External DVD Drive Boot Problems

[xplosiveone]

Hi,

I'm trying to reinstall Windows XP on an older Dell laptop that has a broken internal CD/DVD drive. Since the internal drive is broken, I am trying boot the Windows install CD from an external CD/DVD drive. The issue I'm running into is that the external drive is not detected at boot.(I know the external drive is working and functional)

Does anyone have an ideas as to how I can get the laptop to detect the external CD/DVD drive? Is there a boot cd that will detect it and give me the option to boot from usb drive?

The computer will boot from a usb flash drive but I have had nothing but troubles trying to get a windows xp flash drive to work...

Thanks for the help.

-X

 

[corkyg]

It is a function of your BIOS. If it is looking for the broken internal optical, it might not be looking for the external. Make sure the internal is removed from the boot sequence and see if you have an external option.

 

[pete1229]

What BIOS do you have or a better question is, what is the mobo make & model? I'm not sure you will be able to boot from an external USB device unless your boot sequence has it as an option, you may need to replace the internal optical drive, you can probaly find one relatively cheap online or perhaps on your area's craigs list