whenhoboesfly

the laptop did have win2000pro and yes i do have another computer in which runs xp home. the funny thing is that the laptop does not have an ethernet card so i cannot connect it to my desktop. thats true about the drivers though. o wait i just relized that you were talking about using a null modem. i dont have one but i can possibly get one sometime.

DutchieLNX

OK, we're actually running 2 threads here:
1.Restore the HD functionality.
Did you want Win2000Pro back on the laptop?
If so,get the floppy files from M$ for that.
At least you can prepare the drive for re-install of Win2KPro.
The socalled null-modem cable goes on the parallel port connectors.
(Direct cable transfer).
Once you have completed that project,you will be able to use
the USB CD-ROM drive,but just for playing CDs etc.
You still won't be able to boot from it.

2.The next thing is to get the USB drivers and incorporate them
on the Knoppix floppy to get the USB CD-ROM to boot up.
Or use the method for the bootable flash drive.

To be honest,I'm not loose on the stuff in section 2,
I was hoping somebody would jump in to help out.

whenhoboesfly

alright well thanks alot, ill see what i can do.

DutchieLNX

You're welcome.
Hope it works out.
Normally you can also transfer files via USB to USB,
laptop > desktop and viceversa,but I'm not sure if it will work
if the laptop HD has no USB drivers on it.
Anyway you can try.It will be a lot faster than the parallel direct cable transfer.
Again, you will need a special USB tranfer cable.
They're cheap though.

Good luck.