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CD drive dead
Name: ps67boy Date: May 3, 2009 at 12:39:22 Pacific OS: Windows XP SP2 CPU/Ram: AMD 3100+ Product: Emachines / T3104 Subcategory: Input Devices
Comment:
CD drive accepts CD, but no contents appear in Windows Explorer. To save time of replacing drive, thought I'd get a USB replacement..I don't do much burning. My concern: I'm going to purchase ghost software to make an image of entire hard drive as back up..so I can keep using XP and all apps. Will I be able to make the USB drive bootable should the worst happen? Thanx for your input.
Name: OtheHill Date: May 3, 2009 at 12:53:24 Pacific
Reply:
I suggest you replace the optical drive.
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Response Number 2
Name: aegis1 Date: May 3, 2009 at 14:16:56 Pacific
Reply:
I agree, and get a CD/DVD drive. It only takes a few minutes to swap drives. Plug the 'Master/Slave/Cable select' the same as the old drive.
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Response Number 3
Name: worldlibrary Date: May 3, 2009 at 16:02:39 Pacific
Reply:
Yes to the two above. If you are going to ghost the drive get a second hard drive to put the image on or just make a copy of your c: drive using Maxblast or another program.
Putting a backup or image on the same hard drive puts all your eggs in one basket. Make the backup and then disconnect the second hd from the power and ribbon cable.
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Response Number 4
Name: OtheHill Date: May 3, 2009 at 16:29:55 Pacific
Reply:
USB Optical drives are slower and cost more. USB is not as dependable either.
Look at the link below. I assume you need an IDE type optical drive. Read the reviews. Many have free shipping. Most locations will have no sales tax either.
Name: ps67boy Date: May 3, 2009 at 19:34:37 Pacific
Reply:
Thank you all for your quick responses. I have an external hard drive, so no "all eggs in one basket". Installing a new dual optical drive is just a pain in the butt I'm trying to avoid and USB speed is not an issue as I only use the drive to load apps etc. My concern is if the system does go belly-up, would my bootable CD work from a USB drive...and BIOS is not a friendly place for me, so more detail would help. Again, thanks.
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