How to rebuild computer with broken cd/dvd drive?

[theresatan]

I have an old pc and I forget the password. I want to rebuild it but the cd/dvd was broken.

If I buy a new dvd drive and replace the broken one, will any dvd drive be bootable and can be used to rebuilt a pc?

I heard about bootable usb drive/flash drive. How can I put the windows xp cd to a usb drive? can I just put both xp cd and usb drive in a workable computer and do a copy and paste?

Thanks for your help.

Theresa

 

[Sympology]

Yes you can just replace the drive and replace windows with a Windows XP disc.
You need to make sure in the BIOS (often F9, F10 or Del at start up) that the boot order is CD/DVD first.
But you MUST buy a drive that is compatible with your pc.
Older PC's (more than a couple of years) will need a IDE drive, newer ones may need a SATA drive, although many will still accept a IDE as well.

Most people spend their time on the "urgent" rather than on the "important."

 

[Lemon13]

http://myeeeguides.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/winsetupfromusb-install-windows-xp-from-usb-flash-drive/

M. Knorr

MCSE, MCTS, MCSA, CCNA

 

[algraff]

You mentioned that you had forgotten the password. Assuming you're talking about the BIOS password, most motherboards have a jumper that will enable you to reset it. Location and marking of the jumper can vary, check the board manufacturer's website if you can't find it. Once the password is reset you can access the BIOS to check the boot order as Sympology mentioned above.

 

[goombawaho]

If it's a windows password, a little bird told me that you can google the problem and find a way to change the password. Don't make more work for yourself than required.

Though you might need a CD drive to be able to boot from in order to do something about the password.

 

[kjv1611]

Or, if your computer WILL boot from USB, you could use the same tools as goombawaho hinted towards on a USB device, same as you could the Windows install disk... if you need to get this going before you can get the CD/DVD drive.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[xwb]

In some shops, they only know IDE drives as PATA drives. Some of these sales people aren't trained with the alternative terminology.