Whirlpool

Hey all...

ok this is what my problem is...

I have a laptop (Fujitsu lifebook B2562) and it doesnt have an internal CD or floppy drive...

i have an external PCMCIA drive, but am unable to boot from that...

now problem is, im trying to reinstall windows.

one option sum1 suggested was to change the hdd with another laptop install windows, then switch it back.

i tried that, but when i switched it back to the other laptop i got a blue screen (STOP: 0x0000007B)

Now i was thinking if i was sumhow able to boot to a command prompt (in boot.ini) or something i could launch the setup from the i386 file i copied to the HDD?

any idea how i can launch a command prompt from boot, by putting it in the selection in the boot.ini or any other ideas?

cheers

bump anyone?
does it make sense?

Pretty much isn't a nice answer to this. Your hardware needs to be able to boot off either CD or network to install XP.

Try updating the firmware and seeing if that will let you boot off the PCMCIA CD-ROM. Also try a USB CD if you can borrow one.

Shadoxity writes...

one option sum1 suggested was to change the hdd with another laptop install windows, then switch it back.

That will only work if the hardware (particularly motherboard chipset) is close to identical. Otherwise when you go to boot it after switching back you'll need to do a repair, which requires booting from CD =)

any idea how i can launch a command prompt from boot, by putting it in the selection in the boot.ini or any other ideas?

Can't be done. The recovery console needs to be launched from the installer after you boot from CD.

Beritknight writes...

Can't be done.

what if i install dos 3.1 and put it in the boot.ini so when i boot i can select dos and then launch C:\i386\winnt.exe as i have copied over the i386 folder to the hdd?

Cheers

www.leog.net/fujp_forum/...sp?TOPIC_ID=9610

Good forums for the Fujitsu ultraportables. Lots of enthusiasts.

Beritknight writes...

Good forums for the Fujitsu ultraportables. Lots of enthusiasts.

thanx for that.... will check it out

Shadoxity writes...

what if i install dos 3.1...

Nah, it wont left you run windows programs from MS Dos

Apparently this model has ethernet. If it also has something like PXE or the Intel Boot Agent, you can do a RIS install. You'll need another machine with RIS installed - i.e. NT server, 2k Server, W2k3 server, or a Linux box with the appropriate software installed. You'll also have to set up your RIS install share so that it has the necessary drivers available for both text mode install and graphical install. This is described in the Deployment documentation (see contents of deploy.cab in SUPPORT\TOOLS on the XP CD).

The other possibility is to create an MS-DOS partition (preferably FAT32) which is bootable, copy the entire contents of the CD to the root of the drive, and run the install that way. As someone else mentioned, make sure you include SMARTDRV (and HIMEM.SYS), otherwise it'll take all damn day to get started.

Are you absolutely sure you can't boot off the PCMCIA CD drive? The BIOS seems to support this - I'd go and double check the BIOS boot configuration. Note that with the Phoenix BIOS, you can only select devices that are plugged in at the time and supported by the BIOS. In addition, the operation of the boot order configuration is particularly non-obvious. Go to the Boot menu in the BIOS and press Ctrl+Enter and see if it's there.

Shadoxity writes...

any idea how i can launch a command prompt from boot, by putting it in the selection in the boot.ini or any other ideas?

You can't, basically.

Shadoxity writes...

what if i install dos 3.1 and put it in the boot.ini so when i boot i can select dos and then launch C:\i386\winnt.exe as i have copied over the i386 folder to the hdd?

DOS 3.1 is too old. You need a newer version (v5 IIRC) to start the installer from DOS.

port writes...

The other possibility is to create an MS-DOS partition (preferably FAT32) which is bootable, copy the entire contents of the CD to the root of the drive, and run the install that way. As someone else mentioned, make sure you include SMARTDRV (and HIMEM.SYS), otherwise it'll take all damn day to get started.

