Install Windows from 2nd partition

We need to reinstall Windows XP on an elderly laptop without a currently
working optical drive. The I386 folder is already on the data partition of
the drive - used earlier for running SFC.

Is the < winnt.exe /s: d:\I386 > command suitable for the install - after
first navigating to that folder with a boot floppy? That partition is FAT
formatted.

A replacement optical drive is on order but will take a week to arrive. And
this laptop needs to be up and running a.s.a.p. (an involved story). A very
recent back-up image of the system exists - on an optical disc! And We don't
have the right adapter handy to hook up the drive to a working desktop to
restore it directly.

TIA for any insights.

Q
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How to install Windows from the I386 folder
http://www.easydesksoftware.com/I386.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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"Q" wrote:

We need to reinstall Windows XP on an elderly laptop without a currently
working optical drive. The I386 folder is already on the data partition of
the drive - used earlier for running SFC.

Is the < winnt.exe /s: d:\I386 > command suitable for the install - after
first navigating to that folder with a boot floppy? That partition is FAT
formatted.

A replacement optical drive is on order but will take a week to arrive. And
this laptop needs to be up and running a.s.a.p. (an involved story). A very
recent back-up image of the system exists - on an optical disc! And We don't
have the right adapter handy to hook up the drive to a working desktop to
restore it directly.

TIA for any insights.

Q
--