Bartop Touchscreen Question (PICS)

[urbecrisch]

So I was able to score 2 free touchscreen CPU's from an acquaintance.  One is 15" and the other a 14".  I'm looking to turn the 15" into a bartop touchscreen machine since it's already cased and perfect for the bar.  I'm looking to use the machine for games only; poker/slots/etc. since I already have a touchscreen jukebox. I was told the only issue with the machines were that the HD's were damaged so I replaced one machine with a new HD and I'm getting this message when I'm trying to boot to WIN NT:
BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISC   

Is there a way I can connect a floppy disc to the CPU to restore NT?
I have a fresh WIN 2K I will be installing but I'm confused on how to connect a floppy drive to the machine.  The only IDE connection visible on the MB is for the HD.  I'm not that computer savvy so any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[Thenasty]

why not connect a CD-ROM and 1 HD and boot off the CD ? Is there a way you can check the c-mos setup ?

[urbecrisch]

The problem is that I cannot connect a CD ROM so I can't boot from it!  I can get into CMOS and the BIOS but without a floppy or CDROM I cannot boot.  I also cannot connect a floppy cause there's no IDE port on the motherboard for it.  Do you think if I replace this new HD with a working one with an OS on it, it will boot up? 

I even took the thing apart to see if I could just replace the motherboard but the connection from the touchscreen goes to a chip that none of my motherboards have:(

Anyone have any ideas?

[jhabers]

The problem is that I cannot connect a CD ROM so I can't boot from it!  I can get into CMOS and the BIOS but without a floppy or CDROM I cannot boot.  I also cannot connect a floppy cause there's no IDE port on the motherboard for it.  Do you think if I replace this new HD with a working one with an OS on it, it will boot up? 

I even took the thing apart to see if I could just replace the motherboard but the connection from the touchscreen goes to a chip that none of my motherboards have:(

Anyone have any ideas?

each IDE connector on the MB can handle 2 devices. Get a IDE cable with 2 connectors on it (actually 3, 1 for the MB, 1 for the HDD and one for the CD)... is it a standard 40pin IDE connector on the MB?. If you don't have a cable I have a ton and can drop one in the mail or you, pm me. I attached a pic so you can see what it looks like

[DeLuSioNal29]

I think I see a USB port on there.  Have you tried booting up using a USB stick?  If you can get to CMOS it may or may not have that option.

[urbecrisch]

It does not have the option in CMOS and the USB I think is for a keyboard cause in the BIOS there's an option for USB keyboard.

[Xb0x3r]

Is there any way you could be able to ghost (aka, image) the hard drive? I'm thinking that you may be able to get away with imaging the 14" hard drive and throwing it into the 15". I know from experience if you happen to actually be downgrading hardware (P4 to P3 for example), Windows 2000 should not be able to tell the difference (I've done it before, P4 to P3, both Dell Optiplex).

Also could you take some more pics of the mobo? Just to get an idea of what connectors you have to work with

Xb0x3r

[urbecrisch]

Ahh...finally someone who really wants to dive into this project with me.  Thanks for the reply Xb0x3r.  The problem is that both CP's HD's are toast!  I figured I could try to get the 15" working since it's a newer PC.  I tried to connect the 2.5-3.5 IDE adapter but the 3.5" end is a 40 pin and I'm working with a 39 pin cable.  Oh well, I'll have to pick up a 40 pin IDE tomorrow and give it a try.  I'm not sure if this adapter will even work for me but it's worth the $10 investment.

As for the MB, I'll take some PICS tomorrow.  But it seems all the MB's I've looked at do not have the touchscreen port on them.  Confusing to explain so I'll let the PICS do the talking tomorrow.

My other option would be to find a laptop that I could format a HD on and then transfer it to the CPU.  Not sure if that will work but it's worth a try. 

Just frustrating cause I know there's a solution out there it's just finding it!

[pincky]

urbecrisch,

I think I can help you.


This is what you need to do.

If you want I have a spare cd-rom drive I can send you..
(no charge becasue you are helping me THANKS!) let me know if you want that.......


but you can connect a cdrom to your IDE port it looks like from the pictures that you only have a ide MASTER CABLE (doesnt have the slave port on it) 1st you need a new ide cable with a slave drive port on it so you can connect a cdrom from it and boot from cdrom to install An OS

YOU MUST USE A CDROM TO INSTALL ANY OS

you can do a network install (thats another story)

Let me know. (i know what your trying to do)

[urbecrisch]

Thanks for your reply.  The IDE cable is for a 2.5" laptop HD.  CD-ROMS use a 3.5" IDE.  How can I connect a CD-ROM to a 2.5" IDE cable?

[urbecrisch]

Just need to claify something for everyone replying to this thread.  The HD the CPU uses is for a 2.5" (laptop size).  I noticed I didn't mention this before so I apologize.  Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions.  Keep 'em coming

[Xb0x3r]

If I can find one, I might be able to rip apart a crap laptop at school and steal some stuff from it. I might be able to get one of those laptop CD drives and a laptop IDE cable for it so you connect it all up. It all depends if everything is compatible. The school throws them out periodically, so it should be easy to get one.

Take some pics of the cable also!

Xb0x3r

[urbecrisch]

You mean the 2.5" IDE?

Getting a laptop CD drive would be great!  Yes, try to get anything you feel that would help me out.  I really appreciate it!

Just found this website with tutorial.  Do you think this might worK?

http://www.mikeshardware.com/howtos/laptop_hd_upgrade/

[pincky]

they make a 3.5 to 2.5 ide adapter you would use a 3.5 ide drive (IDE Cable) then the adapter would covert it to use in a 2.5" drive setup so u can hook up a cdrom to it

[DrumAnBass]

3.5" to 2.5" adaptor: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.727

[urbecrisch]

Here's the adapter I currently have.  The only problem with htis so far i that it is a 40 pin cable, which means I need to get a 40 pin IDE for this adapter to work.  The adapter DrumAnBass showed me looks like a 39 pin so I ordered 2 since there's free shipping ($3 total) I'll see what arrives first, the 40 pin IDE or the 39 pin adapter.  Thanks or your help so far with this.