Will external DVD drives boot?

Hi, all!

To my horror and amazement, I just found out that my fairly new HP zv5000
Notebook is equiped with a CD/DVD burning combo (the flimsy one) that wount
boot a DVD. Rather than sending it back and having it upgraded - which will
be both expensive and time consuming - I thought I'd invest in a external
drive. Never before an option with sufficient allure potential for me, I
seem to have missed some essential wisdom - will such a critter boot? And
will it boot Win64?

Tony. . .

Dominic
Thu Sep 01 06:00:39 CDT 2005

That's really a question for HP.

Booting is controlled by the motherboard BIOS.
Does the BIOS include options to allow booting from USB devices? If so,
probably yes.
The devices could be floppy or CD/DVD.

Tony
Thu Sep 01 08:17:18 CDT 2005

Thanks!

"Dominic Payer" <dominic@dcpayer.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:OcprkRurFHA.3060@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> That's really a question for HP.
>
> Booting is controlled by the motherboard BIOS.
---
Yes, but it still demands that the drive itself can perform some
necessities, isn't that so? Or do you
suppose that booting relies solely on BIOS? If so, then I am affraid I am in
deep sh*t.
---
> Does the BIOS include options to allow booting from USB devices? If so,
> probably yes.
> The devices could be floppy or CD/DVD.
>

Charlie
Thu Sep 01 08:49:51 CDT 2005

This is both a BIOS issue, as Dominic has correctly pointed out, and a DVD
issue -- some external drives just aren't bootable, so you have to be
careful about models. If your internal one won't boot to DVD, however, I'd
be very concerned about any external one doing so -- it sounds more like
either a BIOS setting is off, or HP hasn't given you the option.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64

Tony Sperling wrote:
> Hi, all!
>
> To my horror and amazement, I just found out that my fairly new HP zv5000
> Notebook is equiped with a CD/DVD burning combo (the flimsy one) that
> wount boot a DVD. Rather than sending it back and having it upgraded -
> which will be both expensive and time consuming - I thought I'd invest in
> a external drive. Never before an option with sufficient allure potential
> for me, I seem to have missed some essential wisdom - will such a critter
> boot? And will it boot Win64?
>
> Tony. . .

Tony
Thu Sep 01 09:19:50 CDT 2005

Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing I'll
do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS upgrade.
Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment, so a more
advanced BIOS might be available.

Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?

Tony. . .


"Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
news:ugLRbwvrFHA.304@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> This is both a BIOS issue, as Dominic has correctly pointed out, and a DVD
> issue -- some external drives just aren't bootable, so you have to be
> careful about models. If your internal one won't boot to DVD, however, I'd
> be very concerned about any external one doing so -- it sounds more like
> either a BIOS setting is off, or HP hasn't given you the option.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>
> Tony Sperling wrote:
>> Hi, all!
>>
>> To my horror and amazement, I just found out that my fairly new HP zv5000
>> Notebook is equiped with a CD/DVD burning combo (the flimsy one) that
>> wount boot a DVD. Rather than sending it back and having it upgraded -
>> which will be both expensive and time consuming - I thought I'd invest in
>> a external drive. Never before an option with sufficient allure potential
>> for me, I seem to have missed some essential wisdom - will such a critter
>> boot? And will it boot Win64?
>>
>> Tony. . .
>
>

Dominic
Thu Sep 01 10:39:01 CDT 2005

An external DVD drive contains a standard PATA DVD drive with a USB/PATA
interface. I don't know of any standard DVD drives that can't be booted.

If you know where to buy, you can get a separate case and OEM drive of your
choice and build your own.

If the external drive's USB/PATA interface is imperfectly implemented (a
design fault if it doesn't say it's not bootable) or has difficulty
communicating with your BIOS (a compatibility problem) then it might not be
bootable in practice.

Check your BIOS for the ability to recognise USB devices and whether access
to "USB storage" is available. You may need to change the devices' boot
order.

