Installing XP Tablet on HD w/o built-in USB's or CD-ROM

Thank You, Ian. I recently bouught off ebay a Flex Dock, Motion Computing
docking station, primaily for the purpose you suggested. It does not work.
When I plug my external cd-rom in, with the recovery disk in it, the cd-rom
light comes on for a few seconds, and nothing more. I tried restarting the
tablet with the cdrom plugged into the docking station usb port. Same
results.
Durint the tablets start-up I can tap the screen with the pen, and get into
Bios. I have changed the boot order from HDD to Cdrom to removable devices.
Nothing. Just a flashing _ at the top left on the screen. B & W.
Thanks again, Norm

"Ian" wrote:

> > My Tablet's USB ports don't work But an aftermarket PCMCIA USB hub did. The
> > Tablet does not have a CD-ROM. The original HD crashed. Now I don't know
> > how to install XP Tablet. If I take the HD out and make it an temp. external
> > drive on my Desktop, can I copy certain files onto the HD to get started?
> > Any Suggestions, or should I just toss it?
> > Norm
>
> Norm, do you have the docking station for the M1400? I had a similar issue
> with my M1400 and I found that I could plug an IDE cd-rom drive into the usb
> port on the docking station using a usb adapter, and then just do the reload
> with the tablet sitting in the docking station using the Motion Computing
> reload disc
>
> word of warning, for whatever reason, SP3 causes severe issues on the m1400
> tablet.

"Norm" wrote:

> Thank You, Ian. I recently bouught off ebay a Flex Dock, Motion Computing
> docking station, primaily for the purpose you suggested. It does not work.
> When I plug my external cd-rom in, with the recovery disk in it, the cd-rom
> light comes on for a few seconds, and nothing more. I tried restarting the
> tablet with the cdrom plugged into the docking station usb port. Same
> results.
> Durint the tablets start-up I can tap the screen with the pen, and get into
> Bios. I have changed the boot order from HDD to Cdrom to removable devices.
> Nothing. Just a flashing _ at the top left on the screen. B & W.
> Thanks again, Norm

for an external CD-rom drive, are you using one that is hub powered, as in
only has a usb cable, or one with an external power source as well? you may
want to use one with an external power source to prevent the usb ports from
being shut off; they may not be getting enough voltage.

another stupid thing: does your cd-rom support bootable disks.. I've had a
few cd-roms, both ide and usb external that did not for whatever reason.

the other questions I have: is your reload cd an original Motion computing,
or a copied? just had to ask because I've seen some copies floating around
where the boot sector was bad.

usually when you attempt to boot off a cd-rom and all you get is the
flashing cursor, and then it goes to error or whatever other screen, it's
because that for whatever reason, the drive is not reading a boot sector on
the disk - either it doesn't support it, or it's not on the disk to begin
with.

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) and then copy the entire cd into a folder on the drive as well.

example: c:\installcd

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.

patience is key, because you may end up repeating yourself quite a few times
to get it to install right.

Thank You Ian, Beverly, and Rainald,

Well in frustration I bought another M1400 off ebay, last night. My plan is
to use Acronis True Image and copy the image of the new one to the old one.
The old one has the "View Anywhere" screen and I want it for navigation
purposes on my sailboat. If this works, I will probably sell the one I just
bought. I figure this is probably cheaper than sending it in to the copany
for repair.

I have the original Recovery CD. My ext. Cd-Rom is separately powered. If
I have the CD-Rom plugged into my laptop and close the drive with the
recovery disk in it, it autoruns and has a menu to install WinXP. But not
with the tablet.

The usb hub/pcmcia card won't work because the drivers are needed on the
tablet.
Thanks to all, I will keep you posted,

Norm

"Ian" wrote:

>
>
> "Norm" wrote:
>
> > Thank You, Ian. I recently bouught off ebay a Flex Dock, Motion Computing
> > docking station, primaily for the purpose you suggested. It does not work.
> > When I plug my external cd-rom in, with the recovery disk in it, the cd-rom
> > light comes on for a few seconds, and nothing more. I tried restarting the
> > tablet with the cdrom plugged into the docking station usb port. Same
> > results.
> > Durint the tablets start-up I can tap the screen with the pen, and get into
> > Bios. I have changed the boot order from HDD to Cdrom to removable devices.
> > Nothing. Just a flashing _ at the top left on the screen. B & W.
> > Thanks again, Norm
>
> for an external CD-rom drive, are you using one that is hub powered, as in
> only has a usb cable, or one with an external power source as well? you may
> want to use one with an external power source to prevent the usb ports from
> being shut off; they may not be getting enough voltage.
>
> another stupid thing: does your cd-rom support bootable disks.. I've had a
> few cd-roms, both ide and usb external that did not for whatever reason.
>
> the other questions I have: is your reload cd an original Motion computing,
> or a copied? just had to ask because I've seen some copies floating around
> where the boot sector was bad.
>
> usually when you attempt to boot off a cd-rom and all you get is the
> flashing cursor, and then it goes to error or whatever other screen, it's
> because that for whatever reason, the drive is not reading a boot sector on
> the disk - either it doesn't support it, or it's not on the disk to begin
> with.
>
> 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) and then copy the entire cd into a folder on the drive as well.
>
> example: c:\installcd
>
> 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.
>
> patience is key, because you may end up repeating yourself quite a few times
> to get it to install right.

>> IMHO your posting is good for nothing but spreading confusion. <<

Your opinion is noted.

However, I stand by my opinions.

Have a nice day anyway,
Beverly Howard

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:
<#>)
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

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:
> <#>)
> 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:
> <#>)
> 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
>
>

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