Installing XP with no floppy drive [Solved]

**Rattlesnake** · July 5, 2010

Hello I'm hoping someone can help me..........

I purchased a Dell Optiplex XE Desktop but accidentally ordered Windows 7 and not XP as the software that runs on the machine needs XP. Unfortunately Dell won't send me the XP recovery disk for the machine.

I have a copy of Windows XP but the problem I have is that when I put the CD in the machine and begin the install process, it asks me to insert a floppy drive with the SCSI driver. The machine doesn't have a floppy drive, I have tried plugging in a USB floppy drive but at this point in the install process it doesn't have a USB driver and so doesn't recognise it.

How can I install XP without the use of a floppy drive?

I have heard there is software to migrate the OS and drivers onto one CD but where and what software exactly do I need?

**jaclaz** · July 5, 2010

There are several approaches to your problem, basically:

have your USB floppy being recognized during setup:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=82711
have a virtual floppy during setup:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=137461&st=29
integrate your drivers to the XP source (on a new CD/DVD):
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/35/
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/36/
(this is just one of the methods, if you are NOT in a Commerial environment you can use the nlite program)
integrate your drivers to the XP source (on a USB device like a memory stick or external hard disk and install from it):
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=157
(check FAQ's there is a link to BTS Driver Packs, possibly they already contain the right driver)

Please take into account that - generally speaking - Dell's do have some quirks, BOTH in the XP CD's they ship with (but this is not your case) AND with USB support, so your mileage may vary.

jaclaz

**Yzöwl** · July 5, 2010

Additionally, if you're looking for the drivers used for the floppy creation then try here:

You can very likely also find what you need in this Forum Post

**Rattlesnake** · July 5, 2010

Thanks Jaclaz, I have given option 1 a try but it doesn't seem to work. I amended the txtsetup.oem file with the lines at the very bottom. Is this correct?

;#############################################################################

;#

;# Filename: TXTSETUP.OEM

;#

;#############################################################################

[Disks]

disk1 = "Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver", iaStor.sys, \

[Defaults]

scsi = iaStor_8ME9ME5

;#############################################################################

[scsi]

; iaAHCI.inf

iaAHCI_ESB2 = "Intel® ESB2 SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_7RDH = "Intel® ICH7R/DH SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_7MMDH = "Intel® ICH7M/MDH SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_8RDHDO = "Intel® ICH8R/DH/DO SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_8MEM = "Intel® ICH8M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_9RDODH = "Intel® ICH9R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_9MEM = "Intel® ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_10DDO = "Intel® ICH10D/DO SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_10R = "Intel® ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_5 = "Intel® 5 Series 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_5_1 = "Intel® 5 Series 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller"

iaAHCI_5_1_1 = "Intel® 5 Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI Controller"

; iaStor.inf

iaStor_ESB2 = "Intel® ESB2 SATA RAID Controller"

iaStor_7RDH = "Intel® ICH7R/DH SATA RAID Controller"

iaStor_7MDH = "Intel® ICH7MDH SATA RAID Controller"

iaStor_8R9R10RDO5 = "Intel® ICH8R/ICH9R/ICH10R/DO/5 Series/3400 Series SATA RAID Controller"

iaStor_8ME9ME5 = "Intel® ICH8M-E/ICH9M-E/5 Series SATA RAID Controller"

;#############################################################################

; iaAHCI.inf

[Files.scsi.iaAHCI_ESB2]