installing Windows?

**storm** · 03-23-2004, 03:50 AM

Is it possible to install windows from another computer than it's supposed to work on?
Can I take my HDD from the car to my homePC and install win 2000 there and later us it in my carputer?

I don't want it to look for my homePC devices every boot (I want as fast boot as possible). Is it possible to make a clean install and let it install the devices later?

do you have any advice?

(I can't install it in the car, I don't have any CD-rom)

/Marcus

**Rob Withey** · 03-23-2004, 04:15 AM

Copy the installation CD onto the hard disk using your home pc, the transfer the disk back to your car and then install it from the hard disk copy.

**storm** · 03-23-2004, 07:26 AM

Ok
does it have to be a special name of the directory?

Is there any known problem using windows 2000 as OS for a carputer?

/Marcus

**Enforcer** · 03-23-2004, 07:34 AM

copy just the I386 directory from the win 2k cd

if you are going to install from DOS, make sure your DOS boot disk install smartdrv otherwise it will take 3-4 times longer.

**storm** · 03-23-2004, 11:49 AM

Cant I just copy everything to d:
format c :
then set d: to bootdevice.

Will the computer boot up with the windows installer?
Or do I have to install via DOS?

/Marcus

**Enforcer** · 03-23-2004, 12:02 PM

I don't think the CD boot files will work with a hard-drive (at least i've not tried it).

Normally you would boot from a DOS disk (which has smartdrive on it

), then go into the I386 directory and type winnt. (there are switches you can use but for a standard install you won't need them)

**Rob Withey** · 03-23-2004, 12:02 PM

You need an OS installed to boot into. Just copying the install disk doesn't install an OS.

The CD has a bootsector on it that handles booting. This is not copied by just copying the files across.

**storm** · 03-24-2004, 02:10 AM

Ok bad luck I don't have a floppy either.
But If I copy a bootdisk to the hdd it boots with that correct?

Whats the problem if I do as I said first? Installing it on my HomePC?
Can't I just remove the devices that I'm not using later?

**percyt2k** · 03-24-2004, 02:25 AM

Unless the hardware in both machines is exactly the same, you will get a Blue Screen of Death on bootup.
This is due to Windows XP and 2000 not doing what 98 used to do and just load and enter new hardware into Device Manager.
What's the problem with installing 2000 onto your carpc?
What do you mean by "I don't want it to look for my homePC devices every boot"?
If you want a quick boot, use XP with XPlite!

**gospeed.racer** · 03-24-2004, 02:27 AM

With 2000 and xp you will most likely bsod if you try to swap the drive out. It sees too many hardware changes and thinks there is a disk problem.

If it was 98SE I have a great method where you dont need a floppy or rom, but with 2000 and newer software it wont work:
Simply put the drive on your desktop machine, install windows 98 like normal until it says it is going to shut down the first time. When it does this, swap the drive into the new computer. when it restarts it will look for hardware and finish installation. Works flawlessly. But again, only on 95/98/98se