External DVD-RW Drive. - Bootable with P5Q mobo?

[dacomputernerd]

Hey guys.
I'm in the process of building a new computer, and I don't want to have an internal optical drive.

Is it possible to boot from the XP install CD, and install it using an external DVD-RW drive in a USB enclosure? (Asus P5Q Pro Motherboard)

I have the IDE DVD-RW drive already, if what I want is possible, what external enclosure would you recommend?

(By the way, the plan is to rip all of my commonly used CDs and DVDs to my HDD, and mount them via Daemon tools or similar. That way I only need the external drive for new CDs, and burning)

[minsonngo]

Yep it should work. The option to boot from a external USB optical should be available in the boot priorty/order setup.


I like Vantec for an external optical enclosure:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392021

[glc]

If not, just hang it off an IDE cable and remove it when the OS is installed.

[dacomputernerd]

Thanks guys. I just ordered that Vantec enclosure.

I've got a Vantec HDD enclosure for an old 20 Gig HDD, and it hasn't given me any trouble, so I didn't mind spending a little more to get that same quality for my DVDRW.

[tmathews]

The option to boot from USB may not show up as an option in the boot order until the drive is connected. This gave me a bit of a scare when I was first booting up my new ECS motherboard but once I plugged in the drive it saw it and let me boot from it.