How To Replace Internal Hard Disk With Extenal Usb Hard Disk In Laptop

Dear Brothers

One of my friends has Fujistu Lifebook Laptop, when he try to remove 20GB hard disk to replace it with 80 Gb the data cable accidently broke, we try to get that data cable but finally all our effort went in vain. Somebody told me that we have to use external HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that can be connected through USB hub, i got USB External hard disk and connect it in USB hub, i want to install Windows XP in that drive so that it will stand as HDD, but when i reach the point to select the drive to install that OS (Operating System) it always display the following message:


 Your computer's startup program cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose. Setup cannot install Windows XP on this hard disk.
This lack of access does not necessary indicate an error condition, for example disk attached to a SCSI adapter that wasn't install by your computer manufacturer or to a secondary hard disk controller, are typically not visible to the startup program unless special software is used. Contact your computer or hard disk controller manufacturer for more information.

On x86-based computers,  this message may indicate a problem withn the CMOS drive type settings. See your disk controller documentation for more information.

Press ENTER to continue.




Please my dear brother in this forum help with a valuable information on how to overcome this problem.

Thanks Nairalanders

have you checked your bios settings?, Some laptops allow booting through external disk drive, so you have to go to the  bios to ensure that your usb external harddisk  is first in the boot sequence. Like I said your laptop has to support booting from usb. I went through the internet and searched for answers to add to mine, and here it is :
___Windows cannot boot from an USB drive. If your computer supports booting from such device, you can load a boot loader to the USB device which starts Windows XP from the HDD.

What to do?

Requirements

    * An existing Windows install for carrying out the steps in this tutorial
    * A USB2-compliant Hard disk drive (or a big USB2 stick, see remarks below)
    * An original Windows XP CD (tested only against SP1 so far, but reported to work on other versions)
    * A registered version of WinISO (or any other software that allows direct editing of ISO files)
    * The Microsoft CAB SDK
    * A CD-burning software that can handle ISO files. I like the free burnatonce

How To:

Summary:

We will dump the contents of your original Windows XP CD , extract a few files from the Image using ISO modification software, edit the files, and put the modified versions back on the ISO. The resulting ISO image is burnt back onto a CD media, and can then directly be used to install Windows on your USB drive.

I am also covering a few pitfalls that happened to me, in hope they will save you a bit of time.

 

1) Does your computer support booting from USB?

    Usually, if its an option in your BIOS boot sequence menu, the answer to this is yes. If its not there, look for BIOS updates. If you are not sure, proceed and see what happens ;-)

2) Sorting out the "Bootability" of your USB-Drive

    Connect your USB drive to your computer, directly, without a Hub. Then, shut down your computer, disconnect any other hard disk drives from it, and insert your original Windows XP CD into the drive. Start the installation, and proceed to the section where you are allowed to pick a hard drive. If it goes beyond the partition selection, your drive is already fine for booting Windows XP. If not (seems to be the cases with many of the Freecom USB HDDs for example), you will get an error like "Windows is unable to find your drive, partition, data etc bla". This is usually not a big problem. All you need to do is "properly" format the drive. Reboot into your normal Windows, and get this HP tool , and use it to format your HDD completely. I chose NTFS format, worked fine everytime i tried. After this, my drives are recognized as valid installation devices by the Windows XP installer.
    (In fact, i did not manage to create a USB primary partition with FAT32 that was recognized as being installable)

3) Dumping the original Windows CD into an ISO File

 

    Pretty easy one. Simply open WinISO, and select Actions -> Make ISO from CDROM, and save your CD image.

 

4) Extracting the files we need to work on

 

    After the CD dump is done, close and reopen WinISO. Then, open the ISO file you just created using File -> Open.
    Now, click the I386 folder, and select the following files (Ctrl key to multi-select)

        * TXTSETUP.SIF
        * DOSNET.INF
        * USB.IN_
        * USBPORT.IN_
        * USBSTOR.IN_

    Select Actions -> Extract and put the resulting files into some folder to work on them.

5) Unpacking IN_ files

 

 

    Use the Cab SDK (from the command line) for extracting the contents of the .IN_ files. Each of them contains exactly one .inf file. If you are unsure how to use the Cab SDK, here is an example command line: "cabarc x USBSTOR.IN_" . You should end up with three new files in the folder, called:

        * usb.inf
        * usbport.inf
        * usbstor.inf

    You can now delete the .IN_ files.

6) Editing the files

    This is the main job. i ll also try to explain a bit whats happening. Use a simple Texteditor like Notepad.

