Rainald, Do you know that format e: /s did not work? I would like to try
sys c: but not sure at what point to do this.
Here is the latest: Received a second M1400, has WinXp SP3 installed. It
recognizes a external usb dvd-writer, but not a 2.5" HD on a usb/eide
adaptor. The HD/USB is recognized on the Acer Netbook I have, so I know it
communicates. Doesn't WINXP have all the drivers you ever need? I think I
will remove the HD from the tablet I just bought and try it on the old (to
me) one and see if it will startup. Any thoughts on this?

Norm
"Rainald Taesler" wrote:

> Hi Ian,
> your below quoted suggestion is some kind of a modification of what I
> had suggested in my posting if Sept. 17 (Message-ID:
> <#7I54t7NKHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>)
> They contain what I see as serious mistakes. Ps see below
>
> Ian wrote:
> > The only other option I can see is to pull the harddrive.
> > You need to attach it to another pc with an adapter. Format the drive
> > as FAT32. Then copy a BARE dos bootable cd to the drive. (io.sys,
> > command.com, msdos.sys)
>
> This is not sufficient. The HDD would not be able to boot with DOS if
> the DOS-files are only *copied* to the drive.
> To make a disk bootable (be it floppy or HDD) it's necessary to transfer
> the system files and to create the needed MBR.
> This can be done with either
> FORMAT <drive letter> /S
> or with
> SYS C:
>
> > and then copy the entire cd into a folder on
> > the drive as well.
> >
> > example: c:\installcd
>
> No. The files for installing the OS should be copied to a separate
> partition.
>
> > when it starts up, it should boot to a basic c:\> then you can go
> > into the folder c:\installcd\i386
> > and run winnt.exe that will start the dos install routine. you can
> > install to an existing partition on the drive without losing the data
> > already there from the cd.
>
> Working this way will naturally *remove* the directory holding the
> install files when during the install the HDD will be formatted.
> Therefore the "i386" directory has to be copied to a second partition,
> f.e. d:\i386.
> The second partition world later be the proper place for storing the
> data.
>
> > patience is key, because you may end up repeating yourself quite a
> > few times to get it to install right.
>
> Agreed.
>
> Pls do not misunderstand my intervention. It's not not only based on my
> own experience but also on the results of literally hundreds of cases in
> the HP notebook forum where I was able to help users being unable to
> install Windows from a CD.
>
> Rainald
>
>

Well the HD from the new one worked in the old one. Now to copy the image
from one to the other. Maybe as ext usb drives on my Laptop. Would Acronis
True Image do this?
norm

"Rainald Taesler" wrote:

> Hi Ian,
> your below quoted suggestion is some kind of a modification of what I
> had suggested in my posting if Sept. 17 (Message-ID:
> <#7I54t7NKHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>)
> They contain what I see as serious mistakes. Ps see below
>
> Ian wrote:
> > The only other option I can see is to pull the harddrive.
> > You need to attach it to another pc with an adapter. Format the drive
> > as FAT32. Then copy a BARE dos bootable cd to the drive. (io.sys,
> > command.com, msdos.sys)
>
> This is not sufficient. The HDD would not be able to boot with DOS if
> the DOS-files are only *copied* to the drive.
> To make a disk bootable (be it floppy or HDD) it's necessary to transfer
> the system files and to create the needed MBR.
> This can be done with either
> FORMAT <drive letter> /S
> or with
> SYS C:
>
> > and then copy the entire cd into a folder on
> > the drive as well.
> >
> > example: c:\installcd
>
> No. The files for installing the OS should be copied to a separate
> partition.
>
> > when it starts up, it should boot to a basic c:\> then you can go
> > into the folder c:\installcd\i386
> > and run winnt.exe that will start the dos install routine. you can
> > install to an existing partition on the drive without losing the data
> > already there from the cd.
>
> Working this way will naturally *remove* the directory holding the
> install files when during the install the HDD will be formatted.
> Therefore the "i386" directory has to be copied to a second partition,
> f.e. d:\i386.
> The second partition world later be the proper place for storing the
> data.
>
> > patience is key, because you may end up repeating yourself quite a
> > few times to get it to install right.
>
> Agreed.
>
> Pls do not misunderstand my intervention. It's not not only based on my
> own experience but also on the results of literally hundreds of cases in
> the HP notebook forum where I was able to help users being unable to
> install Windows from a CD.
>
> Rainald
>
>

"Norm" <Norm@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A121F0E2-C2B0-4EEC-8586-7F87B6A0A656@microsoft.com...
> Well the HD from the new one worked in the old one. Now to copy the image
> from one to the other. Maybe as ext usb drives on my Laptop. Would
> Acronis
> True Image do this?
> norm
>
Yes.

Whatever wrote:
> "Norm" wrote:

>> Well the HD from the new one worked in the old one. Now to copy the
image
>> from one to the other. Maybe as ext usb drives on my Laptop. Would
>> Acronis
>> True Image do this?
>> norm
>>
> Yes.

For sure.
But it needs a bit of care!

Rainald