New, fresh XP install on laptop w/ broke CD-ROM

Hi all,

I'm in a bit of a bind here. I have a Dell laptop which is currently running Ubuntu Linux. My laptop has a DVD-RW drive which seems to be having problems lately. It isn't reliable when trying to install from CDs. Here's my problem.

I want a clean, fresh XP Professional install (I have the CD) on the laptop, but my frustration is how to implement that because a) my DVD drive doesn't work, b) it's running a Linux OS, and c) how to install XP over the network or external hard drive.

I have an external 500gb hard drive; would I be able to install from it to my laptop? If not, my USB pen drive? Or over the home network?

Please help. I'm a college student, and even though I have my laptop and my other machine at home, my wife and kids tend to use the machine more... so I need my laptop back! :-(

Any advice or help would greatly be appreciated.

Jason

 

Steve:

I've taken the drive out of my laptop, blown the dust out of it, cleaned it up, and I could not find anything wrong with it. When a CD is inserted, I hear a lot of hard clicking sounds, I'm not sure if this is normal, because I have hearing loss.

The drive, I believe, is replaceable; at the time being, I'd like to see if I can get around it for the moment and hold off on getting a new drive for it.

Jason