How Do I Install an OS to P1510D?

[Pareto Optimal]

I just purchased a P1510D via a government auction.
It had a BIOS password. I got past that.
It didn't have a HDD. I added one.

I can't load an OS.
I've selected CD and I've selected floppy in the BIOS and boot selection.

I tried an external USB drive conected to a powered USB hub.
I tried both USB connectors on the P1510D.

I tried to load Win7 via a thumbdrive.
I tried both USB connectors on the P1510D.

I think my BIOS is 1.1 or 1.11 or 1.1.1.
The current BIOS on Fujitsu's site is 1.18 or 1.8 or 1.1.8.
Those are the BIOS numbers. I forget the order.

I've read online where people have installed an OS via USB optical drive.

If it's because the BIOS is not up to date. How can I update it if it wont recognize a USB optical drive or thumbdrive.

Do I have to use a USB floppy drive and some sort of a boot disc ala 98SE to create a temporary partition or folder on the HDD with a driver that will allow the chipset to read from the USB port and then install an OS via anything USB?

I read of one person who had the same problem and posted his question on various web sites but no one had a soltion for him other than to contact Fujitsu. I emailed fujitsu support and they emaile back that I should call their support.

[JOSEA]

I would suggest going into the BIOS and disable all boot options except the CD. Cold Boot with the operating system CD in and let us know if that works.

[Pareto Optimal]

I tried that ... only CD enabled and then with only floppy enabled.
I may have had network still enabled both times but HDD was definitely disabled. I'll try it again.

[Pareto Optimal]

OK, I disabled all but the CD and cold booted with the OS CD in the USB optical drive. ... Operating System not found.

[katalin_2003]

If you can boot from a USB stick I would recommend you try that.
Download the windows 7 image of the version for which your laptop has a license here:
Legal Download from DigitalRiver: Windows 7 SP1, 13 languages

And use this tool to prepare your USB stick:
Microsoft Store Online

Plug the USB stick in one of your USB ports, enter BIOS menu and set your boot priority to USB device.

[Pareto Optimal]

I tried a thumbdrive in both USB ports and in a powered USB hub.
I tried a USB DVD Drive in both USB ports and in a powered USB hub.
I had all but CD Drive disabled in the BIOS.
I tried again with all but floppy disabled in the BIOS.

[JOSEA]

Pareto, first make sure all your boot options are enabled in BIOS, then try pressing ESC shortly after power on, this trick works on ASUS laptop and according to this Re: Compaq Presario 1230 Laptop Accessing BIOS Setup may also work on your system.
katalin_2003 's method will save you a lot of time installing your OS also.

[Pareto Optimal]

I got it going.
Thanks for all the help.

USB DVD drive and thumbdrive LEDs would flicker but I still got the NO OS message. So, was it accessing those drives or not?

I researched doing a PXE install and started to accumulate the necessary software.

I looked into getting a 1.8" to 2.5" adapter so I could use external cables and another computer to install to the 1.8" hdd to later place in the P1510D.
I wondered if W7 would balk at installing with one mobo and then finding itself in the P1510D.

I read online that it's looking for an OS on the HDD and when it doesn't find one, it looks for a PXE install vie wired network.

I believed I had already disabled PXE install and set the BOOT order in the BIOS but looked again for any further advanced settings to disable PXE install and the network card altogether. I read online about a ROM installed on the network card that had to be deactivated or the NIC had to be removed.

In the BIOS there is an advanced setting. I'm recalling from memory. I did whatever I thought would disable PXE install and NIC activity. The boot order was set to CD ONLY. I think that's the problem I and everyone online has with this. That is that we think that setting BOOT to CD restricts installation via USB weather it's a CD, DVD or thumbdrive. That's not the case.

So, I had my thumbdrive connected.
I went back into the BIOS advanced settings and found that my thumbdrive was listed under HDD AFTER my 1.8" HDD. I moved the thumbdrive above the 1.8" in boot order and tried to BOOT. NO GO! I went back into advanced settings and the 1.8" was above the thumbdrive in BOOT order. I KNOW I SAVED the changes. I reset the order, made sure they were activated and MAYBE deactivated CD. IT WORKED! W7 is installed and updated. Next I'll install Android x86.