I _HAVE_ an external USB interfaced DVD drive.
That doesn't seem to do any good.
I can't seem to "Boot" off of it.
I need help formatting two old, half-crippled laptop's hard drives and re-installing Windows XP.
Both will be used in workshops for mundane record keeping or at the most demanding, possibly to view a random Youtube "how-to" video.
One of them (yet undecided) will be donated to a church's workshop so deleting all the old data by way of formatting would be best for both.
Both have problems with their built in flatscreens, so both will in the end use their external video connector and surplus monitors I have.
Both will also end up being used with the lid shut and use of an external keyboard.
Both have problems with their built in CD-ROM drives that make installing via the normal route problematic.
Both have battery issues that make mobile use impractical.
Note that I do have an external USB interfaced DVD drive to help with any installs. I've not had success with booting from this drive and the relevant Windows XP CD (home/Pro - OEM both).
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The older one is a "Winbook M221" (Model no. 8640).
This one has a license for XP Pro.
This one's Wi-Fi card doesn't seem to work _OR_ I don't know how to turn it on; thus I expect that in it's final destination, this one will be hard-wired to anEthernet cable.
This one has a 15" screen resolution of 1024x768.
This one will be connected to a LCD monitor of the exact same dimension and resolution.
When it worked, the video connector appeared to only duplicate the video shown on the built in screen; this is a good thing.
The older one's Windows installation is so damaged that I can not get the "System Properties" window.
Upon startup, I pressed "F2" and acquired the following additional information:
Devices:
Floppy Drive A = None
Primary Master = 40 GB
CD-ROM = None (this is because of the bad internal connector)
Serial Port = IR2, 2F8, IRQ 3
Parallel Port = LPT1, 378, IRQ 7
System:
CPU = Pentium 4CPU
Speed = 2400 MHz
System BIOS = 1.01 EC
BIOS = 1.02
Memory:
Base = 640 KB
Extended = 490496 KB
Video = 32768
Total RAM = 524288 KB
Cache (Ext) = 512
The Winbook's Boot sequence is: CD-ROM Drive, Hard Disc C, Floppy Disk Drive & LAN Boot.
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The newer one is a Gateway "7410".
This one has a license for XP Home.
This one's Wi-Fi card DOES seem to work, thus it may end up on a rolling cart of some sort.
This one has a 15 & 3/8ths inch screen with a resolution of 1280x1024.(Note that it is NOT a 3:4 ratio screen.)
This one will be connected to a 15 & 5/8ths inch CRT; The Max. resolution of this CRT is not known, but it appears to be able to handle 1280x1024(It's an "Envision" EN-710e, with a 3:4 ratio).
The built in video connector/interface (for use with the external monitor) does not seemto allow me to ONLY duplicate/mirror the built in monitor. I've only been able to make it to extend the desktop.
The newer one's "System Properties" window states:
- Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 3
- Gateway 7410GX
- Mobile AMD Anthalon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+
- 1.80 GHz, 768 MB of RAM
- Physical Address Extension
Upon startup, I pressed "F2" and aquired the following additional information:
BIOS Version 52.00.01 (no mention of WHO made the BIOS)
KBC Version K52.33.08
The Gateway's Boot sequence is: "CD-ROM Drive", "Removable Devices", "+Hard Drive", "Network Boot" & "Intel UNDI, PXE-2.0 (build 082)".
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Thank you.

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