Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 11:19:51 -0500 (EST)
From: Jim Sheafer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Success: Complete reinstall WITHOUT CD-ROM
Summary:
I have succeded in completely reinstalling the Windows partition of my
libretto 110ct from the "Configuration Builder" CD and without using an
external PCMCIA CD drive. Toshiba tech support on the phone and on the web
said it can't be done.
Details:
I wanted to get back to the very beginning - completely reinstall
everything on my Windows partition. Everyone at tech support said it can't
be done. Here is how I did it. You need some 3rd party software and
another computer to network to, but it can be done.
1. Make a new 450MB partition.
I used Partition Magic 5 ($40 on ebay, shipped). You could also use
"fips" which is a dos program that comes with Linux and allows you to
make a new partition at the end of a drive. There is also a Linux based
partition changer. I made a 650MB partition so I can keep entire CDs there
if I need to in the future.
2. Copy the entire Configuration Builder CD to the new partition.
I used a null parallel cable and windows "Direct Cable Connection"
connected to a PC with a CD drive. You can use any type of networking.
3. Run the Configuration Builder.
Install the floppy drive and run the Configuration Builder from the new
partition you just made. You want to make a "custom" config. Choose the
programs you want (I selected all and then un-selected prodgy). The
important thing is to choose "use existing partitions". This will create a
boot floppy for you.
4. Boot the Configuration Builder floppy.
5. Make sure you can access both of your harddisk partitions.
6. Format your c: drive - YOU WILL LOSE ALL INFORMATION AT THIS STEP!
Make sure to use "format /s c:" so your partition will still be bootable.
7. Setup a few environment variables to trick the recovery program into
thinking you have a CD-ROM attached.
"set CDDRV=d:" and "set PATH=d:\;d:\bin;a:\"
8. Run the recover.com program from the c: drive.
"c:" and "d:\recover"
The recovery program actually just unzips two huge zip files, moves some
other files, and edits the registry. Before I figured out which
environment variables to set I had started unzipping them by hand (they
are password protected, but the password is in the clear in the
recovery.com binary) so I actually installed the zips twice - once by
hand, and then once by running recover with the right environment set. The
recover program ran for almost an hour.
9. Reboot.
Bingo - complete restore and back to the "out of box" condition.
Big thanks to all the toshiba tech support people who told me I couldn't
do it.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bunch of software to install on my
good-as-new 110ct...
--
-Jim
----
Jim Sheafer http://www.tux.org/~sheafer/
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