Spare/free CD/DVD drive?

[LeperousDust]

I'm trying to install Ubuntu on to my file server and my DVD drive is going bonkers, it opens and i have to play games shutting it over and over again until it accepts CD's, its really screwing up the installation every time.

Does anyone have any old CD/DVD drives lying about? I'll pay postage, and i don't care what it is as long as it works. If i had another PC i'd use that for the 30 mins it takes to set ubuntu up, but were all laptop here now!

That or i could try and fix it if its a known problem but i can't find many fixes online, just lots of reports of it...

[Daz]

You could try installing over the network, or off USB if the box will support booting off it :)

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/Netboot
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick

[Justsomebloke]

Have your instal on a stick Dude then you can be Uber cool & take it everywhere you go capturing peoples systems via your trick stick :cool:

/ uber geek mode

[LeperousDust]

Hmmm Daz, installing off USB is an idea, i don't really need the CD drive apart from installing it, over the network sounds interesting as well, i'll have a play after the match :)
Tbh i think the mobo is going to though :p :D The onboard sound has been broken for years and the 12v line in the BIOS reads zero :p but obviously its within limits otherwise the computer wouldn't boot... Now i think the HDD controller is going too, so its probably time to try and find another socket 478 board and probably source a DVD drive at the same time i guess!

[LeperousDust]

Oh and malc, i can;'t see the appeal in a portable server install... ;)