Overcoming not having a DVD drive

Hi

I've just bought a Macbook Pro Retina that doesn't have an integral DVD/CD drive.

I have shared other DVD/CD drives on my network successfully to install software but I cannot boot from these drives should I need to. My main aim is to install Windows via Bootcamp on a partition but to date I haven't been able to.

I've heard of a flash drive but I'm not exactly sure what this is and whether it would be recognised by the system as a bootable drive.

Could anyone help me on this matter?

Many thanks

get a USB Superdrive. $99 from Apple.

Deckyon said:

get a USB Superdrive. $99 from Apple.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply.

Does the system see this as a bootable drive?

Thanks

It will, yes. I have one for my MacMini and it works just fine, even with Win8.

Dobbies said:

Does the system see this as a bootable drive?

Click to expand...

An external DVD/CD drive (optical drive) can be bootable...as long as the CD or DVD you insert in the drive is a bootable CD/DVD.

- Nick

MacDuck posted this as well. Not sure whether it's still the case but worth a look

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ap...ought-samsung-se208db-instead-superdrive.html

Superdrive is overpriced. You can get a decent one for half the price through Samsung or another trusted maker.

You can put the Windows CD/DVD into a Mac with a disc drive, use Disk Utility to create a .dmg to your desktop. When done, open the file properties (Command+I) and change .dmg to .iso. Move that file to a flash drive and plug that USB drive into your rMBP. That's what I just did with Win 7 to get it into VB on my 2012 iMac.

Thanks for your help guys and I've taken your advice.

I've just ordered a Samsung SE208DB @ £19.95 from Ebay.

Cheers

Use that model Samsung with an iMac. The one I purchased requires two USB connectors, one for power and one USB. To overcome shortage of ports purchased a cheapie USB 4 port device each with a seperate on/off control and works a treat and is bootable.

Many thanks for your advice Harry