Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
It's tempting to think that simply copying a bootable install CD to a USB device would work. Sadly, it's not that simple.
I'm thinking of buying a netbook with no built-in way to read an installation CD if I want to add other software. I expect that I can simply copy the contents of any such CD to a USB memory key, using another computer, and install from the key. Can I safely count on that working, or are there still any installation routines that expect a physical CD drive to be present? Can you see any other problems I might encounter?
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No, you can't count on that working.
It'll get you 99% of the way there, but that last 1% is a deal breaker.
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What you're describing will work for many applications that don't require you to reboot from their installation media.
The problem is that many, specifically operating system installation media, require that you reboot from the media.
Simply copying a bootable CD's contents to a USB drive does not make the USB drive bootable. It copies everything except the part that makes it bootable.
That means that if you're ever faced with a "bare iron" reinstall - one where the hard disk in your netbook is empty, you have no way to boot from any installation media.
Now, there are various and sundry tools out there that you can use to create a bootable USB device, and even use an arbitrary ISO image of a CD to boot from. Most of those that I've run across are rather geeky, and not really for the average user. (Search for things like "bootable iso to USB", for example, and you'll get plenty of discussions if you're interested.)
My recommendation is actually much simpler, and something anyone can do.
Get a USB CD/DVD drive.
There are plenty of choices.
Making sure that your netbook will check for a bootable USB device first, when you need to boot from an installation media such as an operating system boot disk, just connect up the USB CD/DVD drive and you should be good to go.
No geekery required.
Article C3660 - February 26, 2009
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
I am not a computer expert. But I want to install WINDOWS-XP on 4 or 8 GB Hard Disk. Take mirror image (Acronic's TI) and copy on USB Drive. Will it work?
05-Mar-2009
leo needs to go back to school...
its very easy to do...no need to be a geek...those that would fret at the complications involved would most likely struggle with a clean install anyway...
really simple..
input a USB stick, format it, copy all the contents from your windows cd, safely remove usb..
go to your netbook, enter the bios and ensure its got the boot from USB turned on and up in the list (if nothing already installed on HD then last step not necessary), restart netbook with USB inserted and hey presto...
i;ve personally done it 7-8 times, using windows and Ubuntu. Using both original disks (dont even need anydvd), and backups, and downloaded .iso versions...
there are people commenting here who dont even have the relevant experience..
Posted by: neil l at April 20, 2009 11:31 AMNot sure how many computers can even boot from USB, Neil. Or, you can follow Leo's advice and buy an USB CD drive, stick your CD in there, and boot from USB. Simpler.
Only my two old computers could boot from USB anyway.
This new BIOS is kind of odd, it looks to be fiercely against any kind of editting.
Posted by: Daniel at July 18, 2009 12:22 AMThe 1st post is working for Windows XP? It seems only work for Windows 7.
Posted by: zimmer at July 19, 2010 1:32 PMi need to windows 7 copy cd to usb software or tips pleas ans me first
Posted by: Muhammad Rauf at October 10, 2010 9:43 PM