trvlr thanks for that reply. As of right now I have no way of getting my laptop HD to work in my desktop. Would it still work if I put the laptop hard drive into another laptop with working DVD drive and get dos onto it? When I do the "sys c:" command to copy the dos files onto c:, how will the xp files be able to install onto c:? Will there be a problem with overwritting the dos files on c: if they are in use? Does DOS require its own partition?

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A laptop drive requires an adapter to fit into a standard PC. They don't cost the earth know - but I've no idea just how much "sand/earth" they demand... If you can get the drive into another laptop, and preconfigure/format as I suggested (Primary/Extended), you "could" install CDROM drivers to the drive (into the c: partition) and acess the CDROM (DVDROM?) that way. This would allow you to copy the i386 as per M2Go's syntax in his earlier post. Does dos need to be in its own partition...? A good point to raise... If using dos6x then yes... The max partition it can handle is 2Gig - inadequate for XP to install to - if sharing its space with another OS.... But almost certainly large enough to accomodate the i386 folder (can't recall how big that is, and I'm not in a position to determine that just now; will check at home in a about three hours and continue here thereafter). With the i386 in c: (fat16 or fat32) you can then install XP from there - as above; and XP will now go into the Extended partition, i.e. into a logical-drive... (You change the proffered location from c: to d: during setup.) XP boot/startup files wll reside in the active Primary (dos partition), and you will have a dual-boot dos/XP. To get the i386 into c: requires that the c: partition has the CDROM/DVD drivers present (mscd.exe). Krystyna has an excellent how to get that part setup...; not quite the way I do it - but excellent nonetheless, and well proven; see: http://my.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/125847.html More in about three hours...?

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http://www.computing.net/windows2000/wwwboard/forum/41453.html gives a source for my version of cdrom drivers to the primary partition, includes a reference to Krystyna's variation too; Krystyna's routine is also available at: http://miataru.computing.net/dos/wwwboard/forum/9414.html Either method works - matter of which you prefer... The i386 requires 600Meg to fit comfortably (actually "slightly" under) onto a drive/partition. With that in mind you could configure drive alongthe lines of: Primary 700Meg = fat16 or fat32; Extended subdivided into: d: = 5Gig = fat32 = XP/apps/utils etc.; e: = balance of drive = fat32 = data... Install '98 version of (dos7x) system files and the cdrom drivers - as per references above. Then copy i386 to c: (active Primary); afterwhich run the setup routine as already suggested - c:\i386\winnt - and install to d: - as opposed to the proffered c: location. You use a'98 bootdisk to preconfigure/preformat the drive as above. Unless you really need/want XP as ntfs I suggest you keep it as fat32. Allows access to data in an emergency - via a '98 bootdisk. With the above route, you will get the dual-boot as already alluded to. If ever need to re-install/repair XP - use the i386 folder (still) on the c: active Primary partition.

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Addendum: critically... once you have the i386 on the drive - restore it its home and run XP setup there!

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After windows xp formats the hard drive it copies some files over to the hard drive then asks for a reboot. What exactly do those files do? Would taking the hard drive out at this point and sticking it in the other laptop work? During the actual installation I can point xp to the installation files on D:?

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here is another way of doing it, just put the HDD into another pc with cd drive and install XP on it,make sure u format it with NTFS full format not quick, when xp iss installed go to device manager and under IDE Controller double click on the actual controller and update driver,then choose show all compatible drive and choose standard drivers for it,reboot pc and put back hdd in original laptopit will work.thats the way i install for my clients at my shop. just tell us if it doesnt work Pentium 4 HT 3.2Ghz overclocked to 3.6Ghz 1536 GB DDR Ram Pc3200 Segate Baracudda 120 GB Western Digital 200GB SONY DVD-RW Dual Layer Orange Combo Drive GeForce FX6800GT 256MB <br

