Installing software with no cd/dvd drive

Life Technology
1

So, i bought a new super small ultralight laptop, which has no cd/dvd drive. So far, have had no problems installing software, as most of it is downloaded, but I have the odd cd that I’d like to use. Is there any way that I can can avoid buying an external? Can a bootable cd be converted on my other pc to bootable files that i can use on my usb drive? Or can I use a pc to pc cable?

Thanks for any help that you can provide.

2

[quote=“jacktorrence”]So, i bought a new super small ultralight laptop, which has no cd/dvd drive. So far, have had no problems installing software, as most of it is downloaded, but I have the odd cd that I’d like to use. Is there any way that I can can avoid buying an external? Can a bootable cd be converted on my other pc to bootable files that i can use on my usb drive? Or can I use a pc to pc cable?

Thanks for any help that you can provide.[/quote]

I have the same issue, but have an external hard drive that I use to backup all of my desktops and laptops. I’ve found it is also good for the purpose you lay out above. I can copy a disk onto the external HDD using my desktop, and then move the external HDD over to the ultralight.

Thus, you might consider multiple benefits of external HDD as backup.

3

[quote=“jacktorrence”]Can a bootable cd be converted on my other pc to bootable files that i can use on my usb drive?

Thanks for any help that you can provide.[/quote]

Yes, I believe so, as long as your computer allows for it (check in the BIOS for a suitable option. Something like “Allow booting from USB”).

Sure, but I doubt you could BOOT from it.

For normal non-boot stuff though, why not just set up a little home network?
Alternatively, a crossover cable, or even a USB one for the purpose will achieve what you want.

I’d go for the home network option though. So much more useful, and if both your computers can already go online at the same time, then your network is probably just a click away.

4

Thanks irishstu,

The network option is working well for me.

5

The only software that comes on bootable discs is operating systems. You can either just copy the whole CD onto a USB thumb drive. Or the easiest way to to get an external USB dvd drive.

6

if you got big enough usb drive convert the cds to cd images and run cd images off harddrive or usb drive

networking your dvd drive on another computer works as well