John
Thu Sep 01 11:52:50 CDT 2005

Everyone so far only mentions external USB. Just to mention that there are
also external 1394 and SATA drives. Depending on your motherboard setup, an
external SATA may be the cleanest. 1394 probably requires an IDE DVD drive
in an external case with a built in IDE/1394(and/or USB) converter.


"Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message
news:ukv87AwrFHA.3888@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
> I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
> upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment,
> so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>
> Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>
> Tony. . .
>
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
> news:ugLRbwvrFHA.304@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> This is both a BIOS issue, as Dominic has correctly pointed out, and a
>> DVD issue -- some external drives just aren't bootable, so you have to be
>> careful about models. If your internal one won't boot to DVD, however,
>> I'd be very concerned about any external one doing so -- it sounds more
>> like either a BIOS setting is off, or HP hasn't given you the option.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>
>> Tony Sperling wrote:
>>> Hi, all!
>>>
>>> To my horror and amazement, I just found out that my fairly new HP
>>> zv5000
>>> Notebook is equiped with a CD/DVD burning combo (the flimsy one) that
>>> wount boot a DVD. Rather than sending it back and having it upgraded -
>>> which will be both expensive and time consuming - I thought I'd invest
>>> in
>>> a external drive. Never before an option with sufficient allure
>>> potential
>>> for me, I seem to have missed some essential wisdom - will such a
>>> critter
>>> boot? And will it boot Win64?
>>>
>>> Tony. . .
>>
>>
>
>

Charlie
Thu Sep 01 12:25:48 CDT 2005

he's on a laptop, so I doubt external SATA is going to work, though it's a
great choice for desktops.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64

John Barnes wrote:
> Everyone so far only mentions external USB. Just to mention that there
> are also external 1394 and SATA drives. Depending on your motherboard
> setup, an external SATA may be the cleanest. 1394 probably requires an
> IDE DVD drive in an external case with a built in IDE/1394(and/or USB)
> converter.
>
> "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperling@dbREMOVEmail.dk> wrote in message
> news:ukv87AwrFHA.3888@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
>> I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
>> upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment,
>> so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>>
>> Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>>
>> Tony. . .
>>
>>
>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
>> news:ugLRbwvrFHA.304@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>> This is both a BIOS issue, as Dominic has correctly pointed out, and a
>>> DVD issue -- some external drives just aren't bootable, so you have to
>>> be careful about models. If your internal one won't boot to DVD,
>>> however, I'd be very concerned about any external one doing so -- it
>>> sounds more like either a BIOS setting is off, or HP hasn't given you
>>> the option. --
>>> Charlie.
>>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>>
>>> Tony Sperling wrote:
>>>> Hi, all!
>>>>
>>>> To my horror and amazement, I just found out that my fairly new HP
>>>> zv5000
>>>> Notebook is equiped with a CD/DVD burning combo (the flimsy one) that
>>>> wount boot a DVD. Rather than sending it back and having it upgraded -
>>>> which will be both expensive and time consuming - I thought I'd invest
>>>> in
>>>> a external drive. Never before an option with sufficient allure
>>>> potential
>>>> for me, I seem to have missed some essential wisdom - will such a
>>>> critter
>>>> boot? And will it boot Win64?
>>>>
>>>> Tony. . .

Charlie
Thu Sep 01 12:27:12 CDT 2005

I've got a Targus here that works well and is self powered. PADVD010 is the
model number. I use it on my Tablet with good success.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64

Tony Sperling wrote:
> Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
> I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
> upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment,
> so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>
> Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>
> Tony. . .
>
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
> news:ugLRbwvrFHA.304@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> This is both a BIOS issue, as Dominic has correctly pointed out, and a
>> DVD issue -- some external drives just aren't bootable, so you have to be
>> careful about models. If your internal one won't boot to DVD, however,
>> I'd be very concerned about any external one doing so -- it sounds more
>> like either a BIOS setting is off, or HP hasn't given you the option.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>
>> Tony Sperling wrote:
>>> Hi, all!
>>>
>>> To my horror and amazement, I just found out that my fairly new HP
>>> zv5000 Notebook is equiped with a CD/DVD burning combo (the flimsy one)
>>> that wount boot a DVD. Rather than sending it back and having it
>>> upgraded - which will be both expensive and time consuming - I thought
>>> I'd invest in a external drive. Never before an option with sufficient
>>> allure potential for me, I seem to have missed some essential wisdom -
>>> will such a critter boot? And will it boot Win64?
>>>
>>> Tony. . .

