Boot from external optical drive?

zaknafein72 · 08-03-2009, 07:35 PM

Hello all,

I'm currently planning to buy a dual-core HP dv2z notebook. As a sort of notebook/netbook fusion device, it has no optical drive, so I am planning to purchase the optional external dvd drive. Now, I am planning to upgrade to Windows 7 when (or probably several months after) it comes out. So, is it possible to format the HD and then boot from an external optical drive that is connected via usb? Will I be able to install Windows 7?

Thanks.
zaknafein72

Madcatz · 08-04-2009, 06:53 AM

yes, you should be able to plug in an external cd drive and boot from it and upgrade to windows 7 just fine.

zaknafein72 · 08-04-2009, 09:40 AM

Even if the OS has been completely wiped from the hard drive?

Madcatz · 08-04-2009, 09:58 AM

yep, the OS has nothing to do with what you can and cannot boot too, the BIOS dictates that and pretty much almost every BIOS for the last 5-7 years can boot from USB drives.

zaknafein72 · 08-04-2009, 10:19 AM

K, that's what I wanted to know. Thank you very much!

08-03-2009, 07:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
zaknafein72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 136 OS: xp	Boot from external optical drive? Hello all, I'm currently planning to buy a dual-core HP dv2z notebook. As a sort of notebook/netbook fusion device, it has no optical drive, so I am planning to purchase the optional external dvd drive. Now, I am planning to upgrade to Windows 7 when (or probably several months after) it comes out. So, is it possible to format the HD and then boot from an external optical drive that is connected via usb? Will I be able to install Windows 7? Thanks. zaknafein72

08-04-2009, 06:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,424 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Boot from external optical drive? yes, you should be able to plug in an external cd drive and boot from it and upgrade to windows 7 just fine. __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

08-04-2009, 09:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
zaknafein72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 136 OS: xp	Re: Boot from external optical drive? Even if the OS has been completely wiped from the hard drive?

08-04-2009, 09:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,424 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Boot from external optical drive? yep, the OS has nothing to do with what you can and cannot boot too, the BIOS dictates that and pretty much almost every BIOS for the last 5-7 years can boot from USB drives. __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

08-04-2009, 10:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
zaknafein72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 136 OS: xp	Re: Boot from external optical drive? K, that's what I wanted to know. Thank you very much!