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Clean Install on a Notebook w/o Floppy Drive

post #1 of 6
6/10/05 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 
I'm trying to perform a clean install on my Sager notebook, but my Windows XP install disc is not bootable, as it is my burned back up copy (original got scratched).

I used Nero to create a boot CD-ROM that also contained the Windows XP install files. Nero installed a version of Caldera DR-DOS on the cd and it boots perfectly. However, I can not reformat my HDD. Whenever I try to use the format command in DR-DOS, the error message is "invalid drive specified, or format not supported."

I tried burning a new boot cd-rom in which I included the format.cmd file from my current Windows XP install, but when I try and run it in DR-DOS, I get an error that "this program can not be run in dos mode."

I'm stuck. How can I make a bootable Windows XP install disc with Format (and FDISK would be nice) capabilities? And I don't have a floppy drive, so I can't use a program that creates boot floppies...

thanks in advance
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post #2 of 6
6/10/05 at 10:18pm
If you copied the original disk of WinXP it is bootable, you didn't have to do anything special to it besides a disk to disk copy, there's no copy protection. You have the option of deleting your partition during the install process, then reboot, and continue with install setting up a new partition and tell it to do a quick format.

I suggest you borrow a disk from someone and use your cd key if somehow you didn't make a copy of the original disk.
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post #3 of 6
6/10/05 at 10:26pm
Thread Starter 
thanks, Kronus.

It sounds like borrowing a bootable XP disc is the best option, but in lieu of that, is there any way I could boot off a USB floppy drive?
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post #4 of 6
6/10/05 at 10:34pm
How to make a custom bootable Windows XP install disc:

1. Copy the contents of your backup disc onto your hard drive.
2. Download and install nLite ( http://www.nliteos.com/ )
3. Run the program and follow the steps. I would suggest slipstreaming SP2 in there too, so be sure to select that option when you can ("integrate a service pack" or something). Also be sure to select the "make a bootable image" option too . SP2 install can be downloaded here: http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...35-SP2-ENU.exe
4. Use Nero to burn the .iso image to a CD.

During the setup, you have to option to partition/format your hard drive.

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post #5 of 6
6/11/05 at 12:20am
If your bios supports boot off USB, you should be able to boot off usb drive or even a usb thumb drive.
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post #6 of 6
6/11/05 at 12:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by adominey
I'm trying to perform a clean install on my Sager notebook, but my Windows XP install disc is not bootable, as it is my burned back up copy (original got scratched).

I used Nero to create a boot CD-ROM that also contained the Windows XP install files. Nero installed a version of Caldera DR-DOS on the cd and it boots perfectly. However, I can not reformat my HDD. Whenever I try to use the format command in DR-DOS, the error message is "invalid drive specified, or format not supported."

I tried burning a new boot cd-rom in which I included the format.cmd file from my current Windows XP install, but when I try and run it in DR-DOS, I get an error that "this program can not be run in dos mode."

I'm stuck. How can I make a bootable Windows XP install disc with Format (and FDISK would be nice) capabilities? And I don't have a floppy drive, so I can't use a program that creates boot floppies...

thanks in advance

Is this the original DR DOS that you have ? The "Gem" operating system of old.....
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