installing xp on a laptop with no usable cd-rom?

Question

i have a compaq amarda 4210 which has a pcmcia cd-rw,but the drivers have been wiped,and i am unable to re-install them,even with the correct drivers avalible
is there a pcmcia-usb device so i can put a copy of xp on to a external hdd and transfer it over,the laptop is running 98
or can i connect my desktop using xp to it and transfer xp over using a com port.if so ,how
can you transfer xp over windows 98?
any ideas

Answer 1

can you network (ethernet ) to another pc and transfer the files you need to keep to it
then reinstall w98
that might allow you to reinstall drivers

Answer 2

If the laptop you are using was installed with windows 98 initially it is highly unlikely that it would run windows xp effectively. Also Windows XP is supplied on a DVD .

Also the com port transferes data so slowly that it would be impossible to transfer the data over.

You can only transfer windows XP onto your computer if it replaces windows 98 but your laptop doesn't seem capable

Hope that helped

Answer 3

While upgrading from my old computer to my new computer(from 98 to xp) I transfered all my old stuff to my new computer. And you could do the same thing in your situation.
I suggest you look up a pc migrator to do that. and make sure you have get a usb 2.0 cable that connects big to big because if you do it with a parallel port it'll take all day and night (i know from experiance).

Answer 4

may i suggest buying a decent new laptop/pc with xp on it.. save you alot of hassle.. and you can pick one up for about £300..
even better, Currys do 0% finance at the moment.... ALSO, if you dont want to do that.. could you not buy a xp download from microsoft... or get a friend to email it to you....

Answer 5

For a couple of quid you can get a USB HDD drive off ebay and plug that in to your laptop.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=usb+hard+disk+drive&category0=

The above link is basicaaly a search for USB hard disk drive, but you get the pictrure.
:o)

Answer 6

always use deepfreeze & good antivirus so u received't pick to format ur computers........ After that get Norton Ghost & make a restoration cd of our comp....once u made it ur pc should be formated lower than 10 min & inportant 'unattended' purely placed cd in pick some ideas & ur format will be finished...with ur drivers ....with ur istalled softwares...........

Answer 7

if it has a fllopy drive why not re boot it that way....if not try an external cd drive.through a usb port

Answer 8

go get your nero disc... throw it in the cdrom... it may cure the prob... oh it has to be nero 3.0 or 4.0. you could do a yahoo search... it worked for me... remember though, you will need you product code for x.p.. for authentication... just incase you didn't have it...