external cd-rom drive and reformating

[pumpkin_carver]

Hey everyone I have a quick question. My cd-rom drive on my laptop is done for. I need to reformat my machine badly. If I buy a external cd-rom/burner drive, would my laptop recognize that it is there when I start to do the recovery of the OS and drivers and what not? I know that when I plug it in when the laptop is working it will recognize it, but I am affraid when I put the OS cd in and do a reformat, that the computer will no longer recognize the drive and I am screwed.

 

[Monkey34]

It shouldn't have a problem seeing it, just go into the bios and make sure it's set to boot from the cd, and other devices before the hard drive. If you want, try it first........you can exit the install if you want before it changes anything.

 

[engiNURD]

If it can boot from USB devices, it should be fine. Though, if it's dead, why not replace it with another internal drive instead?