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muqsitzam: muhaha has already indicated he doesn't have the means to (physically) install the drive in a standard PC... If he had then the various options already suggested (by various above) will work - in terms of getting the i386 onto it - afterwhich drive in its own home and install that way? Installing the OS in its home resolves "all" issues re drivers etc. and is the logical/wiser approach? Getting the i386 onto the drive is the main event at this stage? Also unless security is a serious issue here I'd favour fat32 rather than ntfs; it allows easier data recovery etc. in event of a crash... And as he is in effect starting afresh, a drive partitioned with both Primary/Extended partitions is surely a wiser/safe/more flexible way to go; as opposed to a single (all-in-one) primary? muhaha: I'm not sure where you're coming from at this stage? Are you saying you're now installing XP to the drive with the drive in another system? If so that's not the path I'd advocate... If you go that route - then allow it to complete the installation where the drive is; do NOT transfer the drive to its home - until installation is complete and known to work... Then you transfer the drive to its home and hopefully a repair routine will allow it boot... If you are seriously considering the approach (and again I woudn't in your case, as I suggest there are better approaches overall) then have a "very" careful read of the information at: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html Otherwise I suggest you consider the various options I've outlined already?

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muqsitzam I tried your suggestion and it didnt seem to work. I get a black screen after puting it in the other laptop. trvlr I managed to get i386 onto partition d: and installed dos 7.1 on c and it started up the installation but it is very very slow so I stopped it after watitng an hour. Apparently I have to run smartdrive to enable faster disk transfer in dos? Im looking into that now...

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I finally got it to work! Now if I needed to do a reinstall of xp how would I do that? Without going through the whole process again?

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Presuming you retain - at all cost - the i386 on d: , just run same command you ran on this occasion to start an installation/repair using the i386 (now resident in d: partition). Having the i386 installed in the Extended partition removes the need to go thru all the hassle you had to go thru to get it there in the first place, and thus XP installed afresh. Unless you get really careless, or are very unlucky, it will be there until you deliberately remove it... Similarly the dos installation (with cdrom drivers?) will remain intact too... Yes - overlooked the smartdrive issue; it does make a difference when installing XP. Incidentally, how is the drive partitioned now; and where is XP installed?

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Hi trvlr, "Having the i386 installed in the Extended partition removes the need to go thru all the hassle you had to go thru to get it there in the first place, and thus XP installed afresh." Yep. Good layout. Also, wouldn't hurt to put service packs and drivers there. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go... Good point re' sp etc... Personally I'd have the i386 etc. in its own "exclusive" logical-drive too - thus keeping it/them safe/isloated from the rest of the Extended partition...

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The drive is setup in 2 partitions. Dos and XP are both on c:. i386 is on d:. If I run through the same routine from dos what happens to the previous installation of xp? Would it be better to setup the drive into 3 partitions? i.e. put dos and windows in their own partition. And another patition for my data and i386. That way I can format windows in dos without deleting dos. What do you think?

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The way I would configure the drive: (Active) Primary for dos; Extended - subdivided into at least two logical drives - preferably three... With three logical drive: d: = XP; e: = data; f: = location of i386 and various sp/drivers etc.. critical for XP. You "could" store the i386 in c: (active Primary) but obviously it's very vulnerable in event of need to reformat or otherwise tweak c: ... Not an ideal arrangement but it is sometimes used... Having only two logical-drives - one for XP/apps/utils etc, and t'other for data and anything else, means that the i386 is in the same space as data...; again it's often used. However I suggest that isolating the i386 etc. (in its own "space") is a wiser path? Thus I'd have the three as outlined immediately above. C: can be as large/small as needs-be; it will have only dos-7x + assorted XP boot-files resident. If you make it larger you can fully install '98 there too, if so wished... Once you have XP in its own space you can safely reformat that space without affecting the other areas - unless you're careless/unlucky...

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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131011 here is s dvd burner writer which should fit your laptop for 80 bucks. best of luck Frank :

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