Install Windows (XP) with one HD only (Bootstrapping?)

[spatz23]

Hi,

i've got a really old Computer, with a non-functional CD-Rom Drive, USB works, but is not bootable for some reason (No BIOS update available)

I found an old 80GB Harddisk, got it attached to my Linux box formatted it with NTFS... set bootable flag with fdisk.

Now, is it possible to install WinXP onto that HD, e.g. copy the installer from the orig XP CD to the HD, make it bootable, then put it back into the OldComputer to boot into the Installer?

--

spatz23

[jaclaz]

Yes/no.

Meaning that there is a known (easy) method that makes use of (simple) DOS and the "good ol'" WINNT.EXE, BUT needs a FAT formatted volume, you can get the general idea from here:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=16713

OR you need to first create a PE of some kind and from it run WINNT32 or WINNTSETUP:

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/149612-winntsetup-v23/

There is even a further method, still using WINNT32, but it needs to be run on another PC running XP or similar, preparing the hard disk as "offline install".

There is a possible workaround using PLoP as bootmanager on the internal hard disk (PLoP has a built-in USB stack that *normally* allows for booting from USB on motherboards for which there is no provision in BIOS):

http://www.plop.at/

Additionally latest-latest EXPERIMENTAL versions of grub4dos do have a "own" USB stack (version 0.4.6a):

http://code.google.com/p/grub4dos-chenall/downloads/list

And then use any among the various "Install XP from USB" methods/tools:

http://www.msfn.org/board/forum/157-install-windows-from-usb/

I doubt that you managed on a Linux box to make a NTFS filesystem that has a bootsector invoking NTLDR (and possibly a valid MBR code) as - generally speaking - Linux tools tend to partition/format without creating the MS boot code in either the MBR or the bootsector, but you could easily substitute those with a grub4dos installation to the MBR+hidden sectors (bootlace.com should have no issues under Linux with installing grldr.mbr).

Once managed to boot from grub4dos, it could be easier to use a PE, even if booted from a mounted .iso or .img (still residing on the 80 Gb hard disk), but still you need a MS Windows running to make the PE.

Do you have another machine running 2K/XP (or later) to which you can connect that hard disk?

jaclaz

[spatz23]

Thanks for the fast answer! Thx for the hints, I'll try to figure them out soon...

Yes/no.

[...]

Do you have another machine running 2K/XP (or later) to which you can connect that hard disk?

Not right now, will a VirtualBOX help? or maybe WINE?

[jaclaz]

Not right now, will a VirtualBOX help? or maybe WINE?

Sure , VirtualBox should do alright, cannot say about WINE.

If you install an XP inside a Virtualbox and connect to it the \\Physicaldrive (the "old" 80 Gb), you can run in XP WINNT32.EXE with the adequate parameters:

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/77526-installing-xp-on-vaio-wo-cd-or-floppy/?p=527214

The "offline install" approach should be the easiest/most straightforward.

SInce it is a "really" old machine you shouldn't have issues with SATA drivers (I am presuming that the machine and the 80 Gb disk are IDE/PATA).

jaclaz

Edited October 14, 2013 by jaclaz

[Ponch]

i've got a really old Computer, with a non-functional CD-Rom Drive, USB works, but is not bootable for some reason (No BIOS update available)

How old is "really old"? Does it have a floppy drive ? If yes, you could get the floppy image from Plop Boot and boot USB through it.