Start a PC without a hard drive Solved

Question

Hello,  I have a working PC that doesn't have a hard drive.  This PC ran on Windows 98.    My question is:  what happens if I connect a hard drive (new or used) and during the BIOS launch I insert a Windows 98 installation CD?    Notes: it's a modest PC, I don't want to play, or do HD or go online, I'm only interested in word processing.   It's a Pentium 3 (sorry, I don't have the frequency), 320 MB of RAM, 64 MB graphics card.   Thank you.       You will waste your time replying to tell me to throw away my computer and that it's too old. In addition to wasting your time, you won't teach me anything new.   Configuration: Windows XP / Firefox 3.6.7

polna · Accepted Answer

nothing, you just install it...

Anonymous user · Answer

"What happens if I connect a hard drive (new or used) and during the BIOS startup I put in a Windows 98 installation CD?"

> You can't hot swap a hard drive, and if the BIOS is already running and you insert an installation CD, the installation won't start; you will have to reboot your PC.

You must first install a hard drive (IDE I think :p), then put the installation CD in the drive, and reboot (assuming you have set the boot priority to the CD drive in the BIOS)."

Flow78 · Answer

Eventually, you will need to configure your BIOS to boot the PC from the CD drive. After that, you will need to restart the PC, and then you can install it :)

Jerome · Answer

If I understand correctly:   with the PC turned off, I connect an IDE hard drive (new or used), I insert a Win 98 installation CD into the CD drive, I turn on the PC, and if the BIOS has the CD drive set as the priority, would that work?

Anonymous user · Answer

yep =)   (assuming that there's absolutely nothing on the hard drive ^^)

Jerome · Answer

Okay.   Is it possible to intervene on the BIOS priorities? Can I tell it to boot from the CD drive?  Because at first glance, this seems to be the issue.

Anonymous user · Answer

go into your BIOS (delete at startup of your PC), look for the priority device, and set your CD drive as 1st (1st) (you should find something like "Asus T143 CD Reader", "Atapi CD-R", ... (I jumbled it a bit, but it should look something like that ^^)

Flow78 · Answer

Of course. When launching, you should press the indicated key (you have to be quick, it doesn’t last long) to access the BIOS setup. (usually it's F10, or F12, or Delete). Then in the BIOS, there should be a "boot" or "options" category; however, the BIOS varies so I can't clearly guide you, but you just need to change the priority, it’s not very complicated to do.

Mirabelle13 · Answer

Yes, you can intervene. If I remember correctly, once you're in the BIOS, you can go to Storage --> Boot Options, and if it's disabled, you enable it and tell it to start from the CD drive; otherwise, you directly set the CD drive as the first option. Let me know if that works...

Jerome · Answer

If I understood correctly:   when starting the BIOS, I press the "Delete" key on the keyboard?

Mirabelle13 · Answer

Uh... It changes depending on the PCs, there is a window that appears at the very beginning and it doesn't stay long, it shows you the keys you need to press. It shows you BIOS + the key, or it’s quick. It’s often (F10, Delete or F12).

Jerome · Answer

Ok ok.    A commentator noted that a blank hard drive is needed.  If I buy a second-hand hard drive, is there a way to erase its contents without connecting it? (for example, by applying a potential difference to the electrical input)

Jerome · Answer

Alright.   I need to get a blank hard drive, otherwise my nice "F12" tricks and the like will be of no use to me...

Jerome · Answer

Would contradictory information be provided to me? I read that earlier:  "(assuming that there is nothing at all on the hard drive ^^)"

Jerome · Answer

Alright alright.    Thank you very much for your valuable information.  I’ll have more questions but right now I have something else to do.    I’ll come back tonight to continue the discussion.    See you later.

Jerome · Answer

What are the things to know and check before buying a hard drive?  Not all hard drives are compatible with all motherboards.

polna · Answer

Three types of hard drives: - SATA drives, which connect to the motherboard in a space-saving manner.  - IDE ribbon drives, which are much larger in terms of connectivity.  - SSDs (Solid State Drives) which are a bit different because they are not actually a disk. They are also relatively expensive at the moment. If I were you, I would therefore choose a SATA for now. Best regards. :-)

Jerome · Answer

The motherboard of my PC has long gray wires grouped in sets of about 15 or 20. I was told that this connector is used to connect the hard drive to the motherboard.

polna · Answer

It must be the IDE tables -- :-)

Jerome · Answer

I think so too, I looked at images on Google Images and it matches what I have in the tower.   So I need a hard drive connected by an IDE ribbon cable.    Is there anything else to know about the hard drive specifications?

polna · Answer

nothing very important after -- :-)

Jerome · Answer

Understood.   For me, the conversation is over; I got what I wanted.  Thank you very much.

polna · Answer

You're welcome, don't forget to mark your subject as "resolved" -- :-)

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