No disk drive on your laptop? 7 proven ways to do without a DVD drive

Modern laptops are becoming thinner and lighter, and manufacturers are sacrificing outdated components for the sake of compactness. One of the first to go under the knife optical drive - disk drive for CD, DVD And Blu-ray. If you are faced with the need to read a disk, install a program from physical media, or restore data, but on your Lenovo ThinkPad, HP Pavilion or MacBook Air no disk drive - don't despair. There are at least 7 working ways to solve the problem, and most of them do not require the purchase of additional equipment.

In this article we will look at hardware and software alternatives, including using external drives, creating virtual disks, cloud services, and even non-obvious life hacks with other devices. We will pay special attention to situations where you urgently need to install Windows from disk or read an old archive on CD-RW. And at the end we will answer frequently asked questions, for example, is it possible to connect a disk drive from an old one? Sony VAIO to the new ASUS ZenBook.

1. External USB drive: a universal solution

The most reliable and universal way is to purchase external optical drive with interface USB. Such devices cost from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles (depending on support Blu-ray and read/write speed) and connect to any laptop via a standard port. For example, models ASUS ZenDrive U7M or LG GP65NB60 compatible with Windows 10/11, macOS and even Linux without additional drivers.

Advantages of an external drive:

• 🔌 Plug & Play — does not require software installation (recognized as a flash drive).
• 💿 Supports all formats: CD, DVD±R/RW, Blu-ray (in premium models).
• 🔄 Ability to write discs (if the drive is not positioned as “read-only”).
• 🖥️ Works with any device: from Ultrabook to Raspberry Pi.

How to choose an external drive?

Criterion	Budget option	Premium option
Price	1 500–2 500 ₽	4 000–8 000 ₽
Blu-ray support	❌ No	✅ Yes (for example, Buffalo BRUHD-PU3)
DVD writing speed	8x–16x	24x
Food	From USB (may not be enough for Blu-ray)	Additional power cable
Weight	200–300 g	400–600 g

⚠️ Attention: Cheap external drives (for example, no-name models from AliExpress) may not read DVD-DL or scratch discs due to poor quality mechanism. Check reviews on before purchasing Yandex.Market or Amazon.

2. Virtual drive: how to mount a disk image

If you have disk image (files with extension .iso, .nrg, .mds), it can be mounted as a virtual disk drive without a physical device. This is relevant for installing programs, games or operating systems. B Windows 10/11 And macOS the function is built into the system, and for older operating systems third-party software will be required.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Find the image file (for example, windows11.iso).
2. Right-click on it and select Connect.
3. The system will create a virtual drive (appears in This computer how DVD drive).
4. Run the installation or copy the files.

For macOS:

• Open Disk Utility (via Spotlight or Programs → Utilities).
• Drag and drop file .iso to the sidebar or select File → Open Disk Image.
• The image will be mounted automatically.

If standard means do not work (for example, in Windows 7), use free programs:

• 🪟 Daemon Tools Lite — supports all image formats.
• 🐧 WinCDEmu is a lightweight open source utility.
• 🍎 Virtual CloneDrive - alternative for macOS.

⚠️ Attention: Do not download program images from torrent trackers or dubious sites. There is a high risk of catching a virus, especially if the file weighs suspiciously little (for example, Photoshop 200 MB instead of 2–3 GB).

3. Network drive: how to connect to another computer’s drive

If you have a desktop PC or other laptop with a disk drive at home, you can share the drive over the network and use it remotely. This method is free and does not require the purchase of equipment, but depends on the connection speed (by Wi-Fi reading will be slower than USB 3.0).

Instructions for Windows:

1. On a computer with a disk drive, open Control Panel → Network Settings → Change advanced sharing settings.
2. Turn on Network discovery And File and Printer Sharing.
3. Insert the disk into the drive, right-click on it and select Grant access → Share.
4. On a laptop without a disk drive, open Network in Explorer and find the shared drive.

