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Answer» My main hard disk just failed, so I have no windows. I need to reinstall windows, and have the install cd. However, although I can GET the DOS screen up, it cant see the cd rom drive any more - presumably since the (ATAPI) cd rom driver was on the failed drive. So: does anyone have any idea how I get round this apparent catch 22? At present I cant install windows because I have no CD drive.
Is there a recomended driver I can download on to a floppy perhaps, and run it from there, (I can still access the floppy disk drive) or copy it onto another drive? I still have two valid disk drives left, but sadly neither of them has windows on.
Your BIOS either supports booting from CD-ROM or it does not. This has nothing to do with Windows drivers.
You should set the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device. If you can not do this, use the Windows XP bootable diskettes that can be obtained here for Windows XP Professional SP 2. If you have another version of Windows XP, you will have to search http://www.microsoft.com[/url].Ok. I'v looked uo the link you have suggested, but the instructions seem a bit ambiguous to me. I'm being a bit paranoid because without an OS (other than the internal dos commands) on my home pc I have to download this from work - and I cant risk zapping the work machine.
the instructions say
"
Click the Download BUTTON in the upper right-hand corner of this page to start the download, or choose a different language from the drop-down list and click Go.
Do one of the following:
To start the installation immediately, click Open or Run this program from its current location.
NOTE: The installation program will prompt you to provide formatted, 1.44MB floppy disks onto which the installation program will copy its files.
To copy the download to your computer for installation at a later time, click Save and choose a location on your hard disk for saving the FILE.
"
Now when it refers to starting the installation, does that mean it will just start the process of creating the set of bootable floppy disks, or does it mean it will actually start trying to install windows on the current machine? Which WOULD obviously be disastrous.Be certain you download the correct version. If you do not have Windows XP Professional SP2, then do not download these but look for others on the same website.
Once you have found them, simply download the installer (Most likely a .exe) and you will be prompted to insert a 1.44MB diskette. You will continue to be prompted until it has had 6 diskettes.
I have never used bootable diskettes for Windows XP, but the instructions should be straight forward and can not differ much from Pre-Windows XP bootable diskettes.
Quote does that mean it will just start the process of creating the set of bootable floppy disks
Yes.
Quote, or does it mean it will actually start trying to install windows on the current machine
No.
It was a GENERAL suggestion. You can either "Save as" or "Open With" like you can with any file.ok, thanks for the clarification
excuse my paranoia - zapping my own machine was bad enough, zapping a work one unthinkable
Quote excuse my paranoia
Do not trust anyone. Keep your tin hat on all time. We are constantly being probed.
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