Installing windows 7 or 8 from USB external DVD drive

[Dan Blues]

So i wanted to know if i could install windows from an external DVD drive (as my case does not have any DVD slots).

The motherboard is a ASUS Z97-P, so this will be the bios. I wanted to know if i could use a external DVD drive such as this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/COOLEAD%C2%AE-Black-External-CD-ROM-Microfiber/dp/B00JWIH6S0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1441301669&sr=8-2&keywords=external+cd+drive

So is it possible? or will i have to be in the OS which i can't install to download the drivers for it?

 

[Rookie_MIB]

It should be no problem at all. Most modern motherboards have support for USB based CD drives and USB thumbdrives to boot from. Most of the time, you can plug it in, turn on the computer, get into the bios, and you can select the USB external CD/DVD drive as the boot. Put the CD/DVD in. Save the BIOS settings, and reboot.

You could also, depending on the BIOS specifics, have a 'Press F12 to Select Boot Device' which allows you to just do a one-time boot select. As before, plug everything in BEFORE turning it on so the BIOS can detect. If it doesn't detect, make sure you have enabled USB boot devices in the BIOS - sometimes it can be picky.

Short of it: Z97 is a modern platform and should be able to handle it with no issues.

 

[why_wolf]

It should work I did it myself as my case has no external 5.25 drive bays.

 

[sora]

I personally think that the external DVD drive should be able to install Windows to the HDD!