For macOS:

• On a computer with a disk drive, open System Preferences → Sharing.
• Turn on File sharing and add the folder /Volumes (where the disks are mounted).
• On a laptop, connect via Finder → Network → Connect to server (enter smb://[IP address]).

Network reading speed:

• 🌐 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): ~5–10 MB/s (enough to install programs).
• 🔌 Gigabit Ethernet: ~50–100 MB/s (almost like USB 3.0).
• ⚠️ Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n): ~1–3 MB/s (may slow down when copying large files).

4. USB flash drive instead of a disk: how to burn bootable media

If you need to install Windows or Linux from a disk, but there is no disk drive, burn the image to a flash drive. This method is faster than DVD, and does not require additional devices. The main thing is to use a flash drive with a capacity of at least 8 GB (for Windows 11) and the correct recording program.

Step by step instructions:

1. Download the official image Windows from the site Microsoft or Linux with Ubuntu/Debian.
2. Connect the flash drive and format it to FAT32 (via Disk management on Windows or Disk Utility on macOS).
3. Use one of the recording programs:
   • 🪟 Rufus is the best choice for Windows (supports UEFI And Legacy BIOS).
   • 🐧 BalenaEtcher — cross-platform utility (works on macOS And Linux).
   • 🍎 UNetbootin - an alternative for older systems.

Boot from the flash drive, changing the priority to BIOS (key F2, Del or Esc when turned on).

⚠️ Attention: If when recording Windows on a 32 GB flash drive Rufus suggests using NTFS instead of FAT32, agree - otherwise the installer will not see files larger than 4 GB. For Linux always choose FAT32.

What to do if the BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive?

Check that the flash drive is written in mode UEFI (if you have a modern laptop). B Rufus this is an option GPT for UEFI. If that doesn't help, try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0, since some BIOS do not see ports USB 3.0 when loading).

5. Cloud services and digital distributions

Many programs and games that were previously sold on disk are now available on digital form. For example, instead of installing Microsoft Office with DVD you can download it from Microsoft 365, and buy games in Steam, Epic Games Store or GOG. This not only eliminates the need for a disk drive, but also makes updates easier.

Where to find digital versions:

• 📁 Programs:
  • Adobe Creative Cloud (replacement for disks with Photoshop or Premiere).
  • JetBrains Toolbox (for IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm).
  • Ninite — batch installer of popular software.
• 🎮 Games:
  • Steam, GOG, Origin - most old games (for example, The Witcher 2) are available without discs.
  • Xbox Game Pass — subscription with access to hundreds of games.
• 🎬 Movies and music:
  • Apple TV, Netflix, KinoPoisk HD - replacement DVD with films.
  • Spotify, Apple Music - instead of audio CD.

If you need a specific program that is no longer supported (for example, CorelDRAW X3 or 3ds Max 2012), try:

1. Find her on Archive.org (section Software Library).
2. Use emulators of old OS (for example, Windows XP Mode for Windows 7).
3. Contact communities on Reddit or 4PDA — they often post digital copies of old discs.

6. Alternative devices: smartphone, tablet or Smart TV

If you don’t have an external drive at hand, but have Android smartphone or iPhone with connector USB-C/Lightning, you can connect an external drive to it via an adapter. This method is suitable for reading data from disks, but not for writing or installing the OS.

How to connect a disk drive to a smartphone:

• 📱 For Android:
  • Buy an adapter USB-C → USB-A (costs ~300–500 RUR).
  • Connect an external drive (for example, Samsung SE-208).
  • Use a file manager (eg FX File Explorer) to access the disk.
• 🍎 For iPhone/iPad:
  • Need an adapter Lightning → USB-A (official from Apple costs ~2,500 ₽).
  • Connect the drive and open the application Files.
  • Please note: iOS does not support recording to discs!

