I have a quick question... Seeing how the CD-Rom drive in my Laptop is dead I am using the CD-Rom from my Desktop PC over my network so I can install programs and things like that... I would really like to format my Laptop and install a fresh copy of XP but I don't want to have to go out and buy a new CD-Rom cause I don't really need it. Is there anyway this can be done through my network? PC1: - Asus M2V-MX SE Motherboard - AMD Athlon 64 4200 X2 Dual Core CPU, 2.2GHz - 1GB DDR667 Memory Module, DDR2 - Onboard GFX (atm) PC2: -P4 Laptop/512DDR RAM -Mobility Radeon9000

http://www.networkcert.net/xp/insta... couple of other methods here: http://www.networkcert.net/xp/insta...

http://www.networkcert.net/xp/insta...

mmm - "Brians..." refs seem to presume one does have either a working floppy-drive or CROM to install an OS over a network; this inspite of a comment in the text to the contrary... If no flopppy or CDROM... how is one to access the LAN via that network bootdisk? It is possible these days to use a usb-stick to boot some systems; I think they use a derivation of the Barts bootdisk routine...? Not having actually used it can't advise further in that respect. Logically if you wish to access a LAN source and not use the hardrive and its contents in that respect... one must boot with "some device" that enables the NIC to access the LAN etc. (provides NIC drivers and a protocol etc.). Network bootdisks do just that; and as I say above it can now be done via a usb stick in some cases too. As you wish to reformat the drive in the re-installation routine it does preclude using anything on the drive at present; so back again to network boot routine... That bootdisk would have network drivers etc. for the on-board NIC; and thus you would be able then to access the network share for the OS installation... That disk might also have an Fdisk (and perhaps format) utility too; by which you could configure/format the drive prior to installation of OS? You might consider removing the laptop drive; connecting via a suitable adapter to a usb input on another working system; reconfigure/reformat the drive; copy the i383 to it; restore the drive to the laptop and run setup from there? However you may also need to include smartdrive.exe on the laptop drive - otherwise it will take an age to install XP - if it ever finishes... This means the laptop drive would have to be made bootable first...; and this I'm thinking means at least to '98 dos prompt level - and thus the drive formatted to fat32... Although you could convert this late to ntfs after XP has been "successfully" installed... if you really want it...? But also investigate/consider booting your laptop via a suitable usb-based OS - with network support? It may be an easier option? Another option? Do NOT reformat the drive; simply start another fresh/new installation on the drive as is; either over the LAN or via a usb-stick...; or from within the current installation...? You will get a dual-boot (XP/XP). Once the second version is in OK... simply delete anything else on the drive... (including the first version); then empty the recyle-bin and defrag the drive...? The end result will be essentially the same as though you had reformatted etc...? You will have just the new OS and that's all - until you install apps/utils etc. afresh?

Incidentally if you do a google or similar trawl across the www perhaps using the string: boot laptop from usb stick (or something similar) you will get a range of hits and discussions in this regard... The OS I have in mind (using the usb-stick as the "portable" OS) are '98, XP, and Linux...

Why not emulate a CD/DVD drive via ImgBurn or Deamon & mount the OS disc's ISO image?

trvlr... did you read this part? Over the Network (back to top) An over the network install, eliminates the need for a CD ROM and/or a floppy drive in your computer. http://www.networkcert.net/xp/insta...