    6-A) TXTSETUP.SIF

        This file is loaded on the initial install step by the Windows XP CD installer. In this file, we will change the way Windows treats USB devices during system setup -- the default is to only treat them as input devices during installation -- we will change this to include mass storage driver support (which needs to be loaded into the installer much earlier in order to work).

        First, move the following entries from [InputDevicesSupport.Load] to the [BootBusExtenders.Load] section , as shown here

         

            [BootBusExtenders.Load]
            pci = pci.sys
            acpi = acpi.sys
            isapnp = isapnp.sys
            acpiec = acpiec.sys
            ohci1394 = ohci1394.sys
            usbehci = usbehci.sys
            usbohci = usbohci.sys
            usbuhci = usbuhci.sys
            usbhub = usbhub.sys
            usbstor = usbstor.sys


            [InputDevicesSupport.Load]
            usbehci = usbehci.sys
            usbohci = usbohci.sys
            usbuhci = usbuhci.sys
            usbhub = usbhub.sys
            usbccgp = usbccgp.sys
            hidusb = hidusb.sys
            serial = serial.sys
            serenum = serenum.sys
            usbstor = usbstor.sys

         

        ,  now the same for [BootBusExtenders] and [InputDevicesSupport]

         

            [BootBusExtenders]
            pci = "PCI-Bustreiber",files.pci,pci
            acpi = "ACPI Plug & Play-Bustreiber",files.acpi,acpi
            isapnp = "ISA Plug & Play-Bustreiber",files.isapnp,isapnp
            acpiec = "Integrierter ACPI-Controllertreiber",files.none,acpiec
            ohci1394 = "IEEE-1394-Bus-OHCI-konformer Anschlusstreiber",files.ohci1394,ohci1394
            usbehci = "Erweiterter Hostcontroller",files.usbehci,usbehci
            usbohci = "Open Hostcontroller",files.usbohci,usbohci
            usbuhci = "Universeller Hostcontroller",files.usbuhci,usbuhci
            usbhub = "Standard-USB-Hubtreiber",files.usbhub,usbhub
            usbstor = "USB-Speicherklassentreiber",files.usbstor,usbstor


            [InputDevicesSupport]
            usbehci = "Erweiterter Hostcontroller",files.usbehci,usbehci
            usbohci = "Open Hostcontroller",files.usbohci,usbohci
            usbuhci = "Universeller Hostcontroller",files.usbuhci,usbuhci
            usbhub = "Standard-USB-Hubtreiber",files.usbhub,usbhub
            hidusb = "HID-Parser",files.hidusb,hidusb
            serial = "Treiber fr seriellen Anschluss",files.none,serial
            serenum = "Enumerator fr seriellen Anschluss",files.none,serenum
            usbstor = "USB-Speicherklassentreiber",files.usbstor,usbstor
            usbccgp = "USB Generic Parent Driver",files.usbccgp,usbccgp

         

        Next, we also have to write several keys into the registry. Convieniently, the txtsetup.sif allows you to specify files that are parsed and instered into the registry at install time. Insert the following in the [HiveInfs.Fresh] section:

            [HiveInfs.Fresh]
            AddReg = hivedef.inf,AddReg
            AddReg = hivesys.inf,AddReg
            AddReg = hivesft.inf,AddReg
            AddReg = hivecls.inf,AddReg
            AddReg = hiveusd.inf,AddReg
            AddReg = dmreg.inf,DM.AddReg
            AddReg = usbboot.inf,usbservices

         

        and also in [SourceDisksFiles]

            [SourceDisksFiles]
            usbboot.inf = 1,,,,,,_x,3,,3
            bootvid.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2
            kdcom.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2

        Finally, save and close TXTSETUP.SIF. We are done with it.

    6-B) DOSNET.INF

        Now, open DOSNET.INF , and change the second [Files] section to look like this:

        [Files]
        d1,usbboot.inf
        d1,_default.pif
        d1,12520437.cpx
        d1,12520850.cpx

        ,

    6-C) usb.inf

        Change the bolded lines in the [StandardHub.AddService] and [CommonClassParent.AddService] sections:

        [StandardHub.AddService]
        DisplayName = %StandardHub.SvcDesc%
        ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
        StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
        ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
        ServiceBinary = %12%\usbhub.sys
        LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

        [CommonClassParent.AddService]
        DisplayName = %GenericParent.SvcDesc%
        ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
        StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
        ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
        ServiceBinary = %12%\usbccgp.sys
        LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