That sounds like something i could do!!!

how do you get it to boot the HDD though?
dont you need to have a command prompt or something from a floppy drive to boot it or what????

cheers

ill also check the bios with the pcmcia drive plugged in! dont think i looked with it plugged in!

nope doesnt come up with an option for PCMCIA :'(

so how can i boot with the HDD???

cheers

Have you got a USB floppy drive, or access to one? If so, you can boot the XP install from floppies. This, by far, will be the most simple way to do it. Trust me :-) You might also be able to boot the XP install from a USB memory stick, but I would need to look into that.

Shadoxity writes...

how do you get it to boot the HDD though?
dont you need to have a command prompt or something from a floppy drive to boot it or what????

Well, previously you installed XP onto this drive on another machine, so I suppose you could also install a basic bootable DOS partition in a similar manner. If you've got a Windows 98 EBD and a Windows 98 CD then you're set. Simply:

(a) copy SMARTDRV to your EBD
(b) plug in the HDD as the primary master
(c) boot from the EBD
(d) use FDISK to partition, and mark the partition bootable. Reboot when prompted
(e) use FDISK /MBR to make the drive bootable
(f) format the drive (e.g. format c: /s /c /v:lifebook
(g) copy HIMEM, SMARTDRV to the C: drive, and configure config.sys and autoexec.bat appropriately (i.e. include HIMEM in config.sys and SMARTDRV in autoexec). You can also copy and configure country.sys if you're feeling particularly pedantic.
(h) copy the entire XP cd (use XCOPY) to the root of the hdd (e.g. XCOPY D:\*.* C:\ /s /e /i /v
(i) remove the floppy disk, reboot and make sure the command prompt comes up.
(j) power down, place the HDD in your lifebook
(k) boot, then change to i386 and run winnt to start the install.

Do you know if the PCMCIA CD drive is natively supported by XP? (It probably is, but it's nice to be sure to be sure.)

edit: rework some parts for clarity, add boot floppy link

You could probably take out the harddrive, put it in another computer and do a pre-install of Windows onto it.

Eugh. Man, this is a hell of a problem you've got here! hah!

I *think*, that you could put your harddrive into another computer for install, but only for the 1st stage (blue-screen) installer for Windows?

Put your lappy's hd in another computer.
Format as FAT32
Copy the Windows XP install files into D:/i386 (assuming that your lappy's HD is mounting as D: for this exercise)
Reboot computer, booting up with a Windows 98SE boot disk (google for it).
Type "SYS D:" at the command prompt
Copy the root of A:\ to D:\COMMAND
Swap your HD back to the laptop...
It should now be booting into DOS
cd command
smartdrv (This will speed things up heaps)
Lock (You might also need to run this, it's been a while...)
cd c:\i386
winnt

I think that this should work. Hopefully it'll give you some ideas.
Let me know if I've missed anything out.

port writes...

(h) copy the entire XP cd (use XCOPY) to the root of the hdd

I think you only need the contents of the i386 directory if you're installing from a hard drive.

wow its been along time since i have heard of a computer without a cdrom. I no you can install windows off a removable disc, as i have done it myself.

isoadam writes...

wow its been along time since i have heard of a computer without a cdrom

lol its not even an old PC...

its an "Ultra portable" laptop so they dont have that stuff in it so its heaps smaller...

but it once had a PCMCIA floppy u could boot off... but my friend lost it and it left me in a bind... im kinda considering just buying one to make this easier on me... but its good experience!

thanx for the other ideas guys, will give it a go when i have abit of time!

cheers

Shadoxity writes...

but it once had a PCMCIA floppy u could boot off... but my friend lost it and it left me in a bind... im kinda considering just buying one to make this easier on me... but its good experience!

The BIOS manual reckons that you can boot off a USB floppy drive. These have a couple of advantages, primarily that you can use them on desktop computers, and the connectors aren't as fragile. Also doesn't tie up the PCMCIA slot, and should also be a bit cheaper to purchase. Beware of compatibility. I'd take along the computer and test it in-store if you can. If you're stuck for places to buy, HT have several starting at about $50.

YAY DONE IT!!!!

thanx

OMFG and PORT!!!

worked great, also someone sent me to this link

www.syschat.com/install-...oppy-cd-463.html

which was also helpful!!!

thanx for all the ideas guys!!!
working great!