Tony
Thu Sep 01 13:25:22 CDT 2005

'Self powered' - will that help me if I cannot get BIOS support, or does
that imply that it's on its own BIOS?

Ah, I think I get it. . .you mean non-USB, selfcontained - power AND BIOS
wise?

Tony. . .


"Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
news:ugaj4pxrFHA.308@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> I've got a Targus here that works well and is self powered. PADVD010 is
> the model number. I use it on my Tablet with good success.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>
> Tony Sperling wrote:
>> Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
>> I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
>> upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment,
>> so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>>
>> Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>>
>> Tony. . .
>>

Rick
Thu Sep 01 14:19:31 CDT 2005

I believe it's a combination of both. Most CD and DVD drives currently
have the capability to support booting the computer from it, but the
critical part is the BIOS. Your computer BIOS must support booting from
an CD or DVD drive, and I haven't seen one lately that wouldn't.


Tony Sperling wrote:
> 'Self powered' - will that help me if I cannot get BIOS support, or does
> that imply that it's on its own BIOS?
>
> Ah, I think I get it. . .you mean non-USB, selfcontained - power AND BIOS
> wise?
>
> Tony. . .
>
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
> news:ugaj4pxrFHA.308@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>
>>I've got a Targus here that works well and is self powered. PADVD010 is
>>the model number. I use it on my Tablet with good success.
>>
>>--
>>Charlie.
>>http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>
>>Tony Sperling wrote:
>>
>>>Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
>>>I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
>>>upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment,
>>>so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>>>
>>>Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>>>
>>>Tony. . .
>>>
>
>
>

Charlie
Thu Sep 01 15:10:06 CDT 2005

by self-powered, I meant that it can use an external power adapter, OR power
itself from the USB connection. The critical thing for me is powering from
the USB connection, since that means one less thing to lug around.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64

Tony Sperling wrote:
> 'Self powered' - will that help me if I cannot get BIOS support, or does
> that imply that it's on its own BIOS?
>
> Ah, I think I get it. . .you mean non-USB, selfcontained - power AND BIOS
> wise?
>
> Tony. . .
>
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
> news:ugaj4pxrFHA.308@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> I've got a Targus here that works well and is self powered. PADVD010 is
>> the model number. I use it on my Tablet with good success.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>
>> Tony Sperling wrote:
>>> Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
>>> I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
>>> upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment,
>>> so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>>>
>>> Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>>>
>>> Tony. . .

Tony
Thu Sep 01 15:52:28 CDT 2005

Well, it does support booting the CD. The system is set up such that it can
burn both formats - boot the CD but not the DVD, sounds like something you
would do if you had a load of drives that you wanted to get rid of. Well, in
truth, it is so flimsy, that I would want to get rid of it too!!!

O.K. then, I am learning a lot here. I think I start looking for a BIOS
update.

And, thanks.

Tony. . .