You can also use Smart TV or set-top box:

• 📺 Connect an external drive to USB-port Samsung, LG or Sony Bravia.
• Open the TV's media player and select the disc as the source.
• 🎮 For Xbox or PlayStation: Set-top boxes do not support reading data from disks (only games/movies), but you can copy files to a flash drive via a PC.

7. Data recovery from damaged disks

If you need to read information from an old or scratched disk, but there is no disk drive on your laptop, use specialized services. Do not try to clean the disc with abrasive materials (such as toothpaste) - this will only make the situation worse.

Recovery methods:

• 🔍 Software tools:
  • CDRoller — recovers data from damaged data CD/DVD.
  • IsoBuster — extracts files even from unreadable sectors.
  • Unstoppable Copier — copies data from damaged disks.
• 🛠️ Professional services:
  • In Moscow and St. Petersburg: Kaspersky Lab, Data Recovery.
  • In the regions: look for local companies with reviews on 2GIS or Yandex.Maps.
  • Cost: from 3,000 ₽ per CD up to 10,000 ₽ per Blu-ray.
• 💽 Hardware methods:
  • Use UltraISO to create an image from a broken disk (if the drive can somehow read it).
  • Try reading the disc at low speed (at Nero or ImgBurn select 4x instead of 16x).

⚠️ Attention: Never use alcohol or acetone to clean discs - they destroy the protective layer. The maximum that can be done is to wipe the disc with a soft cloth from the center to the edges (not in a circle!).

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to connect a drive from an old laptop to a new one via USB?

Technically yes, but it will be required adapter from SATA to USB (For example, ORICO 2139U3). However, there are nuances:

• The drive must be in the format Slim SATA (most laptops).
• You will need to disassemble the old laptop to remove the drive.
• Reading speed will be slower than a dedicated external drive.

If you are not confident in your skills, it is better to buy a ready-made external drive - it is cheaper and more reliable.

How to install Windows from a disk if the laptop does not have a disk drive?

There are 3 ways:

1. Create a bootable USB flash drive (described in section 4).
2. Connect an external drive and boot from it (in BIOS select USB DVD-ROM as the first boot device).
3. Install Windows over the network (for advanced users):
   • On another PC, expand Windows Deployment Services (WDS).
   • On your laptop, boot into PXE (network download).

The easiest way is a flash drive. If you have Windows 7, download the image with integrated drivers USB 3.0, otherwise the installer may not see the flash drive.

Is it possible to burn a disc without a drive?

No, physical recording to disk It is impossible to do without an optical drive. However there are workarounds:

• Create .iso-image on your hard drive and save it later on another PC.
• Use cloud services to transfer files (for example, upload data to Google Drive and download on a computer with a disk drive).
• If you need to write down DVD with film, consider alternatives: YouTube, Vimeo or KinoPoisk.

Why are new laptops released without disk drives?

Manufacturers are abandoning optical drives for several reasons:

• Case thickness: the disk drive occupies ~12–15 mm, and modern Ultrabook thinner than 10 mm.
• Weight: The drive adds ~200–300 g to the weight of the device.
• Demand: according to data IDC, less than 5% of users use disk drives regularly.
• Digitalization: programs, films and games are distributed via the Internet (Steam, Netflix, Microsoft Store).
• Reliability: The optical drive is one of the most vulnerable mechanical parts of a laptop.

The exception is some gaming laptops (for example, MSI GT76) and workstations (for example, Dell Precision), where the disk drive is still found.

How to copy a disk to a flash drive if there is no disk drive?

If you have access to another computer with a disk drive, follow these steps:

1. Insert the disk into the drive and create an image using ImgBurn or Nero (select Create Image File).
2. Copy the received .iso to a flash drive.
3. Connect the USB flash drive to your laptop and mount the image (as described in section 2).

If there is no disk drive at all, try to find a digital copy of the disk on the Internet (for example, on Archive.org or in thematic communities).