Formatted laptop with no CD drive!!

[DarthFurby]

I have a Sony Vaio laptop and completely formatted the hard drive. The internal cd drive is busted so I got a new external cd drive with a usb connection. The problem is I cant get the laptop to detect the external drive because my startup disk(created from Win 98) only recognizes parallel ports.

Is there a way to get my usb CD drive to work with my DOS startup disk(the manufacturer website was checked but no luck)? I was also looking around for a usb to Parallel adapter but couldn't find one.

Otherwise I'm stuck with a formatted laptop with no way of installing an OS!

I'm begging for help. I have no pride. Please help!! PLEASE!!!

[obooth]

Hey man! One way you can install a new OS is to get either a serial/parallel or usb connection cable and downloading the trial software "Laplink". This program allows you to network your laptop to any other computer so it can access the peripherals of that host computer.
Ie. You can put the OS cdrom in the host computers drive, and install it to your laptop!
Hoorah!
There may also be DOS drivers for USB to allow you access to your external cdrom. Try Sony's website for utility downloads, or just get a new internal cdrom drive!
Good luck, I know how frustrating it is having a dead computer, especially a nice unit like a Vaio!
Regards, Obooth

[mjc]

Using a bootdisk. partition and format the hard drive then transfer the system files to it so you can boot to it (sys c: at the prompt)...then you will be able to use the networking solution offered above.

It would make at least 2 partitions, and transfer the contents of the Cd to the D: partion, using the laplink methid above and install from there....that way if you need to reinstall again you will not be cuaght with out the install files handy. You would just reformat C: and then install again from D:...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[DarthFurby]

Thank GOD!! Laplink has to be one of the top 10 most useful programs EVER. Took me forever to figure out i was using the wrong kind of parallel cable but once that was fixed it worked like a charm. Partitioned the drive and copied the sucker.

Thanks a lot i could never have figured this out on my own. U guys r awesome.