XP upgrade requires a bootable CDROM?

Hi,
I am planning to install XP but there is one thing that might prevent me from this.
I have a Toshiba Portege 3410 (128 MB, 6 GB HD, Win ME and an external Archos DVD ROM). My problem is that I can not boot from my DVD ROM even if I have a CD in it that IS bootable
(This is because the DVD ROM is simply not detected in DOS mode.)
My question is thus: Is there any stage during a XP upgrade or clean install that requires you to boot off the XP CD (which is a bootable CD I have heard)?
Regards,
Håkan

1. RE: XP upgrade requires a bootable CDROM?
lbyard Oct-31-01 06:17 PM
In response to message 0

No. Simply boot to your existing Windows version and insert the CD-ROM in the DVD drive. If it does not autostart, double-click setup.exe on the CD with the Windows Explorer. I would do clean install (backup data, fdisk and format the hard disk) and that can be done with the XP upgrade and a Windows Me CD. Larry

2. RE: XP upgrade requires a bootable CDROM?
deerslayer Nov-01-01 11:54 AM
In response to message 1

If you need them for future use, MS now offers boot disks from their site. It takes 6 floppies. Instructions and download info here.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q310/9/94.asp
Though XP recommends a upgrade, I agree with Larry as far as doing a clean install.
Pentium 3 1000 @ 1100 ( windows 2000 server), Abit bx-133, 256 Mb Mushkin Rev.3 cas 2-2-2, ATI Radeon
AMD Thunderbird 1.4 @ 1.63 (24/7) IWILL KK266R , Corsairs pc 150 cl2, Leadtek GeForce 3

3. RE: XP upgrade requires a bootable CDROM?
lbyard Nov-01-01 04:48 PM
In response to message 2

Was I wrong? Believe I did it with RC1 without booting to the CD. Larry

4. RE: XP upgrade requires a bootable CDROM?
deerslayer Nov-06-01 06:40 PM
In response to message 3

I was refering to installing without having any OS on the hard drive. Then if you do not have cdrom booting option, the floppies come in handy
Pentium 3 1000 @ 1100 ( windows 2000 server), Abit bx-133, 256 Mb Mushkin Rev.3 cas 2-2-2, ATI Radeon
AMD Thunderbird 1.4 @ 1.63 (24/7) IWILL KK266R , Corsairs pc 150 cl2, Leadtek GeForce 3