X21 - Installing OS without floppy or cd?

Message

johniemi · #1 Post by **johniemi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:13 am

I just bought a IBM x21, but it comes without any peripherals. As soon as I get my new VISA-card (few weeks), I'll order a Ultrabay/MediaSlice from ebay.

But until then, what options do I have to install Windows XP? To recap; no fdd, no cd-drive... My father has a few older IBM's with integrated drives and cable-plugged floppy drives, but I don't think the x21 has a floppy port anywhere except on the port replicators etc.?

So what could I do except wait for my Ultrabay/MediaSlice to arrive? Could I plug the IBM hdd into my desktop somehow and copy the WinXP files to it? If yes, what should I copy?

-John

snife · #2 Post by **snife** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:50 am

You would need a special hdd adapter to link it up to your desktop.

There is not a lot of options - what i would do is stick your hard drive in one of your fathers machines and boot with a dos/windows 9* boot disk or something. Create a partition using fdisk and format it. Then run the sys c: command on your drive which will make it bootable. Then copy the I386 folder from the Windows CD to the c: drive on your hdd. Put the hdd back in your X20 and it should now boot to a command prompt where you will be able to install windows from the I386 folder you placed on it.

johniemi · #3 Post by **johniemi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:53 am

Ok, sounds similar to what I had to do with my Libretto a few months ago... bad memories sprining to my mind

Well I guess I'll do that then until I get the Ultrabay. Thanks again for your replies!

-John

bhtooefr · #4 Post by **bhtooefr** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:49 pm

Hmm... The X21 can do network boot, correct? (I forget what all was in my BIOS, and don't care to go in right now)

Find a PXE server for the desktop, and run that. That's your best bet, AFAICT...

MASS · #5 Post by **MASS** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 11:41 am

Like Snife said:

http://www.dustin.se/DustinPictures/Pro ... 004007.jpg

johniemi · #6 Post by **johniemi** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:10 am

The seller of my laptop did mention something that it is possible to do a network installation of Windows. Could someone share any info on this?

-John

johniemi · #7 Post by **johniemi** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:12 am

MASS wrote:Like Snife said:

http://www.dustin.se/DustinPictures/Pro ... 004007.jpg

So what the heck is that?

-John

bhtooefr · #8 Post by **bhtooefr** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:57 am

That's an adaptor to put a laptop hard drive in a desktop.

johniemi · #9 Post by **johniemi** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:02 am

bhtooefr wrote:That's an adaptor to put a laptop hard drive in a desktop.

I want one. MASS, I see you are in Sweden? I live in Finland, do you have these for sale?

Or anyone else? I'd really like to get one as it looks like a very simple (cheap) device. And useful at this point at least...

-John

bhtooefr · #10 Post by **bhtooefr** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 8:05 am

They're pretty easy to find in most hardware stores.

Whatever the big hardware site in Finland is, go there, and search for "2.5 to 3.5 adaptor". You'll find at least one.

tradbourne · #11 Post by **tradbourne** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 12:59 pm

I used a USB external CD Rom to install the OS from. You don't have to get a slice. I had an old internal IDE CD Rom that I used an IDE to USB convertor on. The X21 booted happily from this CD Rom via the USB port.

regards
Tim

X21 - Installing OS without floppy or cd?

X21 - Installing OS without floppy or cd?

Who is online