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    Broken optical drive + windows xp

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by m4rc, Jun 5, 2009.

  1. m4rc

    m4rc Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi,

    Is it possible to install windows xp via external hard drive? My optical drive has been broken since last year and I've successfully been able to last this amount of time by using Daemon tools and such. But, now I want to reformat my OS and was wondering whether it would be possible to have an alternative for an optical drive.

    --> All I have on my laptop is usb ports + an optical drive. No firewire or any other data transfer sort of things.

    Thanks!
     
  2. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If your BIOS supports boot from USB you can use an external optical drive.
     
  3. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Also, you may be able to boot from a flash drive or other external USB drive.