[amtryingto]

Hello *waves*
new guy here. have read many,many posts past couple days &
am seeking advice/help.
bought HP-NC4200 laptop. build date 6=7-06
pentium M, Intel centrino, XP pro COA.

was a repo from a bank. hard drive was professionaly (was told) wiped clean.
laptop didnt come with any discs. (recovery/install)
upon start up..screen shows "Non System disk or disk error-replace & strike any key when ready"
assume thats because no OS is installed?

I can get into bios. have changed boot settings to start with usb drive.
am trying to install XP pro from USB zip (portable pocket,take along)
pc starts up & then goes into black screen with blinking cursor in top left. from there...nothing else can be done, except shutdown/off.

have also ran bios HDD self test...which shows ok
also ran memeory check....shows ok.
main HD sounds to be starting & running on power up.

is there a(simple/easy) way to make usb bootable?
I may have not done it the right way. used wintoflash app to install XP from CD to usb drive.
Have also read & wondered if Cmos may need reset first?
or do I need to have HP HD format tool (app)also?

I also have portable HD that can be used for installing XP but,
cant, not sure how, to make XP install from that either.

any help would be wonderful!

Edited by amtryingto, 08 February 2010 - 08:27 AM.

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The flashing curser only means that the bios see's a unformatted drive, or a drive with no boot files. I think you have not done the USB drive correctly for it to boot. I would read this tutorial on H-P bootable flash drives. Look at the second method.

http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

SRX660

[SRX660]

The flashing curser only means that the bios see's a unformatted drive, or a drive with no boot files. I think you have not done the USB drive correctly for it to boot. I would read this tutorial on H-P bootable flash drives. Look at the second method.

http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

SRX660

[amtryingto]

Okay SRX660.

will read link & retry.
Tx for answer.

I have found many answer on net but...they all have me running in circles.
not sure which way to go first.
will start with info on this site.

[amtryingto]

followed instructions for step 2 @ http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive
drive format worked ok. drive key boot wont work with Vista pc.
unless I id something wrong. Copied to zip drive & unpacked there.
also had to install win98se OEM version for DOS app.
Copie XP pro to zip drive.

Laptop booted into win98 screen...then DOS.
ran install & it unpacked/copied files (about an hr,without smartdrv.exe,
that app wouldnt install or open.
next screen that appears is XP pro setup but....states it requires hard drive volume of 538MB & 1 cant be located on pc? press enter to exit is only option given. screen goes back to DOS.

Do ya think something is still messed up on Zip drive?
Will try useing XP pc to make zip drive. see if that helps. *crosses fingers*
any suggestions greatly appreciated.

I know just enough to be dangerous....

[SRX660]

Please read this Tech Republic article to see if it helps.

http://articles.tech...11-5928902.html

SRX660

[amtryingto]

tried above link/website.
still no luck. screen goes into "non-system disk or error"
reformat & installed evrything required by website using XP OS desktop.
~sigh~
suggestions?

[SRX660]

Microsoft answer.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812492

As a last resort you could always try this.

http://www.syschat.c...ppy-cd-463.html

DOS 7.10
http://www.syschat.com/download60.html

laptop to IDE adapter
http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item27af1d16af

SRX660

[amtryingto]

Thanks SRX660!

read articles...ordered external cd drive &
HD adapter.
Thought USB zip would be simple/easy process.
aparently not.

Thanks for all your help,guidance, & suggestions.
will post later IF things work out with usb-cd drive.