Windows 7 install from external CD drive

CalvinL · May 20, 2014

Recently bought a new mini ITX build and mistakenly forgot to buy a cd-drive for it, so I got an external one in the local shop. I've tried to install windows 7 from the CD but it won't seem to work. I've tried several things in the BIOS menu, changing the boot order to USB-CD ROM etc but it won't work...

Anyone have any ideas to fix it?

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-78LMT
CPU: Amd fx-6300
Windows 7 home premium 64bit

External CD drive is an LG branded one.

clutchc · May 20, 2014

Does the BIOS allow the optical drive to be selected as the boot drive?

Can your build accept a 5 1/4" optical drive? They are quite cheap. Cheaper than stand alone drives.

CalvinL · May 20, 2014

How do I check if my BIOS can do that? I know for boot drive I chose the first one to be USB-CD ROM and it didn't work then I tried it as CD ROM on its own and it didn't work.

The cd drive requires sata cable to be connected to mobo? If it does, then I don't think my mobo has enough SATA ports. Already have two occupied by HDD and SSD

clutchc · May 20, 2014

Try pressing F11 at boot to get the boot menu options. See if you can get the optical drive to boot that way.

Yes, the optical drive will require a SATA cable. This is the MB you listed above: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3833#ov
It is not an ITX, but it has 6 SATA ports. Do you have a different one than the one you listed? I'm getting confused.

CalvinL · May 20, 2014

Ah yeah, F11 or the delete key right? Tried that but it doesn't seem to boot.

My mistake, must have listed the wrong mobo. This is the one: https://www.hardwareversand.de/DDR3/66165/Gigabyte+GA-78LMT-S2%2C+AMD+760G%2C+mATX.article

clutchc · May 20, 2014

CalvinL :

That's not an ITX MB either. That's another mATX. It also has 6 SATA headers. What case are you using?

No, F2 and Del are the same way to get to BIOS. F11 is how you get to the boot option menu. You have to kinda tap the key off and on during POST. The time allowed for the POST sequence to read the keyboard is quite short.

Hash1991 · May 21, 2014

Maybe you got a bad installation disk thats why its not working on booting in cd drive.

CalvinL · May 21, 2014

clutchc :

just tried got onto the boot menu options, but it only showed win7 as an option. My mistake, the mobo ive got is this: https://www.hardwareversand.de/DDR3/66165/Gigabyte+GA-78LMT-S2%2C+AMD+760G%2C+mATX.article
ive got the ITX and ATX mixed is all, my bad

clutchc · May 21, 2014

Another mATX board. I can't help you if you don't know what you have. When you get your act together, come back...

CalvinL · May 21, 2014

clutchc :

I said at the bottom that ive mixed the two up. I originally planned on getting a mITX build but instead opted for a mATX build with the mobo that ive linked.

clutchc · May 21, 2014

CalvinL :

Well if that's what you have, then you have several unused SATA headers.

CalvinL · May 22, 2014

clutchc :

Alright, i'll get the internal CD-drive then.
I've also got a "disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter" error upon load up. i never had this and ive tried all solutions i could find through google. Could it be a faulty hard drive?

clutchc · May 22, 2014

Be sure there are no USB drives plugged into the system when you try to boot. If you still get that message, it would mean the HDD either failed, or there is no OS on it.

CalvinL · May 22, 2014

clutchc :

Seems as though the HDD was DOA then. All that was plugged in was the external cd drive and my mouse/keyboard. Gonna book the return consignment now

clutchc · May 22, 2014

CalvinL :

Wait. Didn't you say you weren't able to install Windows on the HDD? If there's no OS installed, it is normal for that message to be presented.

CalvinL · May 22, 2014

clutchc :

Ah, so its a normal thing for that boot disk error to be displayed when there is no OS installed on the HDD? I'm trying to install win7 onto the SSD but the CD just doesn't seem to be loading up when placed into the external cd drive.

clutchc · May 22, 2014

Yes. That's what I said a couple posts back. No OS = "disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter"
No sense going any further w/o a working DVD drive for the OS disk.

clutchc · May 22, 2014

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135305

CalvinL · May 22, 2014

clutchc :

I should read things properly.. Must be the cd drives problem then, or i mustn't have USB booting enabled on the BIOS. Any idea how to enable that? Also, the cd drive works when plugged into my other PC.
And thank you btw, for having this patience with my problems

clutchc · May 22, 2014

If this is your board: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4305#ov
...page 30/31 of your MB manual has a section for setting the 1st, 2nd, 3rd boot device. If the board were mine, I would set the USB, DVD, HDD in that order. That way as long as there is no flash drive in the USB port, or a disk in your new DVD drive, it will default to the HDD for booting.

Also... If you tap F11 while booting to Win7, some boards will offer you a boot selection.

CalvinL · May 22, 2014

clutchc :

it leads me to a windows error recovery screen now.

clutchc · May 22, 2014

What does? I thought you didn't have Windows installed?

CalvinL · May 22, 2014

When I boot it up, it doesn't load the CD. It goes straight to the windows error screen, even though I don't have win7 installed.

CalvinL · May 22, 2014

Never mind. I've made a rookie move and realised the SSD hasn't even been formatted. Is there a special way I go about this or will a full format just do?

clutchc · May 22, 2014

It doesn't matter if it's formatted or not. (It probably is) Win7 installation pgm does that automatically.

Windows 7 install from external CD drive

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