Install XP without CD (X30)?

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jiopsi · #1 Post by **jiopsi** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:20 am

Can I install XP on to my X30 without external CD-drive? I have XP media and USB stick, found this post which has possible solution, but the link is dead: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 76#p381076

billp117 · #2 Post by **billp117** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 2:28 am

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=86878

This might work for you...

jiopsi · #3 Post by **jiopsi** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:31 am

billp117 wrote:http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=86878

This might work for you...

Doesn't work for XP. It says when I boot, remove disks or other media, press any key to restart.

jronald · #4 Post by **jronald** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:52 am

If you have access to any other Thinkpad of about the same vintage, load it from that Thinkpad and move the HDD.I know a T30 will work. Once moved, it will need to find a couple of drivers, but it will come up and run.

Ron

Neil · #5 Post by **Neil** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 8:35 am

Install XP From USB Flash Drive
I've done it this way once on an X31 a few years ago, never had the occasion to do it that way again.

jiopsi · #6 Post by **jiopsi** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:25 am

Neil wrote:Install XP From USB Flash Drive
I've done it this way once on an X31 a few years ago, never had the occasion to do it that way again.

Which of those guides, there is many? I have tried about 5 different with different results, none working fully.

Neil · #7 Post by **Neil** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 8:16 am

Well... that's the problem, I tried a few that I couldn't get to work either, but one did, and now I don't remember which. But, I think, it may have been this one.

Since then, if I need to install on a laptop without CD, I connect the HDD to another computer and copy Win98 system files to the HDD to make it bootable and copy the Winnt directory also. Then, put the drive back in the CD less machine, boot, and install Windows from the Winnt directory. Much easier, IMHO.

jiopsi · #8 Post by **jiopsi** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:20 pm

Ok, it was my custom XP CD that was broken. With new CD and super easy Wintoflash program, got it working.

misfit · #9 Post by **misfit** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:26 pm

Neil wrote:Since then, if I need to install on a laptop without CD, I connect the HDD to another computer and copy Win98 system files to the HDD to make it bootable and copy the Winnt directory also. Then, put the drive back in the CD less machine, boot, and install Windows from the Winnt directory. Much easier, IMHO.

Hi Neil,

Could you please explain this method of yours more thoroughly? I'm having major problems getting XP installed on an X24 (I don't have an X2 UltraBase). I've tried several different methods of making a bootable USB XP install thumbdrive but with no luck so far.

I guess that it doesn't help that the X24 is only USB 1.1. However Thinkwiki seems to think that it should boot from a "USB HDD" even though I've had no luck with it. I've tried all BIOS options and it *does* show in BIOS.

I've tried having a second partition on the HDD with the XP setup files and booting with a Win 98 floppy (I have an IBM USB floppy drive that works well) but after a few hours of going around in circles with that I gave up.

Any and all help appreciated. I got the X24 without a lid or HDD (but supposedly working fine) and want to use it as the well-hidden, low-energy consumption hub of a home-security system, copying video to an external USB drive via PC-Card USB2, the software claims that it runs fine on a 1GHz CPU. An x24 base seems like the ideal candidate for the job and I got one for $20.

However it's driving me to distraction trying to get XP onto the thing. I tried booting a clone of my X31 disk but XP won't boot.

Thanks in advance for any help......

Neil · #10 Post by **Neil** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:43 pm

Sure thing, Shuan. I won't go into extreme detail, but you do have to put your drive into a computer with a floppy drive. I use an A31P for the job, or a desktop with a 2.5" HDD adapter. Boot the Win98 floppy and format the new drive FAT32 and copy with Win98 system files. That will make the drive bootable. Now copy your i386 folder onto the new drive. Stick the new drive into the X24 and boot to the dos prompt. Change the directory to i386 and run Winnt32.exe. It's been a while since I have done this, so I could have left something out. Here is a site with more details: http://www.easydesksoftware.com/I386.htm

Or just search the web for how to install Windows from the i386 folder. You'll find a bunch of info. After you have Windows installed you can change the file system from FAT to NT if you desire.

misfit · #11 Post by **misfit** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:54 pm

Great stuff, thanks Neil. I tried something similar but with two partitions and kept getting 'NTLR is missing' when I tried to re-boot after the first part of the install. Having one partition should fix the problem I guess but I didn't want install files mixed up with the installed OS.

I'll Google a bit, thanks for the shove in the right direction.

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