an operating system installed on the hard drive. It does not have a optical drive and I cannot see how I can install Windows on the machine.

To test the machine, I attempted to boot and install Linux via a USB thumb drive but the system refuses to boot several versions of that operating system. the machine correctly is aware of the USB drive and it attempts to boot from it but I received a message that either the food record information is missing or the laptop cannot locate the operating system. (I verified that the USB drive is working and it will boot from my laptop)

So, can I install Windows or Linix on this machine using a USB drive or will I need a USB optical drive?

Also, I attempted to download the manual for this machine from the Dell website but the electronic file is corrupt and therefore I have no real instructions for this laptop. if anyone has a working PDF version of the user manual I would appreciate instructions on where it could be obtained.

Thanks
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post #2 of 13
4/20/09 at 5:31pm
OMG i was just going to post a thread on this. I also need help installing XP via USB.

I tried using PetoUSB, but when the program gets to 99%, it says it 'Failed to Copy a File" and that's all...
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post #3 of 13
4/20/09 at 11:45pm
I'm unsure why your flash drive is not booting. Only thing I can suggest at the moment is try another method.

Linux bootable install
Quote:
Originally Posted by zzpulp View Post
Haha. I just keep letting these small details get by me. Use a LiveUSB instead if you still want to test this. Here's a program to create one from windows.

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Now there are some better ways to do this but I'm guessing this is the simplest way. I wouldn't use this image too often though. I expect that daily usage of this would significantly decrease the life of the flash drive. This shouldn't be an issue for periodic use though.
Windows XP bootable install - kinda long but it works.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zzpulp View Post
There are obviously alternatives to both these methods.
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post #4 of 13
4/21/09 at 11:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by zzpulp View Post
I'm unsure why your flash drive is not booting. Only thing I can suggest at the moment is try another method.

Linux bootable install


Windows XP bootable install - kinda long but it works.


There are obviously alternatives to both these methods.
I've used that XP guide and it wouldn't load the files.
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post #5 of 13
4/21/09 at 12:47pm
Well there's always bartpe.
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post #6 of 13
4/21/09 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zzpulp View Post
Well there's always bartpe.
I'm going to try this tonight.
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post #7 of 13
4/23/09 at 10:11pm
The X300 should install XP from a USB optical drive just fine since that's the only way to install the OS on the machine in the first place. However, the system MAY be a tad picky.

My Reccomendation is to get This external drive enclosure For $20. It's what Dell would have shipped with the system from the factory anyway. Then get A matching D series optical drive. Or, if your office has any other D Series latitude you can just borrow the drive from the other laptop and put in that bay.
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post #8 of 13
4/23/09 at 10:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zzpulp View Post
Well there's always bartpe.
There's no CD drive in my netbook. What else should i use?
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post #9 of 13
4/23/09 at 11:46pm
I was talking about using bartpe on a flash drive like so:
http://www.vandomburg.net/installing...s-xp-from-usb/

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However, I like this guide better since its cleaner:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.p...3&#entry109813

It requires you to make your own slipstreamed XP and bootable flash drive however. Everything for a bootable flash drive is here: http://www.notebookforums.com/thread181387.html

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Anyway, as MrEvil said, you may just want to get an external cd drive to do this. I really don't know the best way to install XP from a flash drive since its not something I'm particularly interested in.
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post #10 of 13
4/24/09 at 10:14am
I finally figured it out last night. Wow it's not as simple as it seems. Or at least there are no good guides out there.
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post #11 of 13
4/24/09 at 11:29am
This is typically the moment I'd expect you to say that you'd make your own guide.
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post #12 of 13
4/24/09 at 11:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by zzpulp View Post
This is typically the moment I'd expect you to say that you'd make your own guide.
Already working on it.
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post #13 of 13
7/25/09 at 10:51am
Linux Mint is working fine on X300 I have installed it on for someone. Puppy Linux from USB stick also was running fine.

I downloaded a manual for X300 from dell website some time ago, and it was fine. However, this manual is good if you want to disassemble X300, not to install an OS on it.
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