Installing Windows-XP from usb/otherwise

[kane_william]

Hello everyone:

I have a strange situation here.

1.Most of my laptop keys on the keybaord doesnt work. I was using an external usb keyboard and it was just fine.

Since the keys doesnt work, I could not get into BIOS or enter even the Key for Windows installation.

2. My CDROM doesnt work too. So, could not boot Windows from CDROM.

3. My laptop, doesnt have a floppy drive too.

All, added to that, since my comp was connected to the Internet almost unprotected, the world's known viruses are in my system now and it wouldnt let me use my external keyboard properly.

This is the scneario. THe best way now is to re-install windows. Are there any ways to install windows now?

1. Can a usb pendrive be used to boot the laptop and install windows? Hopefully the keys that are working would let me enter the Windows registration key.

Any suggestions are welcome and many thanks in advance. I know, its a big challenge.

Cheers,
kane

 

[RealBlackStuff]

You should invest in some laptop replacement parts, like a keyboard and CD/DVD ROM. If it's a well-known brand, such as IBM, HP or Dell, parts are easy to find on eBay.
If you are not willing to do that, you stand hardly a chance to get the laptop going again, because you will need to get into the BIOS to switch on the 'Boot from USB' option.
What is your exact laptop brand and model?

 

[kane_william]

my laptop model is Compaq Presario-b1011. I couldnt find the needed parts so easily and am also not sure if changing the keypad and CDROM would make them function or if its some other bug.

 

[raybay]

You will have great difficulty installing Windows booting from a pen drive and installing Windows with it. This is exactly what Microsoft is not going to let you do.
Using a laptop without a floppy, with a non-working keyboard, and a non-working CD-ROM is just wrong-headed. Get some things fixed, or get another unit.

 

[Sjbrand99]

...Or you could buy an external USB floppy drive for about £15 ($30). You could then proceed to boot from that.