Is there a way to copy an OS from a PC to Laptop? My Laptop don't have an OS at the moment, when i bootup it stops on "Error loading operating System" I have a laptop "486", and the CD Rom dont work, the only option i have is parallel or serial port can you guys help me?

Hi Daniel, You can copy any FILES via null-modem or laplink cable in DOS. BUT [Here comes the BUT part] If your w2k box is NTFS, DOS won't do anything with it. You cannot "copy all the OS files" and have a useable OS on the laptop. w2k will likely not do anything useful on an MMX. What OS did the laptop have when it worked? You'll need a boot disk to work through this, preferrably a w98 startup floppy from www.bootdisk.com M2

Direct peer to peer file transfer see this page, which also includes other MS DOS and compatible network options: http://www.mwpms.uklinux.net/page6.htm Also this page though not directly related has some useful install info: http://freespace.virgin.net/x86.computers/msdosnt54.htm

Re-reading the post the 486 Laptop is probably on good enough to run MS DOS or compatible or possibly WfW3.11, both come on floppies. W95 may be feasible but it will be limited, if you want to go the W9x rtoute then use two W98SE floppies on both PC's and FileMaven run from a floppy, though obviously you would need to make the C: partition active and SYS the hard drive on the laptop first. SURELY A GENERAL HARDWARE FORUM CANDIDATE??????

ooops...second link should be: http://freespace.virgin.net/x86.computers/msdosw9x.htm

There are only so many ways to copy files to a remote unit, and if the remote unit has "no operating system," then you need either: A floppy drive that will boot or--a CDROM drive that will boot or--remove the hard drive and temporarily install the drive into another machine as a slave. Are you sure the "CDROM don't work" or is it that the CDROM isn't bootable? Or is it that the CDROM won't load drivers? On most these old machines, the PCMCIA slot can't boot anything, either, like a network or PCMCIA external CDROM. If it's only a 486, DOS or W3xx, or POSSIBLY 95 is your only options.

jboy - you are getting very techy, wait has happened to the nice sensible response, I feel that I am being outdone!! As to the original poster, I have surmised he has a MMX PC P1 or P2? with NT5 and under the assumtion you need a CD drive on his 486 Laptop to install an O/S, he knows bugger all about MS DOS and compatible and expects us to be mind readers as aleays in the DUMPING IT IN THE DOS FORUM. M2G - as to NTFS being a problem can not see why if the master PC is only sharing the CD via software like Filemaven. It seems there are lots of misnomers doing the rounds regarding NTFS/NTFS5 file systems, and that is a general statement not aimed at you personally If you connect over a LAN then the file sytem is immaterial.......