External CD Drive?

[criel]

Hi all

I am working on upgrading my machine, and am getting a new SSD/CPU/Motherboard. The current HHD is close to 10 years old, so I wanted to start from scratch but realized that I also need a new CD drive to use the installation disc. I literally haven't needed a cd drive for the past 7 years so I just don't want to drop alot of money on one.

I was browsing newegg and seen external CD drive, which seem to be cheaper and not permanent. Do these work for a simple windows install?

 

[Rooster__]

If you have a usb stick you can install the windows installation media tool if you're going to upgrade to windows 10, otherwise you will be fine with an external cd drive. This is the link for windows 10 installation media (install to make a bootable usb.)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

 

[little_me]

from price stand point, normal 5.25" dvd drive is cheaper and no one said you need to attach it to your case permanently.
just plug in sata and power cables, use it, unplug.

However since price difference is small, USB version is a better choice as far as versatility goes.

Past that, as Rooster said, you can create USB installation media too and save whole dvd hassle.

 

[why_wolf]

yes they work for that, though for Windows 10 its all USB now so you can skip this if that's what you plan on doing.

 

[spdragoo]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

You can download the Windows 10 ISO & put it onto a disc, not just put it on a USB.

As for external vs. internal, the advantage of the external is that if you have multiple PCs you can swap the external drive between them. A lot of newer laptops & tablet-type PCs don't have internal CD/DVD drives, so that would allow you to share one between multiple PCs. However, the internal drives have the advantage of still being slightly cheaper -- Micro Center, for example, has externals currently on sale for $20 USD (normal price $30), but the internals only cost $13-15 USD (normal price $15-18).

Personally, unless you don't have the room in your case, I always feel it's best to use internal drives on desktop PCs, as the case provides an additional layer of protection for them (i.e. kids/pets can't sit on them/spill liquids on them/do other types of destructive actions to them, etc.).