I was given an older laptop(P3 1GHz) and would like to put a clean installation of XP on it. However, the cd-rom drive is broken, and can't replace it just yet. Is it possible to boot to a USB external cd-rom somehow? (I did not see any option like that in BIOS) Or, find some other way to get XP on it without an internal cd-rom player? Thanks for looking!

If there is no option to boot to USB harddrive then you can't do it. You might be able to remove the harddrive and connect it to a desktop computer to setup things. I don't personally see how you can function without a CD drive of some sort. Does the laptop have a PC slot? If so is there an option to boot to devices connected to that slot. IF so, then you may find a PC card that you can connect your External drive to.

Yes, if fact it does have more features to boot from. What as I looking for here? 1) Module Bay Cable HDD 2) Cardbus NIC 3) C/Port II or C/Dock II NIC 4) C/Dock or C/Dock II Top PCI Slot NIC 5) C/Dock II Bottom PCI Slot NIC 6) Onboard NIC Thanks!

What Make & model Laptop, someone may have same. There is nothing to learn from someone who already agrees with you.

I think the answer is to create a boot disk with dos drivers for the usb. Read this, http://www.bootdisk.com/usb.htm There might be a bit of trial & error. Before posting try google. Backup. Use anti virus software.

http://www.mwpms.uklinux.net/ Though need to create a DOS Boot Floppy with USB support...........

All, I do need to make a DOS Boot Floppy with USB support. Where can I find it. Clive_Pearce, your link does not work. Please post back to that info if possible.