how to Format a laptop without cd drive?

maximilian2006 · 06-01-2008, 05:28 AM

I want to format my laptop, but the cd drive isn't working, it has been broken for a long time. I have the window xp cd. Is there anyway that I can format without cd drive?

Yeti · 06-01-2008, 05:57 AM

That depends on what exactly you want to do. If you just want to wipe the hard drive DBAN will do the trick and can be run from a USB flash drive. If you want to reinstall Windows you can follow these instructions to do it from a USB flash drive, assuming you have access to another computer with a working CD-ROM. Of course you also have the option of replacing your CD-ROM or buying a USB CD-ROM drive and just using your Windows CD.

G25r8cer · 06-02-2008, 11:30 PM

^^ Yup! You can install through a usb flash drive. Or you could upgrade a previous version using an ISO inside of windows! No worries, thats NOT illegal. Use PowerISO to make the ISO copy.

Edit: Forgot you have a broken cd drive. If you have another pc then make the ISO copy on the other pc and transfer it to the other pc using a network folder or a flash drive. An ISO copy of xp should be about 700mb or so. If you dont have another pc then you could download a CLEAN and Legit copy of xp off the internet (torrent site).

P.S. Downloading a CLEAN and Legit xp ISO is not illegal if it is not tampered with. Then just use the key that came with your other disk to install.

06-01-2008, 05:28 AM	#1
maximilian2006 Bit Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5	how to Format a laptop without cd drive? I want to format my laptop, but the cd drive isn't working, it has been broken for a long time. I have the window xp cd. Is there anyway that I can format without cd drive?

06-02-2008, 11:30 PM	#3
G25r8cer Petabyte Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Zeeland, MI Age: 22 Posts: 5,925	^^ Yup! You can install through a usb flash drive. Or you could upgrade a previous version using an ISO inside of windows! No worries, thats NOT illegal. Use PowerISO to make the ISO copy. Edit: Forgot you have a broken cd drive. If you have another pc then make the ISO copy on the other pc and transfer it to the other pc using a network folder or a flash drive. An ISO copy of xp should be about 700mb or so. If you dont have another pc then you could download a CLEAN and Legit copy of xp off the internet (torrent site). P.S. Downloading a CLEAN and Legit xp ISO is not illegal if it is not tampered with. Then just use the key that came with your other disk to install. __________________ Antec 300 w/Scyth Kaze Master Asus M4A785TD-V EVO Phenom II 955BE w/ CoolerMaster V8 @ 3.8GHZ 2 x 2gb Gskill DDR3 1600mhz Ultra X-Finity 600watt psu Samsung F3 500gb and F1 750gb XFX 9600GSO Logitech Illuminated, MX Revo, and x-540 speakers Team Stats FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND F@H Team 44358 Last edited by G25r8cer; 06-02-2008 at 11:33 PM.

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06-01-2008, 05:57 AM	#2
Yeti VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,430	That depends on what exactly you want to do. If you just want to wipe the hard drive DBAN will do the trick and can be run from a USB flash drive. If you want to reinstall Windows you can follow these instructions to do it from a USB flash drive, assuming you have access to another computer with a working CD-ROM. Of course you also have the option of replacing your CD-ROM or buying a USB CD-ROM drive and just using your Windows CD.