Reloading WinXP without floppy disk drive

Question

I am trying to reload Windows XP on my brand new Dell Dimension 8400 that I just bought.  I do not have a floppy drive on this computer, nor do I have the SATA driver floppy disk.  Is there any other way to get around the problem where Win XP is not recognizing my SATA hard drive before loading fresh Win XP?   I would appreciate any help.  The Win XP Pro that I am trying to reload is foreign language version.     pjrhee

simpswr · Answer

Only way around it that I know is to buy a floppy drive ( under $10 these days) and hook it up long enough to use in the installation.

Dell is not being very responsible when they sell these machines with no floppy.

wrs

msgale · Answer

I have been thinking about this recently, and have no solution but several questions. 1 - If one was to buy a floppy drive, could it be a USB floppy drive?  2 - Could the drivers be downloaded and burned to a CD and the drivers loaded from that? 3 - Using a CD with the drivers on it as in question 2 could I swap CDs back an forth or would I need a second CD reader?  4 - Could the drivers be loaded on a USB Flash Disk (key ring device) and loaded from there?

simpswr · Answer

All good questions . . I just found it easier to temporarily attach a floppy drive. . . but the idea of using a USB floppy or flash is interesting . . I'll try that the next time I load on a SATA system.

wrs

Denny Denham · Answer

pjrhee, See if this is any help.

Windows General

Reloading WinXP without floppy disk drive

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