Can you boot a Linux live cd from this drive on a win 8 laptop? YF-50T Lenovo?
1707412
Not sure. I would suggest you to use a flash drive to install linux stuff instead.
1707413
I wouldnt purchase this at all. Like others have noted, and I ignored, it seems to be designed more to catch the eye than to work reliably. I've had it for a few months and already the Ethernet port is dead. I recently bought the Anker USB 3.0 Docking Station. Doesnt have a optical, but seems like a better choice so far.
535373
Yes you can install Win8.1 onto an SSD using the included discs. I just did this. I recommend getting at least 180GB because the Lenovo DVDs install a bunch of hidden partitions that stuff that eat up a lot of space. Win8.1 plus these hidden partitions use up 45GB alone.
2071389
I just got one that uses a different chipset than typical USB drives, which registers it as a local disk rather than removable media as part of Win8 certification. You'd need third party software to load ISO images onto the drive.
1565695
It's a HD. It will work with whatever OS you format it for. G-Parted is your friend. But Linux can read NTFS and FAT32 partitions fine.
2215866
Sorry to say the answer is NO. The system will not boot from CD/DVD or USB drive so no way to install any other Operating System
787758
It should work, I have installed many Linux distros on this as well as many flavors of windows.
373289
No, that is a hitch. It comes without an operating system. If you can get your hands on W7 / W8 disc then you just get an external DVD drive, install for me was a breeze.
2084612
yes, you can boot from a USB flash drive and run or install a linux distribution. I have not install yet one but I succeeded to boot with a live USB (opensuse, mint, ubuntu and android x86). For that, indeed, you will have to adjust some parameters in the boot menu.
2275000
Hi, yes I have. You will need to download and install the driver from Lenovo.
2056714
i seriously doubt it, unless you can work something out with the seller. ms should make the iso available for free (it's worthless without a coa), because a situation like this one led me to try linux for the first time and i don't plan on ever going back. i suggest linux mint or zorin. doesn't cost a dime.
1706429
I'm no guru, but should be no problem if the drive contains a boot disk. So your problem may be how to make one; search on line for that. Further, a friend told me that he set his boot priority (press F2 while booting) to use the external drive (USB stick for him), and that worked, but not after he removed the stick. When he replaced it the setting was no longer there. So you would have to marry the drive to the computer and never unplug it. (On my laptop I mount it with velcro strips.) This may help.
2001567
Yes you can, you can copy the CD install file to USB or to FTP server or sky drive than download to your laptop and install it.
587482
yep, format it and delete all WD crap, mine has 3 partitioni use gparted live cd
2144733
UEFI but I had no issues when I installed Ubuntu Linux. Duel booting might be a problem but I do not intend to use this for anything other than Linux.
2092796
Ashley: Not on a lenovo IdeaPad running Windows 8.1 I had to return the product (no hassle with the return). It would not play CD, DVD movies or allow software downlaods from DVD. I ordered Generic USB Exterenal CD-WR / DVD-WR Drive that been working great since March 2014.
381503
If WinXP, Win7, no problem. win8 unknown. Also linux support, is hardware modem, so works. Comes with windows cd.
1111820
As long as the media is readable by the device/drive. I'm assuming it's a DVD-ROM, there shouldn't be an issue booting off a DVD with this drive. Just make sure to change your boot settings in your BIOS when your ready to install Windows. Make sure you have your data cables handy, but you will need special software to play blu-rays. Otherwise the drive will think it's a DVD