Is it possible to install WinXP from an external cd-rom drive?

[mitchafi]

My dad's laptop has a busted CD-Rom drive and rather than replace the drive he bought a cheap external CD-Rom. The problem is, he needs to reformat the machine. Is it possible to do this from the external drive? I looked in the boot settings and I didn't find anything that would allow me to boot from the external drive. I called Toshiba Tech Support and they told me that it was impossible to boot from an external CD-Rom with this model. I have scoured google and Toshiba's website for some type of boot floppy, driver, or method that would somehow allow me to reformat the drive and install windows but I haven't had any success. Someone in the operating systems forum mentioned something about copying the I386 directory to the hard drive but I didn't really understand it. If anyone could find a method or some type of drivers that would make this work I would be grateful. The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite if that is of any relevance. Thanks!

 

[Ausm]

If your Bios supports it isa possible but most likely the tech is correct.


Ausm