Copy a win 98 boot floppy to the hard drive when you are copying the cd's. 
Make sure to modify the autoexec.bat and config.sys files appropriately to 
point to the needed directories (look at the original files with an editor 
to get an idea of what need changing).

If this site is right, the hard drive is under a cover on the bottom of the 
laptop.
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba_Portege_3500/replace_soundboard_1.htm
(see step 2)
Terry

"Mnews Phound" <yourekidding@right.right.right> wrote in message 
news:ywilg.18335$YI2.7747@trnddc01...
> Thanks for your answer, Terry.
>
> I understand what you're telling me, BUT, the Portege doesn't have
> a floppy drive either.
>
> In theory it can boot from a USB (BIOS option), but I have not been
> able to get it to do this either. The booting process just dies,
> when I try. I think the OS on the USB stick cannot read USB drives.
>
>
> But there is one other question I need an answer to:
> How do get access to the Hard disk in the Portege?
>
> Is there a manual, that describes the hardware better
> than the user manual? This latter doc and the help system
> do not mention how to access the hard disk at all,
> and I'm afraid of disasse,mbling something irreversible.
>
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
>
> Eb.
>
>
>
> "tc" <terrycassidy@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:Sz5jg.42071$S61.13379@edtnps90...
>> Get a 2.5 to 3.5" IDE adapter. Copy the cd to the new hard drive from
> a
>> normal computer. Boot the laptop with a floppy after replacing the
> hard
>> drive and install from the copy on the hard drive.
>> Terry
>> "Mnews Phound" <yourekidding@right.right.right> wrote in message
>> news:lZWig.444$OL2.422@trnddc06...
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I have a Portege 3505, which has no internal CD drive.
>> >
>> > What happens if I crash my hard disk?
>> > 1. How do I replace the hard disk (Toshiba servie reps are useless)
>> > 2. How do I reformat the hard disk without a CD-drive?
>> >
>> > Note: the external CD drive does not boot (yes, I have set the BIOS
> to
>> > boot from CD, but booting Knoppix for example, did not work).
>> >
>> > Thanks for any help - I'll watch this forum.
>> >
>> >
>> > Eb Guenther
>> >
>
>
>
>