windows 98 laptop install problem

I have a laptop (Dell inspiron 3200) in which I am doing a clean instal. The problem is that it can only have the disk drive OR the CDROM drive in at one time. In order to use the CDROM, I have to power down the computer, pop out the disk drive and put in the CDROM drive and then power it up to use the CD. If I am booting from the startup disk, how do make it so at next startup the computer will boot from the C drive, so I can power down the laptop, switch drives and then be able to copy the Windows files to the C drive to install the OS?
Thanks,
Ryan

1. RE: windows 98 laptop install problem
lbyard Sep-27-01 06:41 PM
In response to message 0

A:\>fdisk c: (if you need to change/create partitions)
A:\>format C: /s (puts the system files on the hard disk and makes it bootable)
Move the CD-ROM driver, etc. to C:
Boot C:
Copy the files to C: per http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/software/windows/cabs/movecabs.htm.
As I recall Windows will not install on a drive that has the system files installed. You will probably have to delete them after using the DOS attrib to change them from system and hidden files. You should find a copy of attrib in C:\windows\command. You can learn how to use it with:
A:\>attrib /?
Use…
A:\>dir A:h
To see the files before using attrib.
Larry