How to install with no DVD drive

GT60

Hi a friends OLD lappy has no dvd drive to put a disc in


My question is how do I custom install part of an Microsoft OEM office / works disc or for that matter any disc
I am aware of using an external DVD drive
1, Is there any other way to install?
2, what if it was the OS I was trying to install would an external drive or anything else work given it is the OS being installed?


Thank you

S0litaire

If it's just software then copy the whole CD/DVD onto a USB stick and you can install using that.

For installing an OS you would really need a external DVD/CD drive is probably the easiest way to go..

esuhl

GT60 wrote: »

1, Is there any other way to install?

If you have another PC with a CD/DVD drive, you could put the disc in there and either copy the files onto a USB stick, or just share the CD/DVD drive over the network so that all your other devices can access it.

GT60 wrote: »

2, what if it was the OS I was trying to install would an external drive or anything else work given it is the OS being installed?

In theory, you might be able to install the OS over the network (using things like RIS and SSH).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Installation_Services
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell

But remote-OS installations are usually only done by IT professionals in corporate environments. It's a lot easier if the PC has direct (not networked) access the installation files on a local CD/DVD drive, USB key or hard drive.

Big_Graeme

S0litaire wrote: »

For installing an OS you would really need a external DVD/CD drive is probably the easiest way to go..

All modern OS's should install from a USB stick and will be way quicker than an optical drive.

enfield_freddy

rufus , google it

GT60

1, To copy the disc to a USB stick is it just a case of right click on the file and drag it to the usb stick?


2, The OS is XP and it would be just incase it needs reinstalling again
Thanks

enfield_freddy

if you "just drag" the files over it will not be a bootable usb stick , just a stick with files on

NiftyDigits

GT60 wrote: »

1, To copy the disc to a USB stick is it just a case of right click on the file and drag it to the usb stick?


2, The OS is XP and it would be just incase it needs reinstalling again
Thanks

OS will need at least a Bootable USB drive. Software, a normally formatted USB drive.
But since you can buy an external optical drive for as little as £7....
What is the brand name and model number of the laptop in question?

GT60

sorry I don't have the laptop to hand it is a small Dell 12"ish screen and it had the blue button/ mouse in the keys on the keyboard, 1.25ghz processor and .99 ram other than that I don't know
How do I make a bootable Usb and load the Microsoft OEM office / works disc on to it so I can load it on to the laptop?
It will be a few days before I see the person again


Thanks everyone

esuhl

GT60 wrote: »

2, The OS is XP and it would be just incase it needs reinstalling again
Thanks

I don't know how much you like to tinker, but nLite is an amazing utility that allows you to create your own customised XP installation. You can add service packs and drivers (so when you install XP it's all up-to-date).

And you can remove or configure components to increase XP's performance, security, etc. Oh, and you can preset the installation options (like product-key, etc.) so you can completely automate the installation. It makes it so much quicker to get an XP machine up-and-running again. It's pretty cool.

nLite: http://www.nliteos.com/
XP SP3: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=24
Post-SP3 update pack: http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/updatepack-sp3.html

Oh, and I just discovered NTLite, which seems to be for more recent Windows OSes. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but it sounds promising:

https://www.ntlite.com/

P.S. Apparently WinSetupFromUSB allows you to copy Windows installation files to a USB stick: http://www.winsetupfromusb.com/

NiftyDigits

GT60 wrote: »

sorry I don't have the laptop to hand it is a small Dell 12"ish screen and it had the blue button/ mouse in the keys on the keyboard, 1.25ghz processor and .99 ram other than that I don't know
How do I make a bootable Usb and load the Microsoft OEM office / works disc on to it so I can load it on to the laptop?
It will be a few days before I see the person again


Thanks everyone

Come back with the Service Tag
Also written on the underside.

Sounds like the Latitude 420 to me. But exact details are required.