Laptop cd-roms [Advice required]

sLeEpWaLkErInG SG

I just wanna check if it is possible to plug out the cd-rom from the lappie and exchange with another old lappie working cd-rom.

Or is it possible to attach a cd-rom to the existing lappie, i wonder if it will work. Many thanx in advance.

Mayi, help.... Embarassed

LatecomerX SG

External CD/DVD drives connected through a USB port, yes.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

You can attach another CD-ROM drive. Most use USB.

If you want to dismantle something, chances are, you will kill both motherboards.

kenn3th SG

Some laptops have deteachable cd drives.
While others are built in with no way to replace them or remove them.

You can take a detechable cd rom drive and insert to one cd rom slot if
- the pins are the same.
-size

or u can either get a external cd rom drive

Shotgun SG

Btw, I feel reformatting my friend's 2nd hand laptop, cos I don't believe the previous owner ( a relative ) did a thorough job. However, the laptop doesn't have a built in CD rom drive. So I figured I'd need a USB one.

I' haven't done this b4, so I'm not sure if after reformatting, I would be able to use the external USB CD rom. If i can't then I can't install the OS also. Would I need some special drivers to boot from the external CD rom drive?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

That laptop must be old to have no CD-ROM drive.

If there's no CD drive, it's not easy to install an OS. If I'm not mistaken, old motherboards don't support booting up via USB devices.

After formatting and installing Windows, you should have no problems using the USB CD-ROM drive, as long as the drivers are installed. You will definitely require special drivers. Most manufacturers will give you a 3.5 floppy disk to insert it and install before the installation of Windows begins.

Shotgun SG

Its an IBM think pad, circa Pentium 3, 1Ghz. I cant remember how long ago that was.

But yes, I suspect I won't be able to boot up via USB device.

sLeEpWaLkErInG SG

System is 400Mhz Celeron CPU from Digitek running on win 98 with 64Mb RAM (i know this is zzzz).

as win 98 doesn't have the capabilites of installing itz own software, and from the specs, i dun think it will be suitable for other OS for use on this lappie.

BTW, haven been to Sim Lim to check out these prices, how much will an external CD-rom cost currently?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Not really. You should have my Windows 3.1 machine. Laughing

Back on topic.

Cost wise, it's higher than internal parts. $100 and up.

You should be able to get it to work. Just ask the shopkeeper if it comes with drivers on a floppy disk. You will need that on a Win 98 machine, otherwise, it's hard to find drivers for Win 98 online.