Installing Windows XP with External USB CD ROM Drive

AMO

Hi all,

I have just purchased this item:
Acer Aspire One A150 Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz, 1GB RAM 120GB HDD,8.9" Webcam, Blue, Linux Linpus Lite
http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/429700/acer-aspire-one-a150-intel-atom-n27

I wish to install Windows XP on it, but it doesn't have a CD Rom drive. I am aware of the approach where you create a bootable USB stick but at present I don't want to go down that route.

I ordered this item:
Slimline USB External CDRW DVDROM Drive
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slimline-USB-External-DVDROM-Drive/dp/B001GRNS32/ref=pd_cp_ce_1

I press F12 to change the boot sequence (or you can do something similar with F2) when the machine starts up.

However, as you get to the blue screen that installs Windows, as it loads files, it will get to a point (and its different every time) saying that a file is missing or corrupted and will back out of the install (press any key to continue).

I am using a slipstreamed Windows XP SP3 disk (created a second one in case the CD was corrupted also).

Now I know that others have successfully installed from an external USB CD ROM drive. But are there any gotchas? Could the drive be spinning too slow because there's not enough power? Could the CD ROM drive not work 100% because the drivers are not installed yet? The CD ROM drive appears to work okay when used against a computer that's already got Windows fully installed, but I haven't tried a mass copy of files.

I don't know.

Anyway, was thinking of getting this one:
LG GE20LU10 20X External DVD?RW/DL/Ram Lightscribe USB2.0 - Retail With Nero
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148052
which seems highly rated.

Basically, I thought that just incase the CD ROM drive was timing out because it spins slow or loses power, I'd get a really fast one that was externally powered.

Can anyone foresee me having problems installing Windows XP from this external USB CD ROM drive?

Am I missing something fundamental with external USB CD ROM drives?

Thanx

AMO

Nex0

I'm no expert on external drives but im confident in saying the drive wont be spinning to slowly so spending more money on another drive will just be a waste so keep it in ur pocket.

The speed of a cd drive hasn't been an issue for years and that was only really for watching film on old cd drives.

A single speed dvd drive can playback a dvd with no issues and it does not matter how fast the drive is nothing will ever time out it will just take longer to copy.

damo24

As a GENERAL rule, this problem is actually a memory problem. Did you create the slipstream yourself? If so it could be worth trying your old (non slipstreamed) disc and then try installing the service pack.

AMO

damo24 wrote: »

As a GENERAL rule, this problem is actually a memory problem. Did you create the slipstream yourself? If so it could be worth trying your old (non slipstreamed) disc and then try installing the service pack.

But when I am in the Linux environment it doesn't crash ever. Why is that?

Thanx

AMO

AMO

Nex0 wrote: »

I'm no expert on external drives but im confident in saying the drive wont be spinning to slowly so spending more money on another drive will just be a waste so keep it in ur pocket.

The speed of a cd drive hasn't been an issue for years and that was only really for watching film on old cd drives.

A single speed dvd drive can playback a dvd with no issues and it does not matter how fast the drive is nothing will ever time out it will just take longer to copy.

Well the DVD drive is going back today. The other possible issue I wanted to eliminate was the external power dependency. Going for a different drive should resolve that.

Thanx.

AMO

[Deleted User]

AMO wrote: »

But when I am in the Linux environment it doesn't crash ever. Why is that?

Thanx

AMO

What method did you use to slipstream? Did you use Nlite at all?

From what you've described it certainly looks like the slipstreaming process hasn't been 100% successful. Do as damo24 advised and try the original disc.

Jakg

You've probably slipstreamed it wrong tbh.

damo24

AMO wrote: »

But when I am in the Linux environment it doesn't crash ever. Why is that?

Thanx

AMO

When it is a memory problem the computer will work fine with Windows or Linux installed, the problem only occurs when trying to install Windows, I'm not sure why but try installing with your original disc not the slipstreamed one. There is always the possibility that there is an error with the slipstreamed version.

AMO

I used AutoStreamer and the slipstreamed disk has run fine on countless installations.

I have also tried with the original disc, but no joy!

AMO

Taffybiker

damo24 wrote: »

When it is a memory problem the computer will work fine with Windows or Linux installed, the problem only occurs when trying to install Windows, I'm not sure why but try installing with your original disc not the slipstreamed one. There is always the possibility that there is an error with the slipstreamed version.

I can relate to this. A few years back I tried to install a genuine copy of Windows onto a friend's PC since he was having trouble with the installation. Same symptoms - it would not get past one certain file. New memory fixed it.