I have a Compaq laptop without a CD drive. I want to reformat the HD & reinstall Windows 98. The installation is on a CD & I only have a 1.44 floppy drive on the laptop. I normally transfer files and programs from my desktop to my laptop using the direct cable connection. I assume that if I reformat my HD I won't be able to do this. Any ideas please?
Terry

buy a cdrom

Probably the best option (long term) means $$$'s and that is to buy a CDROM (Backpack?).

Other option - whilst you still have an OS installed - is to laplink (or network) to another system, copy over the '98 Folder off a '98 CD, to the laptop HD and re-install from there. Problem is that you are going to need a second partition (on the laptop) in order to store (safely) the '98 Folder, whilst you reformat the c: system partition?...

If you don't have a second partition, but have space enough to allow one, then use PM5x/6x to shrink the current single partition, thus allowing you space in which to create an Extended partition; format it FAT16 (definitely FAT16) and store the '98 Folder there.

Reason for FAT16 in this case? Allows access to it (and the '98 Folder) from a DOS boot-disk as well as a '98 boot-disk... and is probably safer - certainly allows you more options...

You could make this 'new' partition large enough to store other critical files/data too??? At the least make it around twice the space needed for the '98 Folder (so you have a 'little' to spare...).

Thanks for your help
Terry

Get an old diskette version of Win95. install this. Then start the PC-Connection Utility, connecting two PC's by special Parallelcable. Get access to the CD-ROM of the other PC and open start Setup of Win98 from there. I did this once and it worked. It is a huge waste of time though.

For Laplink read DCC - better system for you to use - all you need is the null-modem cable...; software you already have. DCC is a very basic/simple form of networking.

Visit Helmig at:

http://www.wown.com - specifically:

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/dccmain.htm

for a complete 'how to do it...'

And another resource/tutorial...

http://www.lpt.com/Support/DCC-SetUp/dcc-setup.htm

correction... you don't use a null-modem cable... was originally for Serial connections and is rather slow by current standards... better follow Helmig's (and others) advice re parallel cables...

you could do as i just did last night.

use the very old interlnk/intersvr from dos and a cross over cable from best buy. works like a charm, copied win95 to a 486/66 +4mb ram :) and installed no problem :)

glad i only need that cpu for one thing :)

I have a program called FX (fastlinx) which runs in DOS an supports serial and parallel cables.
Run this on your friends computer with a cdrom drive and on yours and copy all the cabs over to a dir .
If you or anyone wants a copy of FX email me