Re:

> Secondly, does anyone know of a convenient
> method of converting the manuals on CD-ROM
> (HP LaserROM) to accessible text files ?

No

> My problem is I have a laptop that lacks a
> CD drive.  Yet I would still like to be able
> to create files (using my desktop) to put on
> the laptop that contain the manual

My laptop also has no CD ROM...and I have a CD I wanted to put "on" it.

I used Virtual CD (no longer officially marketed, but still available
at www.microwarehouse.com) to make a CD "image" of the CD, which now
occupies about 500 MB on my laptop.

However, the LROM software doesn't require a real (or virtual) CD...
so one solution is to copy the files onto the laptop's hard drive,
somehow.  (E.g., via a borrowed CD ROM (PCMCIA or parallel port;
or via a network connection to PC with a CD ROM).
(If you do this, edit the LASERROM.INI file to point to the new
location)
E.g.,

   [ServicePaths]
   CDPATH1=D:\LROMDISC\LROM.SVI

My D:\LROMDISC directory has 7448 files, with 352 MB (for an
HP-UX 10.x LaserROM disc)

--
Stan Sieler                                          [log in to unmask]
                                     http://www.allegro.com/sieler.html