    6-D) usbport.inf

        Change the bolded lines in the [EHCI.AddService], [OHCI.AddService] , [UHCI.AddService] and [ROOTHUB.AddService] sections:

        [EHCI.AddService]
        DisplayName = %EHCIMP.SvcDesc%
        ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
        StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
        ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
        ServiceBinary = %12%\usbehci.sys
        LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

        [OHCI.AddService]
        DisplayName = %OHCIMP.SvcDesc%
        ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
        StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
        ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
        ServiceBinary = %12%\usbohci.sys
        LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

        [UHCI.AddService]
        DisplayName = %UHCIMP.SvcDesc%
        ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
        StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
        ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
        ServiceBinary = %12%\usbuhci.sys
        LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

        [ROOTHUB.AddService]
        DisplayName = %ROOTHUB.SvcDesc%
        ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
        StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
        ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
        ServiceBinary = %12%\usbhub.sys
        LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

    6-E) usbstor.inf

        Change / Add the bolded lines in the [USBSTOR.AddService] section

        [USBSTOR.AddService]
        DisplayName = %USBSTOR.SvcDesc%
        ServiceType = 1
        StartType = 0
        Tag = 3
        ErrorControl = 1
        ServiceBinary = %12%\USBSTOR.SYS
        LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender

    6-F) new file: USBBOOT.INF

        Create a new file called USBBOOT.INF in the same directory as your other changed files, and put the following content into it:

        [usbservices]

        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB Mass Storage Driver"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\USBSTOR.SYS"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Start",0x00010001,0
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Type",0x00010001,1

        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Miniport Driver"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbehci.sys"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Start",0x00010001,0
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Type",0x00010001,1

        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB2 Enabled Hub"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbhub.sys"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Start",0x00010001,0
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Type",0x00010001,1

        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Universal Host Controller Miniport Driver"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbuhci.sys"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Start",0x00010001,0
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Type",0x00010001,1

        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbohci.sys"
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Start",0x00010001,0
        HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Type",0x00010001,1

         

7) Repack the inf files into their original IN_ format

    If you have not already deleted your extracted .IN_ files, do so now. They need to be replaced. Open a DOS shell again, and navigate to the folder with your changed files. Then exceute the following commands:

    cabarc n USB.IN_ usb.inf
    cabarc n USBPORT.IN_ usbport.inf
    cabarc n USBSTOR.IN_ usbstor.inf

    The three IN_ files should now exist again.

    Congratulations. All out modifications are done.

Inject the changed files into the ISO

    Open your Windows CD image again with WinISO. Navigate to the I386 folder, and delete the following files from the ISO, saving the changes to the ISO afterwards:

        * DOSNET.INF
        * TXTSETUP.SIF
        * USB.IN_
        * USBPORT.IN_
        * USBSTOR.IN_

    Just to be sure all is updated in the ISO, cloase and repoen the ISO in WinISO. Now, again go to the I386 folder and select "Add Files". Now add your changed files, in detail:

        * USBBOOT.INF
        * DOSNET.INF
        * TXTSETUP.SIF
        * USB.IN_
        * USBPORT.IN_
        * USBSTOR.IN_

    Save the ISO. You are done.

9) Burn the ISO back to CD

    Feel free to use any burning package you want. I used the free and simple Burnatonce

10) Install Windows XP from the CD

 

    Shut down your computer. Disconnect ANY internal and external hard drives (so Windows cannot find them during installation and mess up their Master Boot Records hehe). Some computers will have trouble to boot without an internal HDD attached, check in your BIOS and, if possible, remove the HDD from the boot sequence and set the USB Harddisk as the first boot device, and the CDROM as second.

    Also, now connect your USB Harddrive directly to the computer, without any Hubs in between.


hope this isn't complex for you, if it is, holla at me.

You can clone the old disk to the new disk, by using Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image
These are large programs
If you do not know what to do, take it to somebody who can.
If you live in Lagos, take it to the Computer village
It is not a big problem

Me or sting? 

@poster, You can try this:
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

i did follow through all the steps but i still got stuck at the installation
seems that i have an asms problem in which my computer isnt communication with my CD-ROM drive
how can i fix ths problem??

i happen to be able to install windows with the old CD before all the editting done
but once i done the editting and burn a new windows cd this problem occured
any cure?

What I do in times like this is have all setup files from the XP CD and just install XP using the HDD only!
Sometimes, installing XP on an alternate machine then cloning the hard disk is a good option. .
But that's only if u have similar systems b'because Windows XP Installation configures hardware as the OS is been re-established on the machines. .

Has the HDD being fully formatted?