Dos Commands to install Windows on a dual partitioned HDD with no CD Rom support.?

Question

PLEASE ONLY ANSWER THIS IF YOU KNOW rather than guessing at maybe's
The scenario is: My laptop has no CD Rom. I have a 20Gb HDD which is split into 2 partitions. The secondary partition is a small partiton onto which I can copy the full contents of a Win98se disk (call it partition D). The primary partition which has Win98se on it, I wish to wipe & reinstall win98se.(call it C).
I know how to wipe this drive C.
I can boot from a floppy drive using a boot up floppy disk to get to the A prompt ..presumably this will relate to the 1st partition.
Can anyone tell me if I can use the win98se files on D partition to install a functioning operating system on C, using DOS.
If so, what are the step by step the commands & actions I have to do from the A prompt, inorder to get win98se (All 98se files currently on the 2nd partition) installed as a functioning operating system on the 1st partition C.
If there is another way WITHOUT CD support, please advise
An external USB CDROM wont be the answer.

Answer 1

Once you've formatted C:, type:

D:

at the command line. This will change your current directory
to the root directory on the D: device. Next,

cd D:\
setup /ie

The '/ie' option tells setup not to bother creating a startup floppy
during the installation process.

Now all you need to do is tell setup where to install Windows 98 when it gets around to asking you. (You'll be able to format the C: partition from within setup.)

Answer 2

First of all throw that dam CD away.... It's not supported by Microsoft and that means that there are no updates for it.

So, this is what your going to do....


Start up with the boot disk.
Type in d:\
Your prompt changes to D:
Type in dir
you have a directory listing of files on the d: drive.
type in setup.exe
This will launch the setup program to install it. During the setup you will have the option to format the drive c: and such..... Also, if you have copied the ENTIRE cd YOU WILL HAVE A FILE CALLED autorun.inf this is the file that points to the setup program.

if you want to ensure that you are doing what I say you are doing,

at the prompt type in edit autorun.inf and you will see the contents in text format. It show a path to the setup program will run.

Once in the the setup program, it's a breeze all that you have to do is answer questions....


A TIP: Leave the contents of the CD files on the other partition when you add things to the 98 operating system, it always asks for the CD.....

Answer 3

If you copy the folder containig your copy of win98 to the c drive in the windows running on your d drive make a formatted floppy disk as a system disk reboot computer with disk in at prompt >a:\cd c:\win98\oemsetup.exe (FOR CLEAN INSTALL c & d ERASED)
OR
>a:cd c:\tools\sysrec\pcrestor.bat three system files will be copied to hard drive reboot at the command prompt type c:\pcrestor that installs windows as a repair and you may still have your d drive this is the only way I can suggest with the way you have your partitions

Answer 4

*WARNING: The following instructions delete all data on the hard drive. They may be modified to retain data, but I take no responsibility for data loss.

*KNOWN LIMITATIONS:
Using DOS requires that the drive be formatted in FAT32. It is possible to convert to NTFS later on, but I'll leave that decision up to you. ;)

Your system must bet set to boot from the floppy drive.
A QUICK NOTE: Many users can avoid installation from DOS by using the bootable floppy diskettes provided by Microsoft. You can find them here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en


The information given will allow the following to happen:
1.) Install Windows 2000 (XP?) if you do not have a bootable CD-ROM.
2.) Install Windows 2000 (XP?) from DOS
3.) Install Windows 2000 (XP?) if you have a swappable floppy / CD-ROM laptop, but cannot boot from a CD

[size=3]How to install Windows 2000 from DOS without a bootable CDROM[/size]

1.) Obtain a Windows 98SE startup / emergency boot diskette
Download this self-extracting image and insert a blank floppy disk into your disk drive
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
OR
Alternative ways to make boot disks in Windows and DOS:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...32&Product=w98
2.) Preparing for your Windows 2000 installation - Make the hard drive bootable and add CD-ROM support
Insert your Windows 98 startup diskette and start/restart your computer
Your computer will boot into DOS. When prompted for CD-ROM support, this is not necessary. Please continue.
Command prompt will appear.
Enter the command fdisk followed by [ENTER] key. Use this utility to delete all partitions on the disk drive. (Helps ensure this goes smoothly)
The following link provides more information on how to use the FDISK utility: http://support.microsoft.com/default...67&Product=w98

Use the FDISK utility to partition the drive (You must create at least one Primary partition. FDISK will ask if you would like to make this partition active - YES!)
Restart the computer with the floppy disk inserted.
The computer will boot into DOS again.
Select "Enable CD-ROM support" when available
At the prompt, type format C: /s . This will format the new system partition and copy the necessary system files to make the drive bootable without the need of a floppy or CD-ROM
Enter the command copy D:\mscdex.exe C: .
Enter the command copy A:\oakcdrom.sys C:
Enter edit C:\autoexec.bat. A blank, blue window should appear.
Type C:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001
Press ALT and F keys at the same time to bring up a menu and use the arrows keys to select save. Repeat the ALT and F keys again to bring up the File menu, but this time exit.
Enter the command edit C:\config.sys
Type the following: DEVICE=C:\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001
Save and exit as you did before
Remove your floppy disk, insert the Windows CD and restart the computer. If you have a swappable floppy/CD-ROM, exchange the floppy for the CD drive and insert the Windows 2000 or XP CD. Restart. In order for DOS to detect the CD-ROM, it is very important that you have the CD in before your computer boots next time.
Your hard drive is now bootable and will now have CD-ROM support

3.) Getting the Windows 2000 / XP setup started
The Windows 98 logo will appear. Your computer should now boot into DOS at command prompt again. (C:)
You will now have CD-ROM access (D:)
Enter the command D:\i386\winnt.exe

*Instructions edited to exclude CD copy, although you may if you wish

Now Windows 2000 setup will begin.. It will also perhaps nag you about smartdrive not being installed. Just ignore it and continue setup anyway. I'd tell you how, but it would make this thing even more complicated. :)

It may also ask you about the location of the setup files. The default path is D:, which should be correct. Simply press [ENTER] if it asks.

Answer 5

Same as above