Loading old software onto a new laptop

donny-gal

The newer laptops come without a CD/DVD drive, which is not a problem, unless you want to load some older software, like I have.  Could I copy the CD onto a USB stick and load from there?  Or is there a way of linking an old and a new machine together?

PRAISETHESUN

Depending on the software you might be fine to just copy the installation files to a USB drive as you suggest otherwise you'll need a USB CD drive, unless you can find it digitally somewhere. 

The existing CD drive may be movable if your mobo supports whatever interface your old computer uses. Many CD drives are SATA, which is pretty universal so it'd be feasible to move it across to your new computer if you really wanted...

debitcardmayhem

You could share the CD on the old via your home network 

eg https https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=13067

Neil_Jones

donny-gal said:

The newer laptops come without a CD/DVD drive, which is not a problem, unless you want to load some older software, like I have.  Could I copy the CD onto a USB stick and load from there?  Or is there a way of linking an old and a new machine together?

Unless the software needs the presence of a CD you can just copy it to USB and then run the setup program in the normal way and it'll be fine.  If it needs a CD to run it'll be easier to get a USB CD drive for that program.

molerat

Get one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-2-0-External-Case-Caddy-For-CD-CR-W-DVD-DVD-W-Combo-Blu-ray-9-5mm-SATA-Drive/142866955362?hash=item214388bc62:g:6L0AAOSw1-5bGOR and fit the old drive in it. Ideal for the odd time you need one.

Another idea is to rip the disc to an ISO file and mount a virtual drive on the laptop, thinks it is a normal DVD/CD.

jon81uk

Do you need that software or can you get it elsewhere?

I had some PC games on CD but it was easier to pay a couple of quid to buy them from GOG.com and they ran a lot better than trying to get the old CD going.

donny-gal

Some I can get elsewhere I know, the main one for me is an old version of MS Office, which still works fine, and I know it inside out, and I also know there is the option of OpenOffice, and a Google version, but old age brain prefers to keep with what I have known and used for years, and usage doesn't justify the cost of the new version.  I will have a cd drive on an older laptop, so will certainly try the share option, as once installed I will no need the cd again.  I will have to read up on ripping a disc to ISO files.
Thanks for all the ideas folks.

DoaM

Ripping to ISO and then copying the ISO (e.g. via a USB stick, or over the network between the 2 PCs) to your new laptop will probably be quicker ... trying to install over the network from a CD/DVD drive in another PC will probably be painfully slow, and possibly also unreliable.

hollie.weimeraner

£22 for an external CD/DVD drive is what I bought. https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-SDRW-08D2S-U-LITE-External-Burner/dp/B00BGJ8GPU/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1HMIWZ96QL5N5&dchild=1&keywords=asus+external+cd+drive&qid=1599215792&s=computers&sprefix=asus+exter%2Ccomputers%2C169&sr=1-3

wongataa

DoaM said:

Ripping to ISO and then copying the ISO (e.g. via a USB stick, or over the network between the 2 PCs) to your new laptop will probably be quicker ... trying to install over the network from a CD/DVD drive in another PC will probably be painfully slow, and possibly also unreliable.

There is no need to rip to ISO in this situation.  All you do is copy the files on the CD onto a USB stick and then plug that stick into the other computer and run the installer on it.

DoaM

For an old MS Office installation you're probably right.