Don't say it cant be done because it can be done!!

I have an XP upgrade disc and a windows 98 disc. I am going to be getting a Macbook this summer and need to be able to install XP to get Vista on there. Now here is what I want to do. I take the contents of the XP upgrade disc, and put the necessary files from a Windows 98 disk I own, and combine them and make a boot disc.I want to do this so there is no need to eject the XP disk during the install (which is impossible). I saw a thread on the Mac Rumors forum that said how to do it. but the link to the site was bad. I need to be able to do this in XP.

Do I have any takers.

Also, one last thing. This is a completely legal operation because I own both version of windows and simply want to install them.

Some people have combined the needed Windows 98 files and the content of the Windows XP Upgrade disc on one DVD and then used that. Seems way too complicated for me.

The easiest way is to just connect another external CD drive to the Macbook (you can pick these up for $40 these days) thru the USB port. Insert the Windows 98 CD in the external drive, insert the Windows XP Upgrade disc in the Macbook CD drive. When you install Windows XP it will ask for the Windows 98 CD, just tell it to look for it, and it will automatically find the external CD drive and continue on.

I just did this and it worked great. I did have to look in the troubleshooting section of the Apple Bootcamp install guide as it didn't recognize the Windows XP upgrade disc the first time. You have to hold down the option key when starting the Macbook and when it shows you the macintosh harddrive icon you insert the Windows XP cd in the macbook drive. When the windows Xp cd icon shows up next to the mac HD icon you clikc the Windows CD icon and are on your way (just as it says in the troubleshooting section).

Theoretically you could also probably copy the contents of the Windows 98 CD to a external hard drive and connect that in to the USB port. Haven't tried that myself though.

Good luck.

nlite. google it.

Then of course, there is always the hardcore approach:

Under Mac-OS start the installation process until you need to reboot.
Power off instead, disconnect the Power Supply.
Open up your macbookpro (but don't disconnect your keyboard, you still need that). ifixit.com shows the necessary steps.
Unscrew the combodrive.
Put something like a pack of cigarettes undeneath the front part of the drive so that the slot sticks out above the casing.
Put anothe pack of cigarettes (its always wise to keep a stack of those ;-) on its edge underneath the mousepad and rest the keyboard on it. Make sure it is stable enough to more-or-less use it.
Connect the Macbook to the power supply and boot.
Run the installation process until you are asked for the win98 disk.
On the front part of the combodrive, to the left, there are a couple of soldering pins. Short-circuit them shortly. This will eject the disc.
Replace disc.
Repeat process to get the XP disc back in. Continue installation untill the next reboot.
I would recommend putting the Macbook then, before continuing with setup.
If you are daring, you might also do this while the first part of the setup is still running. I got mine back together but for the two screws towards the front of the battery compartemnt by the time the copying process was finished.

Be aware that this is of course a solely scientific project, that you might grill your machine, void all waranty etc. and you are doing anything yoou do on your own risk and responsibility and not because some weird guy on the internet said so.

Pave Phun

java script:emoticon(':robot:', 'smid_19')

I managed to do a bootcamp install with an XP SP2 upgrade and an original Windows95 installation disk by using nLite in Parallels (but might be a normal pc) and doing this:
- Use XP SP2 as your basic installation disk in nLite (it will be copied to your hard drive)
- Add the folders 'drivers' and 'win95' from the Windows95 installation disk to the folder where the copy of your XP SP2 cd resides (some say only the folders are needed, not the contents. I didn't check this)
- Reduce the directory contents with nLite by skipping 'Documents' in the folders section (in order to fit it on a cd instead of a dvd)
- Make a bootable ISO from this (with nLite)
- Burn this ISO with MagicISO (or Nero)
- Install bootcamp with this cd.
- Don't forget reformatting the bootcamp-drive (FAT 32 fi)
As a safety measure, I also put a copy of the Windows95 cd on a USB stick, and had this installed during the installation process. Don't know whether this was necessary.

Hope this helps others

Bram