Is there any way to boot XP with out using CD Room Media

[dvdreplication]

I have problem with my CD Room, Thats why I could not boot from CD Room, I want to know that is there any other way to boot XP with out using CD Room?

[iamtonsoffun247]

Do you mean CD ROM? Why do you need to boot from a CD ROM to get into XP?

[Allan]

Well, you could always go to another room.

1) Why are you trying to boot from the cd?
2) Is the problem with the cd drive or the cd itself?

[dvdreplication]

I have problem with my CD Rom, Let me explain in detail, Let us suppose my operating system has been crushed and I need to install a new Operating System XP, and it requires to boot from CD Rom. And my CD Rom is not working. How can I install XP now?

[JJ 3000]

It's been crushed? Wow!

Well, if the hard drive is still intact, you could borrow another XP CD. It has to be the same version. Also, you will need to know the product key of the original, "crushed" O.S.

[dvdreplication]

Actual problem is I have notebook, i am not talking about the desktop PC. Thats why I can't attach another cd rom with my pc. every thing else is working fine. now what could be the solution?

[dahlarbear]

If you can get the Windows XP "i386" directory (which contains the setup files) on your hard drive along with a bootable operating system capable of initiating Windows XP setup, you're good to go.  A Windows 98SE startup disk (floppy boot disk - see www.bootdisk.com) contains an operating system capable of doing this (MS-DOS 7.1).

Basically you'd be setting up a dual boot system preferably with multiple partitions.  You would install the operating system of the boot floppy (MS-DOS 7.1) to a primary partition ("system" partition) which must be formatted either FAT16 or FAT32.  The "i386" directory would either be copied to this partition or another FAT16/32 partition.  The Windows XP operating system should be installed to its own partition formatted either FAT32 or NTFS which may be done later during its installation.  The Windows XP setup may be initiated from MS-DOS by executing the "<appropriate_drive_letter>:\i386\winnt" command.

There are details you may trip over if you don't research this first.  But it is doable.  You must ensure the "active" primary partition boot record (not the Master Boot Record) looks for the MS-DOS 7.1 boot files.  Not sure if you need IDE hard drive interface with MS-DOS 7.1.  How would it handle a SATA drive?  (Maybe if BIOS was set to IDE compatibility mode?)

How you transfer the files to "target" hard drive is up to you. 

The practical solution is "fix" the CD-ROM drive.

[patio]

Sounds like it's one of the newer netbooks that shipped with Linux possibly and he's attempting to install XP on it...
These units have no optical drive.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Restore/Recovery Partition.  Is there a "hidden" restore/recovery partition on the hard drive?

2.  USB Boot.
     a.  Does your system BIOS support boot from any USB devices (CD-ROM, floppy, thumb/flash, or external hard drive)?
     b.  Is so, perhaps you may boot a suitable operating system from USB to setup your hard drive?

3.  No CD-ROM Drive.  What a wonderful opportunity to learn how system startup really works?

4.  Vendor Support.  What solution does the "vendor" suggest?  Surely they want to maintain a satisfied customer base.

Will they "ship" you another preinstalled hard drive (for a price)?

5.  Define "Crushed".  You sure the existing operating system can't be fixed by judicious replacement of boot records and/or files?

Edit:  Added "CD-ROM" to list of potential USB boot devices. 19Dec2009 --dahlarbear

[Geek-9pm]

Sounds like it's one of the newer netbooks that shipped with Linux possibly and he's attempting to install XP on it...
These units have no optical drive.

Yes, and it would help if the original poster would have given us more details about what kind of computer he has and how long he has had it and how he lost the operating system. Otherwise, we are all making guesses in the dark.

[Quantos]

I hate tripping over the coffee table in the dark.

[dvdreplication]

Thanks for your comments guys, If I have already windows XP installed on the Notebook and now I want to renew it (completely renew it), There is one way i know
you should have the backup for XP in the hard drive and just update your onlder operating system with it with running the setup of backup you have. but it just updates the old operating system. but I want to completely renew it like i want to format the partition (back up is in another partition). Having already installed operating system could be useful in re-installing the OS?
One thing more can we boot from USB if I don't have option in bios to boot from USB?

[patio]

If it's not an option listed in the BIOS....No.

[dahlarbear]

Having already installed operating system could be useful in re-installing the OS?

Yes, but the currently installed operating system probably will not let you "format" the partition it is located on.  (Out of a strong sense of self-preservation.  Reference "HAL" 9000 computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey.)

The computer needs instruction to locate, load, and initiate the Windows XP setup program.  This can be be accomplished by using the boot BIOS to initiate a chained series of boot programs or an already available compatible operating system.