How to Install Notebook PC with no Optical Drive?
 

Hi All!

I'm the Computer Coordinator at an Elementary School and we just received a really cool pen tablet HP notebook PC as a donation from a parent. It's great for kids to draw on!

But it didn't come with the external optical drive. How can I install our applications on it without the missing external device? Can I just share my install CDs from another networked PC?

Thanks in advance!

- V

You should be able to install from a shared network drive. But if the software install is poorly written you could end up with parts of the program installed on the host's OS and some on the laptop.


Easiest would be to get an external drive. They start at under $40 at Newegg.com

If you have an internal drive laying around you could also use an adapter for temporary transfer, about $20

If you have a USB drive, hard drive or flash memory.
Copy your program discs into an ISO file.
Copy the ISO to the external drive, and ISO read write program.
Move the drive to the laptop.
Install the ISO software.
Mount and run the ISO cd file.

I use MagicISO, but I'm sure there is a good free one, I haven't used any other for a while.
MagicISO - Convert BIN to ISO, Create, Edit, Burn, Extract ISO file, ISO/BIN converter/extractor/editor
List of ISO image software - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Comparison of ISO image software - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You may also check with the Mfg. as they may offer a download of the software, if you already have a serial number or key.

Thanks for suggestions! Installing from the shared PC's CD drive works great! And I'll pick up a simple USB external drive. I'm a MAc guy mostly, so I wasn't sure if it was as simple. I'm pretty used to not having to work with too many third parties ;-)

The ISO stuff on the PC side has always confused me. I've only done it a couple of times, but it always seems such an idiosyncratic process. See, I'm so spoiled with my integrated interface...

Thanks again!