IDE Laptop Hard Drive Adapter Re-Loading Windows Xp

[Mal]

  Hi - My laptop CD Drive has packed up and my laptop hard drive has been formated, I need to re-install windows onto the hard drive. I conected the hard drive to the IDE USB adapter, booted up, the desktop found the hard drive and assigned it as E:\, I managed to load Windows on to the hard drive. Re-fitted the hard drive to the laptop, after booting up I receive the following message, "No Operating System" can anybody help please. I do have an externel Cd drive and I tried loading windows from this by, first selectind boot from USB Mastorage Device, it did not work, I re-booted and selected F12 Boot Menu and there was not a USB option? Please cany you help me get my laptop back to life. I also have anexternal Hard drive

Many thanks Mal

[Spoiler]

Are you trying to load a hard drive for your laptop from a desktop machine?

[patio]

If it's XP or newer this will not work...
Why not reinstall the laptop HDD ...boot to the XP CD and install ? ?

[Spoiler]

Agreed

You have to load the machine from itself. You can't load it from a desktop machine and then plug it into a laptop.

[patio]

How you doin spoiler ? ?

[Mal]

Hi - Please could you explain how step by step as I'm rather green with sort computer techknology I,m sorry to say, but I'm getting there, so step bye step would be most welcome. I am greatful for your time and help  
[b If it's XP or newer this will not work...Why not reinstall the laptop HDD ...boot to the XP CD and install ? ?

[Mal]

Yes, the sale advisor at Maplins sold me the IDE adptor and told me it was the easest way to reload Windows from my desktop on to the laptops hard drive Quote " as soon as your desktop has found the laptop hard drive and asigned a drive letter, which it has , drive E:\ run wWindows Cd and load it onto the E:\ drive, how simple that sounded, until you start to  carry out the task!. I have fomated and re-loaded Windows on my desk top before without  a problem, but trying to do this on my laptop thatit's CD drive is not working is all new to me, so please be patient" with me and try not to use technical wording   "Are you trying to load a hard drive for your laptop from a desktop machine?"

Many Thanks Mal

[BC_Programmer]

Yes, the sale advisor at Maplins sold me the IDE adptor and told me it was the easest way to reload Windows from my desktop on to the laptops hard drive Quote " as soon as your desktop has found the laptop hard drive and asigned a drive letter, which it has , drive E:\ run Windows Cd and load it onto the E:\ drive"

As you said, he's a sales advisor. HE sells things. he obviously doesn't know how to use them, because A:) you cannot install windows on one machine and move that hard drive to another machine, and B:) you cannot install Windows to an external drive*.

First: Why are you using the desktop to try to install windows to the laptop anyway? As patio noted, installing windows is as easy as simply inserting the windows CD and booting from it, and then following the installation prompts.

What happens when, after reinstalling your laptop HD, you insert the windows CD and start the laptop? do you get the same "missing Operating System" error? If so, you will need to examine your Boot order, which is accessible in your CMOS setup. usually the laptop will give you a number of keys you can press to access various options when you are starting it, something like "press F12 to access XPress recovery, Press F2 to enter SETUP" or options to that effect. you want the "SETUP" option.

Once there, you should be able to find the options to change the boot order. BIOS software varies pretty wildly on where it is.

Once you fix that, you should be able to boot to the drive and install windows properly.


EDIT:

but trying to do this on my laptop that it's CD drive is not working is all new to me, so please be patient

Buy a new laptop CD drive.

[Salmon Trout]

I have used Maplin a lot in the past, in fact I bought one of those USB to IDE adapters a couple of weeks ago for £14.99. the guy was completely wrong.

You cannot install Windows on an external (USB) hard drive. It is designed that way. You need a working INTERNAL hard drive. You also need a working CDROM drive. Without these things you don't have a hope. You need to buy a new CD drive for your laptop.

[Salmon Trout]

Crossposted with BCP.

Get a new CD drive for the laptop.

[Mal]

My laptop does not identify my my external CD; drive so therefore I have no way of of talking to my laptop IE; no drive,   As I have explained, I have tried changing the boot sequence to boot from USB; but it does not work. I have three different Windows Xp floppy set IE; Xp, Xp1, and Xp2 so I have tried using the six floppies, everything goes just fine until I insert the last disk, disk six, the computer stops and the blue stop screen appears, this happens on all three sets of floppy. Please there must be a simple way of step bye step method of doing this. I have tied to remove the CD; drive from the laptop, and believe me I have tried, but I just can not completely remove the case to access the CD; drive It's a FUJITSU AMILO. Please I have tried every option but have failled and I hate to be beaten. Thank you all with your advise, but keep them coming as the problen is still there                  First: Why are you using the desktop to try to install windows to the laptop anyway? As patio noted, installing windows is as easy as simply inserting the windows CD and booting from it, and then following the installation prompts.

[Salmon Trout]

Usually laptop CD drives just slide out. Amilo is a Fujitsu brand namer used for all kinds of computers, desktop and portable. What is the model number?

[Mal]

Usually laptop CD drives just slide out. Amilo is a Fujitsu brand namer used for all kinds of computers, desktop and portable. What is the model number?
  The Fujitsu Amilo Modle AMILO L7320GW   Please if there is a way of just sliding out the Hard drive, can you possibly explain the procedure.

Many thanks  Mal

[Mal]

What happens when, after reinstalling your laptop HD, you insert the windows CD and start the laptop? do you get the same "missing Operating System" error? If so, you will need to examine your Boot order, which is accessible in your CMOS setup. usually the laptop will give you a number of keys you can press to access various options when you are starting it, something like "press F12 to access XPress recovery, Press F2 to enter SETUP" or options to that effect. you want the "SETUP" option.

Unfortunately the laptop hard drive has been formatted. I have been through all the Bios settings, but on each occassion the same happens each time, 'No Operating System, and I guess that's because the hard drive has been formatted. I know I seem rather green on this particular topic, but how does repair shops put Xp onto other machines, and why is it not possible to do so, is it a license issue. I bet if I took it to a repair shop they will be able to put Windows onto the hard drive, or am I wrong?Please don't laugh, I really have not yet picked up enough knowlege on this procedure yet, I am reading books to learn more about computers. Having been self tainned, I'm doing extremley well and have helped others, any way thank you all for your kind help

[Mal]

Hi - Trying to put Windows on the laptop, I have now, when rebooting my Desktop have three choices, one Xp Home, the Laptop copy, second my Desktop copy 'Xp Professional and finally Xp Setup. Please can any one give me step bye step instuctions on how to remove the unwanted two and leave my Xp Professional running. I have an idea, but I'm not sure, I do not want to make a mistake, so I thought I'll ask you experts out there.

Many Thanks Mal