You will need to find an external optical drive {CDROM,CD-RW,DVDROM,etc}
which can be loaded with DOS drivers, or possibly even Linux drivers
although DOS drivers are more likely. Then you can create a DOS boot disk
with those drivers on it and boot from that disk to access the drive. {I
am assuming the laptop does have a way to boot from a floppy disk} Once
you have access to the optical drive, you can install the O.S. I
recommend installing Windows XP {Service Pack 2}, you can get that pretty
cheap from WalMart, Costco, etc. Hope that helps ..



On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:34:33 -0800, Anderson <Anderson_5@cox.net> wrote:

My question is: How do I get the OS loaded onto my computer? There is NO
interal CD-Rom. This model only uses external. If I buy an external
Cd-rom can i install it without the OS already loaded on the computer?

--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

You will need to find an external optical drive {CDROM,CD-RW,DVDROM,etc}
which can be loaded with DOS drivers, or possibly even Linux drivers
although DOS drivers are more likely. Then you can create a DOS boot disk
with those drivers on it and boot from that disk to access the drive. {I
am assuming the laptop does have a way to boot from a floppy disk} Once
you have access to the optical drive, you can install the O.S. I
recommend installing Windows XP {Service Pack 2}, you can get that pretty
cheap from WalMart, Costco, etc. Hope that helps ..



On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:34:33 -0800, Anderson <Anderson_5@cox.net> wrote:

My question is: How do I get the OS loaded onto my computer? There is NO
interal CD-Rom. This model only uses external. If I buy an external
Cd-rom can i install it without the OS already loaded on the computer?

--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

You will need to find an external optical drive {CDROM,CD-RW,DVDROM,etc}
which can be loaded with DOS drivers, or possibly even Linux drivers
although DOS drivers are more likely. Then you can create a DOS boot disk
with those drivers on it and boot from that disk to access the drive. {I
am assuming the laptop does have a way to boot from a floppy disk} Once
you have access to the optical drive, you can install the O.S. I
recommend installing Windows XP {Service Pack 2}, you can get that pretty
cheap from WalMart, Costco, etc. Hope that helps ..



On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:34:33 -0800, Anderson <Anderson_5@cox.net> wrote:

My question is: How do I get the OS loaded onto my computer? There is NO
interal CD-Rom. This model only uses external. If I buy an external
Cd-rom can i install it without the OS already loaded on the computer?

--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

"Anderson" <Anderson_5@cox.net> wrote in message
news:wWhch.11335$1w6.3784@newsfe16.lga...
> My question is: How do I get the OS loaded onto my computer? There is NO
> interal CD-Rom. This model only uses external. If I buy an external
> Cd-rom can i install it without the OS already loaded on the computer?
>

Depending on the interface between the laptop and the included external
drive you may be able to boot directly from the cdrom. The key to this
will be going into the laptop cmos settings and see if it offers that as one
of the boot options. Assuming it does then give it a whirl. It may or may
not boot. Otherwise your only choice is to make a dos boot disk with
drivers for the cdrom and go from there. I have a great idea...why don't
you just call Dell and ask them if the laptop is able to do this or not.
They
will be more than happy to give you at least that answer and may have other
solutions that may make you very happy.

Cheers!

ISPgeek

http://www.ISPgeeks.com
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