How can I reinstall Vista on one laptop FROM another laptop. The laptop DVD drive doesn't work. I have tried everything!?

Answer 1

There are a couple of things you can do.

First, you can use an external DVD drive that is attached to the laptop by USB. These are typically around $30-40 and are quite useful. The cable that comes with most has three heads on it: one to be attached to the DVD drive itself and two that are attached to the laptop. The reason for the two heads is the amount of power that the drive needs, so be sure to attach both.

Second, replace the internal DVD drive that is defective. On a modern computer (meaning one built within the last five years or so), they are universal. So, presuming that the laptop is not made by some off-the-wall brand that is here today and gone tomorrow, replacement should be easy. Of course, just like anytime that one wishes to repair a computer--especially a laptop, if you are not familiar or confident that you know how to accomplish the task, take it to a professional. Just like you would not want to try to fix your furnace or car unless you know what you are doing, you should not get inside the computer either since bumbling through can cause risk of injury, shock, or you can further damage the computer by not being aware of other dependencies or "gotchas" to look for.

Something else that you might be able to do if the two laptops are the same model and build is to clone the hard drive from one to the other or if you need only one working, you can just swap the hard drives.

If you have any other questions about this or other issues, feel free to drop me a line. I'm glad to help.

Answer 2

You should use the USB drive to install Vista on another laptop