Drive replaced, need to load OS. PXE to install OS?

[amos]

I have a toshiba 2010 laptop. Already the hard drive failed (within a year). Sent back to reseller, replaced hard drive couldn't install recovery disks. Spent 3 weeks to and fro. Eventually I gave up and got them to send my machine back as I thought I would never see it again.

I need to install XP on it from the recovery disks.

Unfortunately I cannot recommend this machine. It wont boot from USB, wont boot from 32bit PCMCIA. Boots from my 16 bit PCMCIA card but then complains it doesn't like the card. Even if I bought Toshibas own overpriced CD-ROM drive it comes with a 32 bit card. They then say if you ring them up that you need to purchase an additional 16 bit card...

A few questions. Are PCMCIA cards connectors generic? The recovery CD is complaining it doesn't see an 16bit IDE PCMCIA card. If I were to obtain such a card (is that meaningful?) would it work with the equipment I have (eg Freecom Traveller II DVD-RW)?

Next question. Is there any way of setting up a network boot to do the trick? And does anyone have any good advice or references on setting a PXE system up?

Thanks in advance.