[thehermanator]

Hello,
I am new here. This is my first post. I've read some
posts related to this, but couldn't find a definitive answer.
I apologize in advance if this has been covered.

I acquired a mini 10 netbook whose hard drive failed.
It’s an Inspiron Mini 10 ref number 08285

I installed a used 40GB WD drive with XP on it,
but it wouldn't boot from it. Just continually
re-booted.

Removed the hard drive and then
I loaded linux live from a USB flash
drive to see if the hardware worked.
The touchpad didn't work but
the keyboard did, and a USB mouse worked.
I've only used Windows so have no knowledge of linux.

How about Chrome OS? Will it run on
a Mini 10?

The big problem for me is how to load an
operating system without an optical drive.
I'd much rather use a DVD drive than try to
make an install USB key for windows.

Can you load an OS via a USB external optical
drive, and can I use any old hard drive? Is it
possible to load linux live, then plug in the
external optical, and load windows from it?
Basically, my question boils down to,
what's the easiest way to load windows
and how do you do it?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[rrfranczak3]

in order to load ANYTHING from USB whether its a USB thumbdrive or a USB external DVD/CD drive you must enable 'Legacy USB' in the BIOS for the unit to boot from the USB....

PS. Welcome to the forum.....

BTW: the unit only has 1 'powered USB' the other 2 or not and may not give enough power to an external DVD/CD drive, the powered USB is usually the port next to where the power supply plugs in, a USB flashdrive of course would not have this issue, but in either case as mentioned above 'Legacy USB' must be enabled 1st

[cct1]

An external DVD drive can be had for $25 all over the place...hardly seems worth it to do anything else.

[rrfranczak3]

a USB thumb drive may be better in this case due to the limited power that the Mini supplies as where many external DVD drives DO NOT come with their own power supplies and may not work with the supplied power from the Mini's USB port, a USB thumb drive will not be dependent upon this and will function regardless and also 8gb or even 16gb can be had for under $25 nowadays also

BTW: there are detailed instructions on this board on how to create a Windows USB thumb drive install, its not difficult and if you cant find the instructions just ask and I will post them

[thehermanator]

Thank you for your answers.
So the answer is: "yes," I can load an operating system from an external DVD drive.
I'll get one that has its own power supply.
Great info on that there's only one powered usb port. Thanks for that one!

Do you think the Chrome OS will work on this Netbook?

[fdalbor]

Chrome will work on the 1010; but it does not support the GMA 500 graphics so I would not recommend it. If you want to try Linux I use Ubuntu; Joli 1.2 and Mandriva One 2010. All these support GMA graphics.

Also the one USB port on the 1010 that is powered is the port next to the network connector.fdalbor