how to install windows with no cd drive

I got a laptop from a thrift store. It had a corrupt windows 98 on it. I formatted the hard drive and now I want to install windows on it. Problem is that the cd drive does not work. It only has usb ports and a dial up jack. I can get a usb floppy drive to work, but not a usb cd drive. I have DOS on floppy. Also, flashdrives do not work.

I have:
Windows 98 SE
Win 2000 Pro
Win XP Pro
USB Floppy Drive with DOS
USB Male to Male Cable
USB Ethernet Adapter

Is there a way I can install 98, 2000, or xp by floppy, usb direct connect, or usb ethernet? I have another computer that could install by network if that is possible.

 

It has a dvd rom drive. It still gets power, but the laptop does not recognize it. I took it out and looked at it. The pins seem fine and nothing looks damaged. Mayby It doesn't have the right driver.

It is a Fujitsu Lifebook I series laptop. It has 2 expansion slots, 2 usb slots, a dvd rom drive, and a dialup slot.

About 500mhz
64mb ram
6gb hdd

I think it should be able to run windows 2000. I have a desktop of similer stats that can run 2000 with no problem.

I tried to install dos from a floppy. It installed fine, but the computer restarted and never booted. I formatted the hdd so it has nothing on it now.

How would I use the usb boot disk to boot to a usb cd drive with windows? Is it possible to install windows not from boot? Mayby boot to the usb drivers and install windows from there?

 

I don't think that you can put an XP upgrade on a floppy because it is too large. Maybe look to luinx?

 

try (if possible) to install selected OS on a compatible HD (of the laptop in question) on another laptop then just swap the HD into your laptop

 

I found another way that I will try. Hook up the hdd by usb. Copy the i386 folder from windows 2000 pro cd. Boot to dos and install windows from the hdd.

I will post if it works.