How can I install XP onto an X30 without CD-ROM?

[phaxmohdem]

I've been wanting a Netbook for some time now to simply grab and go for email and phone tethering internet use. I happened across a used, but in near perfect condition X30 (PIII-m 1.2GHz/512MB/30GB) for under $100 and I took the bait. The only catch is I do not have a CD-ROM for it to install windows XP back on to it. I was able to create a bootable USB flash drive for Ubuntu 8.04 (also tried 9.04) and stick that on there, and while I love Ubuntu and would be perfectly happy with it, the system freezes up after several minutes of use every time I use it. I did some Google research and found out this is a widespread problem with this model + several recent versions of Ubuntu.

Any thoughts? I have an external Firewire CD-ROM I could use, but I don't know if this system could boot from it.

[tim S]

While others have disagreed, I found that installing the Linux version that came out around the time of your X31
will probably yield the best results. For my X40 and X41, Hardy works well, things got rough with Intrepid
but settled down somewhat with Jaunty. So try Gusty or Fiesty and see if they work any better for you. Or use
Kubuntu instead of Ubuntu, I personally prefer the KDE layout.

Sooner or later you will have to get a dock with a DVD, so I'd work on that as priority one. A USB floppy is good
to have as well. I use Super FDisk to delete Master Boot Records so I can format a Linux drive for Windows, or
the other way round, in seconds.
Tim S

[tom lightbody]

here's a post I found helpful: should work w/ your x30 plus USB stick.

quote from member virge
Post subject: Re: Help I have a 240 with 2 partitaion
PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:08 pm

Since you have a USB/HDD adapter and a floppy, you
should be able to get an operating system back on the
240.

1. Connect your 240 hard drive to the USB adapter on
another computer. Copy the contents of the Windows
XP CD onto the drive. Put it in a folder named WinXP
or something similar that's easy to remember.

2. Make a Win98 Boot floppy boot disk with your PC
running Win98.

3. Put the HDD back in the 240, plug in floppy with
boot disk. Power on.

4. From the Dos prompt, navigate to the i386 folder
within WinXP folder you made earlier. Run the
winnt.exe file to start intalling XP.

5. Make sure you choose the right partition to put it
on.

end quote from virge

> ubuntu

personally, I use debian straight on my x30: window manager fvwm
not either KDE or GNOME. No problems

[phaxmohdem]

I think I still have an ISO foe Gutsy laying around on a hard drive somewhere, so I may give that a whirl. I was really hoping to use Hardy or above, but I can live with 7.10 so long as Skype can

[phaxmohdem]

Here's an update,

I tried several more versions of Linux, and all of them suffered from bad video glitches owing to poor driver support for whatever Intel monstrosity of a graphics chip resides in this notebook. I ended up taking an external USB hard drive I had, tearing it apart and temporarily replacing the hard drive inside with a spare IDE CD-ROM drive I had, then just installed XP on the thing. MacGyver would have been proud had I used a little duct tape in the process.

Ever since I got XP pro running on it, this baby has been a dream come true. I even bought a 2200BG card and antennas and installed those to complete my "netbook on a budget" project. The battery lasts 3+ hours, the keyboard is practically unused and is a dream to type on. The processor is faster in just about everything than an Atom CPU, so I couldn't be any happier (Ok well that's a lie, if the CPU supported the SSE2 instructions I would be happier, but I'll live).

[Treefrogfarmer]

When I recently bought my X30, I paid a little more ($150) but it came with the X3 base so I did not have your problem of how to install. I would agree that the X30 is an admirable alternative to a Netbook. One bonus to the X3 is that it will accept an additional battery, yielding a potential of almost 8 hours of untethered use with fresh batteries.
On the Linux side I would suggest that you try Knoppix. I had no issues with Klaus' astonishing
compilation. I would suggest trying a thumb drive. I'm not certain how the USB 1.1 ports would work out, but certainly worth a try.
Next up, I'm going to try the firewire port and see if it will support booting. . . .

[AlanHK]

UNetbootin can use any bootable ISO (eg, downloaded Linux distro, your own copy of any Windows installer CD, or floppy) to make a bootable USB thumbdrive.

I've tried several Linuxes on my X24 with this.
Can even use D***SmallLinux on a 128 MB USB key.

Excellent for diagnostic use.

(D*** is a 4-letter word that the forum filters out, Google "DSL Linux" if you can't work it out.)