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    How do you load software on a machine with no optical drive?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by fredf, Aug 22, 2008.

  1. fredf

    fredf Notebook Consultant

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    dumb question:
    if the new S10 can run MS Office, how do you install it?
    Is there an external optical drive for purchase or (and I have never done this) can you install MS Office off a flash drive?
     
    fredf, Aug 22, 2008
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  2. mongooztt

    mongooztt Notebook Guru

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    If you have a desktop or notebook with an optical drive, it's pretty easy. Use the windows network wizard to create a wireless (or wired) network, share your optical drive, then install the software onto your device with no optical drive through the network.

    I'm sure someone else can be more specific. I was able to install CS2 from a DVD through my laptop onto my work desktop which has no DVD drive, using this method.
     
    mongooztt, Aug 22, 2008
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  3. morgandog

    morgandog Notebook Enthusiast

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    I used a fairly cheap USB CD/DVD drive to load stuff onto a Toshiba I had without an optical drive. It worked well, but I found it to be such a pain that it's the last/only system I have had without an optical drive...
     
    morgandog, Aug 22, 2008
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  4. fredf

    fredf Notebook Consultant

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    has anyone tried copying a CD to a flash drive and installing from there? Can you do that with all the copyright protection?
     
    fredf, Aug 22, 2008
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  5. elfroggo

    elfroggo Notebook Evangelist

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    "How do you kill that which has no life"

    You could extract the cd into an iso file and then use something like daemon tools to create a virtual optical drive and install from there.
     
    elfroggo, Aug 22, 2008
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  6. djh01

    djh01 Notebook Consultant

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    This will work for 99% percent of programs that don't require a CD to be in the drive to run. You just copy installation files over to the thumb drive and run.
     
    djh01, Aug 22, 2008
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  7. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    Yes you can do that, I do it all the time.

    Extract the CD into an ISO? Why go through the extra steps and trouble? :confused: He can simply copy the CD content into a USB flash drive and then run it from there. Yes you can do this, I've done it many times.
     
    stewie, Aug 22, 2008
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  8. techboydino

    techboydino Notebook Evangelist

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    I like to use my johnny mnemonic flash drive thats built into my brain and transfer that way. since i havent mastered my data telepathy yet, flash is your friend. listen to stewie, flash drive is your cheap and easy friend. iso is necessary only when you need use the security built into the disc. mostly just copy over as stated by everyone above.
     
    techboydino, Aug 22, 2008
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  9. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    I tried the data telepathy method, it works, but it depends on my mood of the day. [​IMG]
     
    stewie, Aug 22, 2008
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