Install Windows XP/7 without a CD drive when the BIOS does not support booting from USB devices

Posted by David Pearce on Super User See other posts from Super User or by David Pearce
Published on 2009-07-17T06:36:14Z Indexed on 2012/06/04 16:47 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 241

Filed under:

Windows

|

repair

I have a computer that has a dead CD drive in it and it seriously needs a new installation of Windows (XP is on it now, but Windows 7 does not sound that bad). At first I tried making a bootable USB drive, but it does not look like the BIOS supports booting directly from a USB drive.

Is there some sort of boot loader that I can put onto the hard drive first and boot from the USB drive using that? If not, how else can I re-install Windows on the computer?

Edit: The only bootable device the computer has it the network with PXE (although I have no idea how to do that) and it's three internal hard drives

© Super User or respective owner

Related posts about Windows

Server 2012 DFS New Member Issue

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I am trying to add a new member to our DFS topology. We have 3 DCs (VMs - VMware) running Windows server 2012, two servers are located in or Primary site and the third at our DR site. Currently the two servers at our primary site are currently replicating DFS (full mesh) and are working fine. I have… >>> More
error in IIS7 but not on IIS6

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I have a website that is we are now deploying to windows 2008 servers that has worked in the past on IIS6 without a problem. It is using .net 2 framework. Most of the website works. Just when we create a screen report over a certain size on the server we get this error. Event code: 3005 Event… >>> More
error in IIS7 but not on IIS6

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I have a website that is we are now deploying to windows 2008 servers that has worked in the past on IIS6 without a problem. It is using .net 2 framework. Most of the website works. Just when we create a screen report over a certain size on the server we get this error. Event code: 3005 Event… >>> More
Microsoft Management Console stops working when I add snap-in to it

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I have Windows 7 Ultimate OS. I'm opening mmc.exe as administrator and trying add Certificates or any other snap-in, then while loading that snap-in MMC breaks and displays following message and after that it closes automatically once I click on close button on that message. What could be the problem… >>> More
Handling keyboard and mouse input (Win API)

as seen on Game Development - Search for 'Game Development'
There is a number of ways to catch mouse or keyboard under Windows. So I tried some of them, but every of them has some advantages and drawbacks. I want to ask you: Which method do use? I've tried these: WM_KEYDOWN/WM_KEYUP - Main disadvantage is that, I can't distinguish between left and right-handed… >>> More

Related posts about repair

Vista Startup Repair cannot repair my Toshiba Laptop (L300D)

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I installed some updates, and now the computer doesn't boot up, it just keep's telling me to go to repair, which doesn't fix the problem. I see the BSOD on startup, but it flashes by too quick. (I also don't have Vista on DVD to do a reinstall if I need to) This is what I get from the Startup… >>> More
Computer Repair Florida - Tips for Choosing a Quality Computer Repair and Setup Company

as seen on Article City - Search for 'Article City'
Although you may know the computer basics, like how to turn one on and use it, when it comes to new computer setup and computer repair, you may find yourself a bit lost. If you have no idea where to ... [Author: Austin Whitten - Computers and Internet - May 11, 2010] >>> More
My software center asks me to repair but says it cant repair due to an error

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
This is the error installArchives() failed: dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libmtp-dev: libmtp-dev depends on libmtp8 (= 1.0.2-1ubuntu1); however: Package libmtp8 is not installed. dpkg: error processing libmtp-dev (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfigured No… >>> More
Can't Repair Mysql Table

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
Hi, I have one table that I simply can't repair, I already try to remove the partitioning but still get this error: alter table promo_tool_view_44 REMOVE PARTITIONING; ERROR 1034 (HY000): Incorrect key file for table 'promo_tool_view_44'; try to repair it I already try to repair the table but… >>> More
Windows 7 Not Starting and System Repair Not Loading

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I have a Dell Inspiron 1545 running Windows 7 When turning on my PC I keep receiving a black screen with the option to use System Repair or Start Normally. Both options lead me to the System Repair background except no matter how long I wait the system restore options never show up. Choosing F8… >>> More