Can you boot from a External USB DVD Writer?

[Scuba Steve]

I was wondering if anyone ever tried booting from a external usb dvd writer and got it working.

None of our systems have dvd drives in it and our XP corporate images is too large to fit on a cd. I was wondering if its better to use a dvd or is it better to use several cds.

Since I only have 1 external dvd drive, it wouldn't be the most efficient way to install the load to several systems. Is it hard to use multiple cds?

Thanks,

Justin

[daywalker03]

If they all support booting from a usb drive, you should be able to use the dvd-rom to do it. If not, multiple disks is the only way to go, but I don't know exactly how it would be done. How have you tried making the ISO? I was able to build an image of XP Home/XP Pro that still fit on one CD using the guide here.

[Alanoll]

well....

boot from an external drive might not be possible. It would depend on the the BIOS. I have a DVDROM connect to a ATA133 card, but I can't boot to it. Mine have to be directly on the Primary/Secondary buses.

Since you'd be in a corporate environment, it may be better if you were able to do an install over a network. That would keep you from moving, and you could do many at once (depending on the network anyways)

[daywalker03]

@Alanoll, both of the motherboards I've had in my PC in the last year support booting from USB in the BIOS. I would agree with you on installing over the network, though.

[Scuba Steve]

Ok, so a network install is the best method to do this. Is there a site as good as this one to help me figure out how to do it?

I am new to the unattended setup and could really use some help getting started.

Let me know,

Justin