Latitude D420 and External USB DVD drive

Can any external USB DVD drive with with this laptop? This includes the
ability to boot from a DVD to install little things - like the operating
system.
Or do I have to get a Dell proprietary drive?

Justin wrote:
Can any external USB DVD drive with with this laptop? This includes the
ability to boot from a DVD to install little things - like the operating
system.
Or do I have to get a Dell proprietary drive?

you do not need a dell branded external usb drive to work with your
latitude d420. i would recommend this toshiba drive that not only plays
dvds but can also record them. it has a cable that uses two usb
connectors on the laptop, one for data and one for power. this makes it
very easy to run when traveling (on battery) and eliminates the need for
a clumsy ac adapter and power outlet.
http://tinyurl.com/yatw6ne

In article ,
Christopher Muto wrote:

Justin wrote:
Can any external USB DVD drive with with this laptop? This includes the
ability to boot from a DVD to install little things - like the operating
system.
Or do I have to get a Dell proprietary drive?

you do not need a dell branded external usb drive to work with your
latitude d420. i would recommend this toshiba drive that not only plays
dvds but can also record them. it has a cable that uses two usb
connectors on the laptop, one for data and one for power. this makes it
very easy to run when traveling (on battery) and eliminates the need for
a clumsy ac adapter and power outlet.
http://tinyurl.com/yatw6ne

Understood, and it makes sense.
This machine is going to be my "crapbook."
I'm doing some traveling to parts of the world; and I need a machine
that I don't care about. No big deal if it gets stolen, destroyed or
eaten by the Chupacabra.

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Muto ]
Posted At: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:01 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Latitude D420 and External USB DVD drive
Subject: Latitude D420 and External USB DVD drive

Justin wrote:
Can any external USB DVD drive with with this laptop? This includes
the
ability to boot from a DVD to install little things - like the
operating
system.
Or do I have to get a Dell proprietary drive?

you do not need a dell branded external usb drive to work with your
latitude d420. i would recommend this toshiba drive that not only
plays
dvds but can also record them. it has a cable that uses two usb
connectors on the laptop, one for data and one for power. this makes
it
very easy to run when traveling (on battery) and eliminates the need
for
a clumsy ac adapter and power outlet.
http://tinyurl.com/yatw6ne


I have the same drive and have yet to find a time when I had to plug in
the second USB connector. Perhaps when writing (I haven't tried that).

Tom Scales wrote:

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Muto ]
Posted At: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:01 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Latitude D420 and External USB DVD drive
Subject: Latitude D420 and External USB DVD drive

Justin wrote:
Can any external USB DVD drive with with this laptop? This includes
the
ability to boot from a DVD to install little things - like the
operating
system.
Or do I have to get a Dell proprietary drive?
you do not need a dell branded external usb drive to work with your
latitude d420. i would recommend this toshiba drive that not only
plays
dvds but can also record them. it has a cable that uses two usb
connectors on the laptop, one for data and one for power. this makes
it
very easy to run when traveling (on battery) and eliminates the need
for
a clumsy ac adapter and power outlet.
http://tinyurl.com/yatw6ne


I have the same drive and have yet to find a time when I had to plug in
the second USB connector. Perhaps when writing (I haven't tried that).


tom, that is interesting. perhaps it is only needed with certain
laptops that don't direct much power to the usb ports. the lattitude
d420 has two 'regular' usb ports next to each other on the rear of the
system and also a 'powered' usb port on the rear... not certain what
they mean by powered usb port but perhaps the other are lower power.
some laptops have single usb ports on opposing side of the system (xps
m1330 comes to mind) and that makes plugging in one of these dual usb
drive difficult without an extension cable.

Use a USB flash drive instead of a DVD USB drive. You can install just
about anything from a USB flash drive.

"Justin" wrote in message
...
Can any external USB DVD drive with with this laptop? This includes the
ability to boot from a DVD to install little things - like the operating
system.
Or do I have to get a Dell proprietary drive?

In article 9ABBF500512F4CABAF881D3D86819D63@XPS13,
"Tom Scales" wrote:

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Muto ]
Posted At: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:01 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Latitude D420 and External USB DVD drive
Subject: Latitude D420 and External USB DVD drive

Justin wrote:
Can any external USB DVD drive with with this laptop? This includes
the
ability to boot from a DVD to install little things - like the
operating
system.
Or do I have to get a Dell proprietary drive?

you do not need a dell branded external usb drive to work with your
latitude d420. i would recommend this toshiba drive that not only
plays
dvds but can also record them. it has a cable that uses two usb
connectors on the laptop, one for data and one for power. this makes
it
very easy to run when traveling (on battery) and eliminates the need
for
a clumsy ac adapter and power outlet.
http://tinyurl.com/yatw6ne


I have the same drive and have yet to find a time when I had to plug in
the second USB connector. Perhaps when writing (I haven't tried that).


I believe USB2 provides more amperage than USB1 - so when plugging that
drive into a USB1 port it needs the second cable.