This post is more than 5 years old
301 Posts
0
149505
how to reinstall an OS on a Dell Mini without CD/DVD drives
I received a Dell Mini from a media provider as a gift for switching my media services. I would like to do a clean install of the OS. The mini came with the OS and driver CD's, but the computer does not have a CD/DVD drive. Before undertaking this endeavor I want to make sure I can do it this way. Can I copy the contents of the CD's onto a USB drive and install the OS and drivers from the USB drive (I have a Desktop that I can transfer from the CD to the USB)? Or is there another method to do this. Thanks for any answers.
TheRealFireblad
4.6K Posts
1
February 24th, 2009 05:00
Both Vista and XP can be installed from a USB pendrive. There are many articles on the web explaining how to do it.
Here are a couple of XP guides: Installing Windows XP Using A USB Flash Drive / Installing Windows XP on a PC using a USB flash drive.
For Vista... there are so many guides available, I might as well just provide a link to all the hits from a Google search for 'InstaIling Windows Vista using a USB drive?'.
DELL-Larry R
1.7K Posts
0
February 23rd, 2009 12:00
I'm not sure what exactly is needed to do this, but I have heard of numerous people that have done OS installs via USB key in the past. Most recently I have heard of it done specifically with the Mini 9, so you should be able to.
Tommieking
110 Posts
0
February 23rd, 2009 17:00
I think you need a external cd/dvd drive.
beversoll
301 Posts
0
March 19th, 2009 14:00
Just an update. I was able to install from a USB drive. I used one of the articles that came up in your Google search, TheRealFireBlade. The only problem I ran into pertained to whether or not my motherboard could boot from a USB drive. I could not find a yes or no answer through my research, so I tried it anyways. Well, it worked.
thanks
parvazkhan
2 Posts
0
March 17th, 2013 10:00
PudgyOne
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
30.3K Posts
0
March 17th, 2013 15:00
parvazkhan,
DELL-Larry R no longer works for Dell. If you have a problem, please create a new thread in the proper Dell Support Forums
Because of age, this thread will be locked.
Thank you,
Rick