HELP: installing Windows XP on laptop with no cd/floppy drive woes :S
 

I have a full install of Fedora Core 4 linux distribution on my laptop 1. I would like to create a PXE-network-boot using this laptop 1. How can I go about doing this?

Then I want to use bochs (PC emulator?) and also a samba share of my CD rom drive? I want to boot up into linux on laptop 2 using PXE from laptop 1. Then run bochs and install Windows XP. Laptop 2 does not have a cd rom or floppy disk drive.

Does anyone know how to do PXE on linux? and boot up from it remotely?

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General since it's really about a Windows-installation, and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Doing a PXE boot for laptops is somewhat problematic in that you have to have a miniPCI network adaptor that is PXE compatible.

Beyond that, not familiar with PXE booting and Linux. Have you thought about swapping drives between laptop 1 and 2 and then installing? (Provided you have a cd-rom drive on laptop 1. . . )

That's breaking the laptop's warrenty.

I won't tell if you don't tell.

well, first I don't know how to open up laptops, nor connect change hard disks around. plus it's risky to something going wrong

am going to try this pxe boot up to install windows xp... though hard... it's transferable skills for future issues/problems too. and it's more appealing to employers/bosses, etc. than opening up their laptops..

Many laptop/notebook PCs make access to their hard drives little more than removing a screw from the bottom, sliding a plate out of the way, and disconnecting the drive. Some even have the drive in a "cartridge" of sorts that can be easily removed without tools and swapped with another, similar, notebook (while the power is off, fer gawd sakes!). At a former employer we swapped drives from one notebook to another all the time. User comes in with bad _____, pop out their drive, pop it in a good notebook, send user on their way, while the notebook gets bench tested or sent out for repairs. Replacing/swapping a hard drive in a notebook is a basic support skill.

Using a PXE boot to install WinXP is going to require a Win2k/2k3 server with RIS installed and a Win2k/2k3 DHCP and DNS server.

Will the notebook support booting from a USB key? If so, you might want to look at a distro like Damn Small Linux or a Slack variant.