Makeing a Flash Drive appear as a CD/DVD drive to a Bios?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of making a flash drive appear as a CD/DVD drive to a BIOS in order to boot an operating system on a tablet that lacks a hard disk. Participants explore potential solutions, including software options and alternative boot methods, while expressing their experiences and uncertainties.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Patt, seeks to boot a tablet using a flash drive but notes that the BIOS does not support this and only allows booting from a CD/DVD drive connected via USB.
  • Patt recalls a previous experience of making a flash drive appear as a floppy drive and asks if anyone has successfully made a flash drive appear as a CD/DVD drive.
  • Some participants express feelings of being stumped by the problem, indicating a lack of clear solutions.
  • One participant shares a link to an article about a USB drive that could potentially solve the issue but notes it is not yet available.
  • Another participant suggests exploring the PLoP Boot Manager as a possible solution, although they have not tried it themselves.
  • BartPE is mentioned as another resource that might be useful for the situation.
  • There is mention of some success with the LAN booting option, but details on implementation remain vague and uncertain.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on a definitive solution. Multiple competing views and suggestions are presented, with some expressing uncertainty about the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in their knowledge and experience with the BIOS and booting options, and there are unresolved questions about the feasibility of the suggested solutions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals facing similar challenges with booting operating systems from USB devices, particularly in environments with restrictive BIOS settings.

Pattonias
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I have a unique problem in that I would like to test out an operating system on a PC (M1400 Tablet) that has no Hard disk. Before I had the tablet I had assumed I would be able to boot it up using a thumb drive to test out the Linux support for the stylus.

Anyway, the Bios doesn't expressly support booting from a flash drive, but I will support booting from a CD/DVD drive connected through the USB. I am wondering if anyone has had success making a flash drive appear as a CD/DVD drive. Long ago, I make a flash drive appear as a floppy drive in order to flash a bios (huge pain in the rear). I was wondering if anyone has done this and perhaps could point me in the right direction. So far, most people have been coming up with alternative solutions to the similar problem instead staying with the flash drive option.

I don't have an external DVD drive and would prefer to not have to buy one if at all possible. The external drive would be my last resort.

PS. The bios also supports wired LAN booting, but I found very little information about this option that didn't sound like it was way more trouble than it was worth. Perhaps if there was an application I could download that would make this a viable option I would explore it, but at the moment, I still going to explore using a flash drive.

Thank you,

Patt
 
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Is this one stomping everyone?
 
I don't feel that I have been stomped by it, but I do feel that I have been stumped by it.
 
phinds said:
I don't feel that I have been stomped by it, but I do feel that I have been stumped by it.

Well, while I still have my computer problem, I guess I can take solace in my English problem being slightly improved.
 
Pengwuino said:
Ha! I can't really help you but in an amazing coincidence, I saw this article early this morning.

http://technabob.com/blog/2011/08/01/isostick-usb-drive/

Too bad it's not out yet I guess :-/

This is exactly what I need. If only I was a programmer. I'm sure an inexpensive program to modify a standard USB stick would be well received.

I'm having some success with the LAN booting option, but so far the possibility has been promising although I haven't been able to implement it with much success.

I'll keep reading in the meantime.
 

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