[Eddie]

Hi guys,

I have a problem. I REALLy want to reset this crappy old (2002) Laptop back to factory settings as it has so many bugs and glitches and loads of unwanted crap on it now.

I saved all my important things and then went to pop in the recovery disc that came with the computer. It was then that it struck me, I have no CD ROM drive in the laptop anymore because it broke a while back and now I use a USB external drive. This is obviously a problem as when I restart the computer, if the normal CD drive was working then the computer would recognise the BOOT disc in the drive and I would be able to start a recovery. However, with the boot CD in the external drive nothing happens as it does not read it (I'm assuming due to the fact that the usb drive doesn't work properly until the system is up and running properly?!).

IS there anyway I can get around this as I am really desperate to do it.

you should know that

a) I have no XP disc, just the recovery disc.
b) I have no floppy drive (only and external USB one).
c) Putting in the recovery disc and loading this whilst windows is running does nothing, infact the computer doesn't recognise the two .bin files on the cd.
d) I've tried everything I can think of.

Any help or ideas?

[Console]

If you go into the BIOS settings, by pressing a certain key during startup (it should tell you which key specifically), there should be a section where you can choose the boot order of the computer. It will probably be set to something like "D: then C:" (or D,C). Go to that option and cycle through the available values to see if there is a 'USB' option. If there is then set that as the value and reboot. It should then allow you to boot the CD using your external drive.

[Eddie]

I've checked that already, there isn't a usb oiption unfortuanetly. Any other offers?

[MK Chris]

Even with the external drive attached there's no USB option? What are the options on the boot sequence, as Console says I'd reckon that be the problem.

[Eddie]

The options I get are Hard drive, Floppy, CD ROM and LAN. That's all!

there's got to be a way to do this. I'm going mad trying!

[MK Chris]

Hmm, perhaps you need to update the BIOS first? The version you have may not be capable of booting from USB, although this isn't guaranteed to fix it and you do have to be careful when updating your BIOS.

Other than that, if your laptop doesn't support booting from USB, your only other option would possibly be to convert your external CD drive to an internal drive or use these links to create a boot floppy (uses about six floppy discs I think) of WinXP:

Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Professional SP1
Windows XP Professional SP2
Windows XP Home

[Quincy]

throw it down some stairs

[Eddie]

Topher, I have no floppy drive either. How do i update my BIOS?

[Console]

How do i update my BIOS?

That depends on which BIOS you have. You may not be able to update it at all, but, on the assumption that you can, make a note of the BIOS Manufacturer (and the version) from the BIOS Screen and then try to find the manufacturer's website. They, if they offer updates, should have a section for it on there and hopefully a guide to flash it.

Alternatively, you might want to consider taking it to a computer repair place, to either update your BIOS for you, or to repair your internal cdrom drive.

[Sidders]

Quincy's suggestion is not actually as stupid as it sounds. I know someone who repeatedly broke their laptop beyond repair every couple of years just so they could get a new one. Don't do it if it's not guaranteed though obviously.

[Eddie]

it's not guaranteed unfortunately or I would just break it. I'm sure there must be some easy solution that we're all missing

[Console]

I'm sure there must be some easy solution that we're all missing

You could borrow another laptop, one with a working internal cdrom drive, swap the hard disks over, use the recovery cd, and then swap the hard drives back.

As they're laptops, it won't be the easiest thing to do, but you don't have a whole lot of options. However, first I'd try getting the internal cdrom drive fixed or updating the BIOS and seeing if the usb-cdrom method works.

[Eddie]

yeah, it's not worth it if it's a tricky job - I think I'll try and update the BIOS first!

[Eddie]

I found my BIOS manufacturer etc it's...

Insyde Software mobilePRO BIOS version 3.00.03

I can't find an update anywhere so I guess I'm screwed without taking the laptop to be fixed which I'm loathed to do. Unless anyoen can find an update for that BIOS then I'm gonna have to live with this crappy slow thing forever more!

[MK Chris]

What's the make/model of the laptop?

[Eddie]

It's a Packard Bell IGO 5461

[MK Chris]

Eddie, I think I've found a BIOS update for your laptop here (it's not specifically for the IGO 5461 but it is for the IGO 5000 series - but there's a drawback... It's an ISO file, which means it has to be burned to a CD. This may not be a problem with your external drive (as long as it can write to CDs), but it will be when you have to boot from it in order to update your BIOS.

Definitely need your CD drive fixed at the minute mate I'd say.

[Sidders]

but it will be when you have to boot from it in order to update your BIOS.

The ISO file isn't necessarily a bootable CD though.

Edit: yes it is, as it say on the site. D'oh!

Editastic.

[Dickie]

The BIOS cant be updated as the PC effectively has no drives, so looks like getting the internal CD-Drive sorted may be the best option all round.

[Eddie]

Yeah, I don't think it's worth it then. The computer is 4 years old in September and I'm about due another one. If there was an easy fix i'd take it but I think I'll live with what I've got for the time being untilI can afford a new one, it's not like it doesn't work. It's not worh paying someone to fix the internal drive. Oh well. back to my slow PC I go!

[Sidders]

Can you not just get a new internal drive?

[Eddie]

again, a cost which this piece of junk doesn't deserve!

[Sidders]

I think you might be able to some sort of cable or adapter that you plug USB devices into and it plugs into a free internal IDE port. That might work.

[MK Chris]

You can get the other way round (IDE to USB - to effectively turn an internal drive into an external drive) but I'm not sure about the other way round.

However, external drives are just internal drives with a case around them - so if you can unscrew the case, take the faulty drive out and stick the external one in as an internal drive that may work.

[Dickie]

As it's a laptop though the drive is likely to be different to that of a PC.