archp2008
Auditioning
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2008
- Messages
- 7
- Real Name
- Arch Parsons
Hello,
I recently discovered that the BD reader in my HTPC was painfully slow for installing software. I knew before I purchased it that it could not burn disks. It seems that I may have made a mistake in purchasing a case that did not have room for more than a single optical drive. Alternatively, I could have spent more money on the BD drive so that it had write capabilities as well. I was trying to build an HTPC for around $500, which I more or less succeeded in doing. Now I have some regrets for not having bought a case that was a couple of inches higher for that second optical drive. At the moment I have a second optical drive - a DVD burner - sitting on top of the case. I have routed the IDE ribbon cable through the back of the case where it slides on over the top and have a molar power connector extension though an opening in the back of the case to the DVD burner. It works and looks ok to a casual observer, but is certainly a crude installation. Also it restricts airflow and may prevent the installation of a discrete graphics card. I wanted this DVD drive to be usable for installing operating systems as well, as I am into multiple operating systems and repairs are regular necessities. My question is this. What is the cheapest solution that will get rid of all these external cables and still enable booting from the DVD, burning, etc? Are there any things you can't do with a DVD burner attached via external connectors already on the back of the case. Can USB drives be used to boot from? I don't have a good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of USB/eSata, etc.
I recently discovered that the BD reader in my HTPC was painfully slow for installing software. I knew before I purchased it that it could not burn disks. It seems that I may have made a mistake in purchasing a case that did not have room for more than a single optical drive. Alternatively, I could have spent more money on the BD drive so that it had write capabilities as well. I was trying to build an HTPC for around $500, which I more or less succeeded in doing. Now I have some regrets for not having bought a case that was a couple of inches higher for that second optical drive. At the moment I have a second optical drive - a DVD burner - sitting on top of the case. I have routed the IDE ribbon cable through the back of the case where it slides on over the top and have a molar power connector extension though an opening in the back of the case to the DVD burner. It works and looks ok to a casual observer, but is certainly a crude installation. Also it restricts airflow and may prevent the installation of a discrete graphics card. I wanted this DVD drive to be usable for installing operating systems as well, as I am into multiple operating systems and repairs are regular necessities. My question is this. What is the cheapest solution that will get rid of all these external cables and still enable booting from the DVD, burning, etc? Are there any things you can't do with a DVD burner attached via external connectors already on the back of the case. Can USB drives be used to boot from? I don't have a good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of USB/eSata, etc.