is it possible to install windows xp onto a laptops hdd if i slaved it to my vista pc via a usb enclosure ? the laptop wont log in, has no disc drive and cannot boot from usb (i think).
No, it will not work. Since you'd be installing XP on a different PC, XP would be be getting installed to work on that PC not your laptop. I take it this is a netbook? You could get a external USBDVD Drive, or remove the DVD drive from your PC and hook it up to your laptop via a SATA/IDE to USB adapter.
it is my nephews small ibm thinkpad i'm trying to do something with as it is my fault it is not working. i stupidly must have removed something important when removing some virus' from it and it just logs straight back out now when logging in so it looks as if all i can do is find a way to reinstall windows. i tried booting from a usb pen drive but i don't think its capable as in the boot menu under removable devices it 0nly has legacy floppy drives. here is the boot menu :
i thought about using an external drive but didn't know if that counts as a usb device, an if i would have had to install it first as obviously i can't since i cant log on. also, if this is an option, would hooking up my pc's dvd drive work when the boot menu only mentions cd-rom? i don;'t want to buy anything until i know for sure it would work. a also have an other broken laptop would i be able to hook up the disc drive from that. i thought maybe a legacy floppy whatever that is maybe an option, i don't know yet. this is a post of mine looking for help when it happened:
Is this a netbook or a laptop? Because you say laptop in your first post. I then ask if its a Netbook but you only refer to it as either a laptop or a small ibm thinkpad.
sorry about that, i don't really know the difference to tell you the truth. it's just a little square thing with no disc drive or anything. it has no wi-fi capabilities either so i didn't know if it counted as a netbook as i looked around the web for answers and it says netbooks can do little more than browse the internet so i would say just a small laptop since it lacks wi-fi. how can i tell the difference ?
it's a piece of crap is what it is lol. he was using a wireless network adapter card to connect to the net. through a wireless router so the network boot sounded an option but from what i can tell you need to put stuff on the laptop first, which i cannot do, is this right ? i think i'll just need to open it up and see if there is a connection for a hard drive inside as i would think a external drive would just be treated like the usb pen and be ignored. only other option will be to look into a legacy floppy drive as goin by the boot menu it might recognize that, whatever it is lol. thanks for tryin anyway peainapod.
