[Irongladiator]

Hey Guys, I wanted to learn how to install Microsoft Office 2003 on my Dell Mini 10v. However since it does not come with an optical drive, I had to research how to do it. This tutorial is assuming you are using Windows XP on your Dell Mini and have Windows XP on your PC that has an optical drive. I'm sure there are other methods on how to accomplish this task, but for me, this process is very easy! Oh, and go easy on me, as this is my 1st tutorial ever!

How to install software without an optical drive (With Pics)

Things you'll need:
1) A PC with an optical drive.
2) Software you want to install on your Dell Mini. (I used MS Office 2003)
3) ISO Recorder V2 (32 bit version)
4) Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel
5) A portable drive (i.e. external hard drive or USB Drive)
6) Your Dell Mini!!

**NOTE**
ISO Recorder V2 (32 bit version) can be downloaded at:
ISO Recorder v 2

Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel can be downloaded at:
(Once you click on this site give it a sec to start the download)
Downloading Free virtual CD ROM for Windows XP 2.1 to improve network security

Step 1: Download and install ISO recorder V2 on your PC that has the optical drive

Step 2: Download and install Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel on your Dell Mini.

Step 3: Insert your software of choice in your PC with the optical drive, then go to "My Computer" and right click on the optical drive and select "Create image from CD". (as shown below)



Step 4: The "CD Recording Wizard" should pop up. You'll want to click on the "..." button, so that you may change where you want the ISO to be saved to, I usually choose the desktop as it is easy to find. (as shown below)



Step 5: Type in the "File_name"" you wish to have saved and click "Save". (as shown below)



Step 6: The "CD Recording Wizard will pop back up and all you have to do is click "Next" (shown below). The ISO is now being created, it usually takes a few minutes for it to complete.



Step 7: You should now get a screen that looks like this (shown below), Click "Finish".



Step 8: Copy your new ISO file to your portable drive and plug it into your Dell Mini.

Step 9: On your Dell Mini double click the "VCdControlTool" to start it. (as shown below)



Step 10: The "Virtual CDRom Control Panel" will open up, Click on "Driver Control..." (as shown below)



Step 11: A "Virtual CD-ROM Control Driver" window will open up. Click on "Install Driver..." (as shown below)



Step 12: Find the VCdRom File in the install folder, highlight it and click "Open". (as shown below)



Step 13: The "Virtual CD-Rom Control Driver" window will pop back up click "Start" then click "OK". (as shown below)



Step 14: The "Virtual CDRom Control Panel" will pop back up, Click "Add Drive" (as shown below)



Step 15: You'll notice that it put up a drive "Z:". Now click "Mount" (as shown below)



Step 16: Now you'll want to find your ISO on your portable drive highlight it, and then click "Open" (as shown below)



Step 17: A "Special Mount Options" window will pop up, all you need to do here is click "OK", there is no need to checkmark any of the other three options. (as shown below)



Step 18: Under "Mapped Image" you'll notice that the ISO is now loaded, as noted in the green circle, click "OK". (as shown below)



Step 19: Now go to "My Computer" on your Dell Mini and the Virtual CD should be there along with the ISO you've created, just double click on the Virtual CD and install your program as normal. (as shown below)




I hope this tutorial helps out anybody who needs it. Any comments are welcome. Thanks again!

[TchnclFl]

Nice step-by-step. This will be useful for people wanting to do this :O.

[Irongladiator]

Originally Posted by TchnclFl

Nice step-by-step. This will be useful for people wanting to do this :O.

Thanks man! , just trying to contribute!

[soul]

Office has portable install... you can just copy that on a flash drive.. and double click on install.. and it would. Should had done it to star craft :]

[conleyri]

Very nice tutorial. Very informative.

@Soul ~ This will give a guide to anyone wanting to install anything not just Office, as many applications do not have a portable install.

@Irongladiator ~ If you have the two PC's what I like to do is share my CD-ROM drive across my home network. It allows me to install from all PC's in my house from one "host"
PC. Since I have a server machine I just share its drive. Seems a lil easier then creating ISO's but both work I suppose.

And remember to delete those ISO's! They can take up alot of space if you get too many of them, and sometimes they con as unmovable objects when you defrag so just better to install them and ice em!

[TchnclFl]

Originally Posted by conleyri

Very nice tutorial. Very informative.

If you have the two PC's what I like to do is share my CD-ROM drive across my home network. It allows me to install from all PC's in my house from one "host"
PC.

Woah! I've been trying to figure out how to do just that! Any tips?

[Irongladiator]

Originally Posted by conleyri

Very nice tutorial. Very informative.

@Irongladiator ~ If you have the two PC's what I like to do is share my CD-ROM drive across my home network. It allows me to install from all PC's in my house from one "host"
PC. Since I have a server machine I just share its drive. Seems a lil easier then creating ISO's but both work I suppose.

And remember to delete those ISO's! They can take up alot of space if you get too many of them, and sometimes they con as unmovable objects when you defrag so just better to install them and ice em!

I didnt know about the ISO & defrag, good to know! Since I'm using a work laptop, Our IT guy setup all kinds of stuff on it from VPN, to personal networks, that anytime I try to add the CD-ROM as a shared network drive it wont let me, but yeah you're right you CAN do it this way. As I said there are probably many different ways to do this. but thanks for the positive feedback!

[conleyri]

Originally Posted by TchnclFl

Woah! I've been trying to figure out how to do just that! Any tips?

I can whip up a tutorial if you would like? It would be later tonight. Lemme know.

[mrintegra]

You can also use Slysoft Virtual Clonedrive as a substitute from Microsoft's Virtual CD-Rom. I use it to mount ISO's locally as well as other ones on the network to install apps on the various netbooks in the house.

[Nellmarie]

Nice tut Irongladiator! I got my Dell mini 10v yesterday. I love it and have been wanting to get an external USB CD/DVD drive for it, but now theres no need to get it! I just got done with some installs and it worked like a charm! I used it to get office 2003 and a store bought copy of symantec anti-virus in there as well as some other programs! (Now I need to get a bigger SSD!) This should be stickied, anyone second that?