Windows ME install with no floppy drive

Mr442,
The system files may be in the CABS folder of Windows ( if your computer manufacturer installed OS Me before you purchased it).
      In that case,  from a:> prompt  type:
                              C:\Windows\Options\Cabs\setup.exe
   Otherwise type:
                              C:\Windows\Options\Install\setup.exe  
If you are unsure, you can search for BASE2.CAB like this    >  Start > Search > For Files or Folders.
        BASE2.CAB is usually found in one of two locations on your hard drive:
          C:\Windows\Options\CABS      or      C:\Windows\Options\Install

I have no A: drive !!
I'm trying to install Windows ME on a FAT32 formatted hard drive.
I have a CD_ROM drive only to install Windows ME. No floppy drive !!
In the past I have used a floppy drive to start setup on the CD-ROM drive with the Windows install CD in it.

This laptop has no floppy drive.
How do I get the Windows ME install CD to start ?? It tries to auto run but will not.

Yes, realised too late as my comment "submit"key was depressed, that you have no floppy disk.

Reading this article at present, but not sure if we'll find the answer here >
See paragraph "Enabling AutoRun on your computer" ..

"CD AutoRun basics ":
http://www.phdcc.com/shellrun/autorun.htm

From the above link it appears that the NoDriveTypeAutoRun "value" by using your 'regedit' should be  95 00 00 00
But of no use if you cannot reach 'regedit'.      
At this stage i can only suggest that blue_zee may have a solution.

Jonvee - Thanks for trying!

Question:

If you power up without the CD in the drive does the PC start or boot?

To what?

Zee

There is no OS installed. I just formatted the hard drive to re-install Windows ME. It displays message "No OS found" Insert OS setup disk, then press any key. After pressing any key it gives same message again.
I n BIOS the CD-Rom is set to boot before the hard drive, and it does spin up the Windows ME install CD.
But it just will not start.
In the past I've always used a floppy to enter this command:
D: setup.exe

D: of course being the drive letter assigned to the CD-ROM drive.
From here the install takes over.

There has to be a way to start the install without a floppy drive.
Need a way to command the ME install disk:
setup.exe

Thank You!
Mr442

How did you format?

I feel also that you may have a problem with the CD drive.

AFAIK all Windows ME CD's were bootable, i.e., you shouldn't need a floppy.

Is your CD an original one, a backup copy or an OS image (recovery, restore disk)?

Zee

The CD drive will run my Ultimate Boot CD, and is presently running MemTest86 v1.65 on it.
Also the ME - CD is a copy and usually works fine.
I don't remember it booting by itself, but I don't use it much.

I will burn another from image I have and see if it will run by itself.

Thanks

Windows ME installation CDs are bootable.

Let's see if you manage that.

Listening...

Zee

Is the USB port functional when you boot with the Ultimate Boot CD?

If it is, copy the Win9x folder from the CD to an USB flash drive and then from the flash drive to HDD.

Use a boot CD to start the laptop and run SETUP from the C:\Win9x folder you copied.

If the above is not feasible you can also pull out the HDD:

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Solo_Series/P5300/P530028.shtml

Slave it to a working PC and copy the Win9X folder from the CD to the HDD.

Replace the HDD back in the bay and try running SETUP after using a boot CD.

That should do it.

Zee

Ok blue zee.
we copied the Win9x folder to the hard drive like you said, we put it back into the laptop, and booted with our Ultimate Boot CD and used the free DOS program.

This is what we're presently looking at:
BOOTDRV:   A:
RAMDRV:     Q:
UBCDDRV     T:

Directory of A:\

AUTOEXEC BAT
BIN                         <DIR>
COMMAND COM
CONFIG SYS
DISKID TXT
ETC                        <DIR>
KERNEL SYS
LEVEL0                    <DIR>
LEVEL1                    <DIR>
LEVEL2                    <DIR>
LEVEL3                    <DIR>
LIB                          <DIR>
             5 file(s)
             7 dir(s)

Thank You for your help.
DOS is not my cup of tea. HA HA :)

Mr442

I am not familiar with Ultimate Boot CD...

Can you access the C: drive?

Or better C:\Win9x\ ?

From the prompt type

C: (Enter)

cd Win9x (Enter)

SETUP (Enter)

This should launch the Windows installation process.

Searching for for further info, but also listening.

Zee

If you cannot access the hard drive in DOS, I believe it will be easier/simpler if you can create a Windows/DOS boot CD from a CD burning software like Nero.

Do you have Nero or some CD burning software in a Win9x/Me system?

Zee

Thank You blue zee.
We were able to do it with the UBCD and your advice about copying the Win9x folder to the hard drive.

Now setup is freezing just after the Windows Setup Wizard progress bar gets to 100%.
We reformatted, copied Win9x folder to hard drive again.
Started setup and it froze in exactly the same place, again.

RAM test passed.
I'm guessing it's my Windows ME CD, it's old and scatched.

You have earned your 500 points!
You got me into setup!

Thanks again.
Mr442

Mr442,

Thank you for your comments.

I am glad it worked to some extent, but really sorry you were not able to install Windows.

Thanks also for the fine grading.

Cheers.

Zee

the reason why your cd will not boot is it was burnt at a rate to high for the cd rom to read copy your cd on another computer and turn the burn rate down to at least 8x.

after that you should be able to install windows me.