"Rick" <rick@home.net> wrote in message
news:e0a8UoyrFHA.2592@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I believe it's a combination of both. Most CD and DVD drives currently
>have the capability to support booting the computer from it, but the
>critical part is the BIOS. Your computer BIOS must support booting from an
>CD or DVD drive, and I haven't seen one lately that wouldn't.
>
>
> Tony Sperling wrote:
>> 'Self powered' - will that help me if I cannot get BIOS support, or does
>> that imply that it's on its own BIOS?
>>
>> Ah, I think I get it. . .you mean non-USB, selfcontained - power AND BIOS
>> wise?
>>
>> Tony. . .
>>
>>
>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
>> news:ugaj4pxrFHA.308@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>I've got a Targus here that works well and is self powered. PADVD010 is
>>>the model number. I use it on my Tablet with good success.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Charlie.
>>>http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>>
>>>Tony Sperling wrote:
>>>
>>>>Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
>>>>I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
>>>>upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their equipment,
>>>>so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>>>>
>>>>Tony. . .
>>>>
>>
>>

Tony
Thu Sep 01 16:11:52 CDT 2005

In my case, the critical thing is that things work, I don't lug it around
that much, it is mostly from room to room over the course of the day to have
a quiet spot to work in. In the day I get away from disturbance - in the
late evening I spare those around me any disturbance that I may otherwise
inflict upon them. Other than that I find it disturbing to have gear labeled
as a combo CD/DVD drive/burner and then find it won't boot the DVD part. I
am having trouble interpreting that as a combo, even though it burns both
formats.

John also did mention the 1394 (FW?) thing, does that go under the same hat
as SATA (desktop only?) 'cause I have a 1394 pc-card slot already in there.

Tony. . .

P.S. Thanks to everyone, I don't think I'll keep you much longer with this
issue.


"Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
news:uAGS6EzrFHA.2604@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> by self-powered, I meant that it can use an external power adapter, OR
> power itself from the USB connection. The critical thing for me is
> powering from the USB connection, since that means one less thing to lug
> around.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>
> Tony Sperling wrote:
>> 'Self powered' - will that help me if I cannot get BIOS support, or does
>> that imply that it's on its own BIOS?
>>
>> Ah, I think I get it. . .you mean non-USB, selfcontained - power AND BIOS
>> wise?
>>
>> Tony. . .
>>
>>
>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
>> news:ugaj4pxrFHA.308@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>> I've got a Targus here that works well and is self powered. PADVD010 is
>>> the model number. I use it on my Tablet with good success.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Charlie.
>>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>>
>>> Tony Sperling wrote:
>>>> Ah, I see. I was beginning to be affraid of that. Now, then, next thing
>>>> I'll do is I'll get in touch with HP Support and ask them for a BIOS
>>>> upgrade. Such an issue severely diminishes the value of their
>>>> equipment,
>>>> so a more advanced BIOS might be available.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, and talking of 'models', anything specific to be wary about?
>>>>
>>>> Tony. . .
>
>

Dominic
Fri Sep 02 01:34:13 CDT 2005

You can download BIOS updates and DVD/CDRW firmware updates from your local
HP support site. Make sure you get the correct versions for your laptop
model.

The bus-powered PADVD010 is small and light but read only. If you want to
burn DVDs you will need something else, which will need external power.

Firewire (IEEE 1394) is bootable in principle on a laptop. It all depends
whether the BIOS supports booting from it.

Tony
Fri Sep 02 04:37:00 CDT 2005

Great stuff to know! Thank you.

I don't have to burn anything on the notebook, really. I do need to boot,
though. The concept of 'OS booting' is incresingly moving over to the DVD
format and not having BIOS support for that is annoying, big time. I am
waiting for a respons from HP right now, I already had the latest BIOS, and
the CD/DVD Patches they had, targeted non-related issues. This is the kind
of issue that is described by the old adage:

"Whichever way you turn - your rear end is behind you!"

Tony. . .


"Dominic Payer" <dominic@dcpayer.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%23uYbXh4rFHA.248@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> You can download BIOS updates and DVD/CDRW firmware updates from your
> local HP support site. Make sure you get the correct versions for your
> laptop model.
>
> The bus-powered PADVD010 is small and light but read only. If you want to
> burn DVDs you will need something else, which will need external power.
>
> Firewire (IEEE 1394) is bootable in principle on a laptop. It all depends
> whether the BIOS supports booting from it.
>