Put the Hd into a PC that does have a CD
FDISK The HD and partition it ( as a SYSTEM disk by the way )
Now reboot and after you format the disk, we can start
Now make a folder, or a few folders so you can end up with
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS
This is not vital how you do it, but that seems to be how all PCs that I have come across in the past had it.
you do this with the MD and CD commands
MD WINDOWS
MD WINDOWS\OPTIONS
MD WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS
CD WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS
Now all you need to do, is copy the CD Contents over to the HD
Depends on where the Files are and what Drive letter the CD is on, but first make sure that SMARTDRV is installed by typing SMARTDRV. You may need to be in a directory that has this file but it will speed up disk access 100 times faster ( Or whatever ? )
Anyway, I think the Win98 and WinME CD have their Windows files in the Win9x folder, so you probably need to type in something like
X: ( If the CD is X: )
CD WIN9X
You should see something like
X:\WIN9X:\>
If you do, then bino, you can now copy the files over
COPY *.* C: /V
I used C: and not C:\ because we are still in the C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS Folder in C: and thats where we want the files to go - If we added C:\ instead, then the files will be copied to the root and thats naughty boy smack bottom time.
The *.* means copy all the files and the /V is to VERIFY that they have indeed copied
We now have all the main files that we need to install Windows 98/Me onto the HD, already on the HD.
There are 2 other files that we really do need and these are CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT that might be on a VIRTUAL FLOPPY DRIVE... Have a look for them. We might get away without them, but if you can find them, then they have a few tricks in them.
They call on certain files for example the CD Driver and without them, we cannot use the CDROM.
They also setup certain memory parameters and again we really could do with these however, windows has ways to get around them.
Anyway, if you have these files then they need to be editted a little and both of them need to be copied into C:\
Lets forget that for now however.
Get the HD and put it back into the Laptop.
Now boot from it.
If everything has gone in as it should, you will have a black screen with a bit of writing in there and you will see
C:\> and the cursor will be flashing.
If you do then brilliant, if not, then erm... He did it, not me.
Anyway, type in
CD WINDOWS
CD OPTIONS
CD CABS
SMARTDRV
SETUP /NM
And let us know how you get on!!!!
This is a hugely edditted and quick few notes - If you want me to fully run you through, then I will be more than happy to.