How to Reinstalling OS on laptop with no CD-drive or floppy???

B

Brian.net802

New Member
Hi...I have a laptop that is currently running Windows XP. I want to downgrade and install Windows 2000 but the problem is that the laptop doesnt have a CD-Drive or floppy. Is there any way I can install Windows 2000 to this laptop? I called Sony but those Text support people wanted me to send it end and have them fix it but I need my laptop for work and it was rediculous what they wanted to charge me..Please help
 
about the only advice i can give you is to get the W2K cd and either find someone with a external cd player, or buy one and install it that way. your comp does have usb ports i'm assuming.
other then that, i don't beleive there is anyway to do it other then maybe install it over a network if you have one available or install a cd player
 
I tried that but when I install the Windows 2000 , XP disables the function that will let me install. It says " Your are installing an older version of windows than you are currently running , disabling install function "...Dont know what to do
 
Brian.net802 said:
I tried that but when I install the Windows 2000 , XP disables the function that will let me install. It says " Your are installing an older version of windows than you are currently running , disabling install function "...Dont know what to do
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Instead of trying to downgrade to 2000 from XP, put the 2000 cd in and format the drive and install 2000 freash!
 
well, the only way i've ever done that is in a system that had a fdd.
make a bootable floppy disk and boot to it. change the prompt to a c:\ prompt. and then debug the drive

then boot to the cd and install it. it's basically like buying a brand new hdd and installing windows that way after the debug. not sure how else you could do it without a fdd though
 
Yes surely a laptop without a CD/DVD rom would have an option in the bios to boot from a usb device. If so then make sure your installation disk is bootable and boot your computer with it in the external rom. Do a fresh instal by reformatting your hard drive.
 
Get a 1gb USB keychain flash drive and format it to be bootable.

Take it and the windows 2000 disk to a machine that has a CD-ROM.

Copy the i386 folder to the keychain.

Boot from the keychain and go the i386 folder in DOS.

begin the windows 2000 installation by typing WINNT

There are many other ways I would do it. Such as connecting the laptop HD to a desktop, formatting it to be bootable and copying the i386 folder to it. then following the same steps as above.
I just can't assume you have the resources to do all that.
 
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