My 2004 Windows XP Compaq laptop is VERY slow and I want to reinstall the operating system but the disc drive (DVD & CD) won't open without using the pin hole and the computer doesn't load from the DVD/CD drive (doesn't even try) even though the device manager says its okay. I would appreciate any help. Could we copy the reinstall disk onto a flash drive and re-format that way?

... and the computer doesn't load from the DVD/CD drive (doesn't even try) even though the device manager says its okay.


I assume that what you are saying is that the CD/DVD won't "AUTORUN" (launch automatically) -- that nothing happens when you insert it. If this is true, can you locate the SETUP program and run it from that?

If you have a large enough USB Flash Drive or other external drive, you can copy everything from the install disk onto the flash drive and run from that.