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  1. #1
    DF Probation Porthos's Avatar
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    Default F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Hi, I've got an HP ze5400 laptop and unfortunately it is f@@ked (won't boot, has several virii and is in a mess anyway). Unfortunately the cd-rom drive isn't working so I have no way to boot a recovery cd from there. I can't boot from an external dvd-rom through usb or firewire (I've tried, and checked the bios) so I don't really know how I can do this. I am happy to do a network boot if someone could tell me how but there is very little about it online apart from something where you need a Windows 2003 server to do it?!? Help please!

  2. #2
    DF VIP Member chubblies's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Create a shared drive on another pc then link to its drive via network neighbourhood and it will install as per normal. I have a sony vaio 505 with missing cd drive, and I installed XP this way. It does take ages however...

    EDIt-ignore that, I missed the bit where yours wont boot:|

  3. #3
    DF Probation Porthos's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    thanks anyway, anyone got any other ideas?

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    DF Probation Goldberg's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    No way you can pick up a 2nd hand Internal CD Rom for it?

    In the Bios what 1st Boot options do you have?
    We all make mistakes sometimes

  5. #5
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    tombott's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Does it have a floopy drive ?
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  6. #6
    DF Probation Porthos's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    It does and I can boot cd rom drive network and harddrive.

  7. #7
    DF Member meatball871's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    try to format from the floppy drive. it may refind your cd rom

  8. #8
    DF Probation Porthos's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    What?!? The computer's interfacing with the cd-rom is independant of the hard drive I think mate.

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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    So can you boot from Floppy then run setup from external DVD drive ?
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  10. #10
    DF Probation Porthos's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Erm I don't think a usb dvd drive works on it without windows, should it? The boot options in the bios are removable devices (legacy floppy drives), built-in lan, cd-rom drive, hard drive. My floppy drive does work so is their a way to get a usb drive to work?

  11. #11
    DF VIP Member
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Porthos -

    Get yourself a 3.5" to 2.5" IDE cable so you can connect the hard drive to the secondary IDE port on a working desktop system, it doesn't matter what the OS is on desktop.
    Now reformat the laptop drive making it a system disk so it will boot when you put it back in the laptop.
    Before you disconnect it from the desktop copy the i386 folder of a Windows XP CDRom onto it.
    Now put the drive back in the laptop and it should boot to the command prompt (c:\).
    Just type:

    cd i386
    winnt

    This will start the setup for Windows.

    Best of luck ..... Ged

  12. #12
    DF Probation Porthos's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Great, cheers mate.

  13. #13
    DF VIP Member
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Quote Originally Posted by Porthos
    Erm I don't think a usb dvd drive works on it without windows, should it? The boot options in the bios are removable devices (legacy floppy drives), built-in lan, cd-rom drive, hard drive. My floppy drive does work so is their a way to get a usb drive to work?
    You should be able to boot from floppy with Windows 98 boot disk then run the setup from the USB DVD drive.

    For boot disk go here

    Once booted you should be able to goto DVD drive (d) and run setup

    cd d:\i386
    winnt

    If your HD is NTFS then Windows 98 will not read it, so DVD maybe mapped to C:
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  14. #14
    DF Probation Porthos's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    Great, cheers mate. Does the Windows 98 boot disk load drivers for a usb (or firewire for that matter) dvd-drive then? Thanks again!

  15. #15
    DF VIP Member
    tombott's Avatar
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    Default Re: F**d computer and cd-rom drive so computer is useless!

    It should do Porthos, let me know if no joy and I'll try and work something else out
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