A cheap Laptop computer that doesn’t have a CD/DVD drive. How are you supposed to install programs?
February 122010
My Sister bought a cheap laptop, and it doesn’t have a CD/DVD drive. Is there any way to install programs onto the Computer. I’m thinking an external CD Drive, but do they work like that?
Thank you.
You can buy an external USB CD or DVD drive.
Or you can use a program like unetbootin to create a bootable flash drive from an iso image of a CD
In your case, an external USB DVD would probably be best. Get one that has an onboard battery, many netbooks don’t have enough current on the USB ports to properly power many external USB CD/DVD drives. Plextor makes a good one: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827249034
February 12th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Yes ! External CD drive is an option.
Also u can use USB flash drive to install softwares.
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February 12th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
yep an external cd drive would do it.
She’s bought what they call a netbook, which are just designed to surf the web really.
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February 12th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Netbooks do not come with Optical Drives to help reduce cost and size of the unit. Commonly, porgrams are installed via the Internet/Network, USB Flash Drive, or most people opt to purchase the external USB DVDRW drive (est. $75.00 USD).
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February 12th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
i know its crazy to sell a laptop/netbook with no CD/DVD drive, i think they expect you to either have another computer which has a CD/DVD drive and you share this and access on your laptop over the network or like you mention you buy an external USB CD?DVD drive.
i do the sharing thing with mine, it works pretty well, its virtually the same as sharing files, http://www.computer-adviser.com/file-sharing.html
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http://www.computer-adviser.com
February 12th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Yes, external CD/DVD drives work. If you don’t have one sitting around, i suggest looking for an old USB key and just aiming to get the computer online. The reason for this is because a external CD/DVD could set you back ~$100.
Being online, you can find anything…
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February 12th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
You can buy an external USB CD or DVD drive.
Or you can use a program like unetbootin to create a bootable flash drive from an iso image of a CD
In your case, an external USB DVD would probably be best. Get one that has an onboard battery, many netbooks don’t have enough current on the USB ports to properly power many external USB CD/DVD drives. Plextor makes a good one: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827249034
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23 years building, fixing, and modding computers
February 12th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
yes external drive usb into laptop
or for time being she can dl the program to a desktop and have someone send it as a file attachment in email
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February 12th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
simple answer, don’t buy it, get one with the drive fitted.
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