[AliL]

Hi there, on my Toshiba Satellite A30-303 notebook computer the internal CD drive has broken but the problem is that I want to be able to boot from a CD in order to install Linux and XP on my machine. I have an LG GSA-2166D external USB DVD-RAM drive, but I can't seem to be able to get the machine to boot from this. Is there a workaround or am I being really dumb?

As far as I can tell, the computer had PhoenixBIOS version 1.80, and I have set it to boot in this order: Removable Devices, CD-ROM/DVD Drive, Hard Drive, Network Boot.

However when I boot, a horizontal cursor flashes in the top left corner of the screen indefinitely and I have to reboot manually and force the HDD to boot using the "Boot Device Selection Menu" or just by re-ordering the selection in the BIOS utility.

Many thanks to any help,

Ali L

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Not all laptops have the option to boot off a USB device. Some do, but most don't. You may need to plug the device in, switch it on and then go into BIOS while its on and change the boot order.

Unfortunately with a laptop if it won't boot off a USB device, there's not a lot you can really do about it I'm afraid.

[Neil Jones]

Not all laptops have the option to boot off a USB device. Some do, but most don't. You may need to plug the device in, switch it on and then go into BIOS while its on and change the boot order.

Unfortunately with a laptop if it won't boot off a USB device, there's not a lot you can really do about it I'm afraid.

[AliL]

Ah well, I've been having a look at other methods of getting the computer to try and recognise it, such as using a program called "smart boot loader" and something called "grub", but it all seems hopeless so I think I shall just invest a bit into getting a new internal drive for the machine.

Here's the new problem then, how to fit it. I'm a bit timid about pulling my laptop apart, although I've been at the RAM a few times, opened the cover for where the internal wireless module can fit, and even opened the housing so i could clean out my fans to stop it from overheating, but this seems to be a whole new kind of beast.

Can anyone point me the right direction as to how I'd replace an optical drive on a Toshiba Satellite A30 notebook?

Edited by AliL, 04 July 2007 - 04:36 PM.

[Neil Jones]

The majority of laptop bits are held in place by a few screws. In the case of a CD unit or the battery, you may need to push a retaining clip for the drive to slide out. Sometimes its only held by the retaining clip.

[AliL]

No, I'm going to have to thoroughly open up the machine for this one. There's no retaining clip, although I know what you mean as may father's Dell notebook has one for switching the CD drive and FDD around. Instead of doing it myself I may just end up taking it to a hardware specialist or PC world to see if they can do it cheaply.