Is This Install Possible?

[aka042]

I have an ISO of Windows Server 2008 Standard that I obtained from Microsoft. I have an old machine that I'd like to install it on just to play around with it, however the problem is that the computer only has a CD drive and no DVD reader. The computer has WinXP on it currently, and I would like to do a clean install of Windows Server 08. Would it be possible to use a CD emulator such as Daemon Tools to read the ISO and install Server 08, or will this fail miserably? Also, if you have any other suggestions of how I can do the install on this machine I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

[F2 Staff]

You'll could extract the iso to another hard drive and install from there. Do you have another hard drive to put in the box?

 

If the computer can boot from USB you could exract the iso to a USB stick and boot the install from it.

[joemcten]

I have a similar problem. I downloaded the ISO and copied it to a DVD but the DVD is not bootable. I purchased magiciso to make a bootable dvd. Magiciso created the bootable DVD but now says that the file size is too big: 5.6 Gb. I tried to put it on a new 8 Gb flashdrive but it still says that I do do not have enough space on the 8 Gb flash drive. This is a NEW flash drive with nothing on it. Does anyone else have similar issues with the installation of Windows 2008?

[KevinArvixe]

An 8gb flash drive definitely has the space to do it. Make sure you format the drop and there are no little partitions laying around on it.

 

Here are some instructions on how to do this:

 

Format the thumb drive

1. from a DOS prompt execute: diskpart

2. list disk

3. select disk 1 (assuming disk 1 was your thumb drive in the above list disk command)

4. clean

5. create partition primary

6. select partition 1

7. active

8. ormat fs=fat32

9. assign

10. exit

 

Copy the Win2008 install files

1. Mount your iso with an application like Daemon-Tools or VirtualCloneDrive

xcopy d:\*.* /s/e/f e:\ (assumes your virtual drive is drive D: and your thumb drive is drive E:\, adjust accordingly)

 

Lastly... Make sure your BIOS is set to boot from USB!