Can I hook up an external DVD ROM if Windows XP has been corrupted?

vashsunglassesRCJMJ

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Ok, so I'm fixing my friend's laptop...

After the BIOS loads, Windows XP does sign in and then there's a blank screen that says "blah blah blah can't load, ok?" I've tried "last known configuration" and "safe mode", no dice. So, I tried to reinstall the operating system from the disk....

One problem, his disk drive doesn't work. At all. (Yes I have it set in the BIOS to load from CD/DVD ROM first) It used to work sometimes but I guess it died since he bought it from me.

So, I'm thinking I need to buy a USB external DVD ROM (because he needs it anyway and) so that I can reinstall Windows XP.

Will this work? Can I plug it in, start up the computer, and reinstall from the disk without ever going through Windows?
Oh and there's no Windows XP backup on the hard drive so I can't do it that way.
 
yes, an external drive is a good alternative but cheaper just to buy a replacement internal it it looks like the drive is bad.

oooops just noticed it was a laptop ... probably not cheaper in that case, so I'd go for the external
 
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