Re-install Win95

A friend has an old Laptop running Win95. I would like to format and reinstall windows. The portable doesn’t have a CD-ROM Drive (Just a floppy). I tossed my Win95 floppy’s years ago because disk one was corrupt. What are my options?

If I buy an external PCMCIA CD-ROM Drive will I be able to access it after booting from the Windows 95 boot disk? I’m worried that because there will be no OS and it is a PCMCIA driven CD-ROM I won’t be able to see it (The OS installs the drivers for the PCMCIA controller). Am I correct in assuming that?

If that isn’t an option, what about a LPT1 or Serial Port CD-ROM Drive? The drivers for those ports are included in the BIOs right?

Anyway, I’m sure you can see my dilemma. Anyone have any suggestions?

EBCDIC