Install Windows with no CD drive

[Calum]

I have here a computer with no CD drive, and no way of installing one.
I've seen methods ranging from using RIS (not an option in this case) to using a DOS or 98 boot floppy.
The floppy method I could do, but I was wondering if this would work.  In this, drive 1 is the drive I'm going to install Windows on for this computer with no CD drive, and drive 2 is the HDD in another computer, with XP already installed.
1. Disconnect drive 2, connect drive 1.  Boot from CD and format the drive, create 2 partitions.
2. After the first stage of installation finishes and it reboots, power down.  Connect drive 2 back up as master and boot to XP.
3. Copy the contents of the CD onto drive 1's second partition.
4. Disconnect drive 2, connect it back up to the PC with no CD drive.  Continue Windows installation using the files on the second partition.

I don't see any reason why this shouldn't work.  I'm assuming that when the Windows install tries to continue and can't find the CD it expects it will ask for the location of the files - I seem to remember this happening before, but I could be wrong.
The drivers also aren't installed until after the reboot to my knowledge, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Feel free to poke holes in this plan, applaud my genius, or tell me an easier way.

[Raptor]

applaud my genius

I WANT YOUR BABIES!!!

The I386 (For XP) is the folder that contains all the setup files, the rest isn't very relevant. At least from what I recall, it's been a while.

[Calum]

I WANT YOUR BABIES!!!

I know.

The I386 (For XP) is the folder that contains all the setup files, the rest isn't very relevant. At least from what I recall, it's been a while.

Correct.  I probably should have said that folder, as opposed to the contents of the CD - that is what I meant.
You don't see a problem with that plan then?

By the way, I see I forgot entirely to mention the OS ... my bad.  It's Server 2003.

[patio]

Heres a Fun Method

This means you could do the full install on machine 2 then swap the drive to machine 1...

                   

[Calum]

That does sound interesting patio.
I'll give it a shot I think, and report back.

[patio]

It's worked for me every time i've had to replace someone's dead MBoard...

[Raptor]

It's worked for me every time i've had to replace someone's dead MBoard...

What about activation?

[patio]

Twice had issues and called MS's 800 # and was setup with a new key.
They're not the ogres they are made out to be...

[Raptor]

Twice had issues and called MS's 800 # and was setup with a new key.
They're not the ogres they are made out to be...

I shun antiquated devices such as the telephone, that's why I was wondering.

I think that if you get a mainboard with the same type of chipset, you'll be well on your way to not needing to reactivate.

[patio]

There's also a method to retain the old .hal info and add it when done...haven't had to use it yet though.

[Calum]

I haven't tried the method yet.
I went into the family PC to add the HDD, and decided to clean it out.
One of the retainers for the CPU fan fell in between the non removable MB tray and the also non removable other side of the case.
I cut my index finger quite badly trying to get it out - the whole operation took over an hour, including time spent on the phone with a client and helping a neighbour.
At the end of it all, I realised that particular part was not even required, and the machine has only 1 HDD slot, already occupied, and I really did not feel like fighting with the case to swap HDs.
I gave up for tonight, I'll try and get to it tomorrow though.
My finger hurts, and I now hate newer (post-2002) Mesh computers.
Also, activation won't be a problem for me, it's a corporate edition.

[Calum]

Hey, that worked a treat.
Thanks a lot patio, it's up and running just fine.

[patio]

Excellent News there Calum...
I was holding my breath on this one i have to admit because the first time i did it i botched it up a mess...
And it was a client's machine.

Good to hear you got it right the first time as i certainly didn't.....

[Raptor]

You guys ever tried booting from a USB stick? If you have one that's about a gigabyte big, you could put Windows on it and install it from a memory stick. Much easier than swapping hard drives?

[Calum]

I've never tried it myself although I know it can be done.
This machine didn't support that as far as I know, I certainly didn't see an option for it.
The computer I used to install Windows however turned out to have a faulty DVD drive, so I had to boot from an external CDRW.
Quite a journey all in all, definitely good experience.