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Can I use an external cd drive to download software to my surface pro. I have a language program that I need to install and need to know if I should try to return it to get the downloadable version
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Thanks for your help guys, But apparently, I need to have the surface plugged in to power outlet and then plug in my external storage. Then it is recognized and it works.
what i am thinking is that the surface wont use any of its power to run the storage device when its running on its battery. is this true for you guys as well?
Can I use an external cd drive to download software to my surface pro. I have a language program that I need to install and need to know if I should try to return it to get the downloadable version
I just tried it with an external DVD drive via USB and it works great. It's like any modern PC or laptop, just a little smaller.
Bye.
Actually I just solved it. What happens here is that there is probably not enough power via your USB 3.0 supplied.
And it worked right after that
It is not an absolute rule but the USB A connector on the cable nearest the drive usually has the data contacts, the second one on the end of the lead only has power so it does not matter where the power comes from. On some you can see this because the lead connecting the 2 USB A plugs is thinner.
I did have a LG (forgot the model number) along with the Samsung and it worked as well. Great that you listed the model numbers of what you have so that others can view what is compatible.
Some drives are just not well built and usually name brand models as well. Like what wmtangk has, it is a power hog and he used the second dongle for the power but just still not enough. Some of those drives are like that.
With the Pro and Pro 2, if you install the Cyberlink software suite that comes with them, you should be able to watch DVD movies from the drive "even" on battery. There should be enough juice in the tablet to play at least one movie. The Intel Core i5 processor definitely has the horsepower for that.
I am going to mark your post as "helpful" so that it should act as a flag for others to view and buy the right model if they have a question.
Greetings Link057,
Please contact Surface Technical Support as they can troubleshoot the issue and if your External HDD does not work with the Surface, put in an exchange for you.
You can find the Microsoft Compatibility Center at this web link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/win8/CompatCenter/Home?Language=en-US
I have an RT and not a Pro and have a MSI and an Asus external DVD burner drives and both work perfect with the RT. It is best to check, though with the compatibility center because those drives I have cost $80 (I think you can find them cheaper now).
Just make sure your on the a/c adapter when you do it.
Hello SergioGrajeda,
You should be able use any DVD/CD writer/player that is compatible with Windows 8. Here's a link to the Compatibility center:
Yes, just about any PC supported external drive will work.
The Apple, proprietary, external drive is known to work half the time on PCs and this issue is not exclusive to the Surface Pro. Others (and myself) have tried it on the Surface Pro and it does not work. There may be a hack to getting it to work but I would recommend you purchase a more PC supported external USB CD/DVD drive from Samsung, Panasonic, LG or anyone else that specifically states it supports a PC.
Likely it depends on the USB drive. A massive, WD USB 3, 4TB drive with an optional power adapter likely will not work. A small, 1TB, USB 3, 2.5" USB drive will no doubt work fine.
Most new CD/DVD drives that are powered by USB easily work off of USB 3 if the drive is USB 3 capable. If the device is not, you can bet it won't work as it will not draw enough power from the single port. If you have one and want to know if it will work but do not want to buy a Surface, take it to a MS retail store if there is one nearby and test it (if they have any in stock). That will tell you for sure.
Thanks for the replies, Guys. I must confess to an error, however. I thought the Surface Pro was plugged in, but someone had swapped the plug out at the wall, so it actually wasn't. When I plugged it in, the Surface Pro did start seeing the drive. So my experience is exactly like that of the OP, where it doesn't run without being plugged into power.
This dramatically reduces the value of the Surface Pro to me. These aren't large desktop external drives, these are low-power notebook drives. The enclosures don't even have ports for an external power supply because no modern computer should need them. They both run with no external power on my desktop and laptop. I am rather baffled that any designer would make a conscious decision to cripple the Surface Pro in this way. It's a portable device with limited local storage. If we were to ask people to list the top 5 things they'd want to do with such a device, attaching a small portable external drive would probably be in everyone's list.
I was examining this as a potential device for my college to buy more of, but this isn't turning out to look very promising. This is about the fourth big thing that has gone wrong since I started using it (not knowing whether the touch keyboard is attached, regularly locking into the wrong orientation, the touch keyboard going bad, the schizophrenic Windows 8 interface, and now we can't actually use the USB port for the main thing it's made for). I guess that's five things, but I knew about the interface before we started, so only four are a surprise. I guess this is what Apple fans mean when they talk about 'it just works', because this doesn't. I also evaluated the iPad and, while there are lots of things I wish it did differently (or at all), what it does do, it does reliably. My time with the iPad was focused on exploring it's capabilities. My time with this Surface Pro has been characterized by hours spent troubleshooting things that don't work right.
Sorry for the rant, but being able to access portable hard drives in the field was important and it's probably the last straw for this evaluation. I'm really disappointed because I'm a Windows guy and I had high hopes for the Surface Pro.
There is not enough battery capacity to run the Pro AND a device that requires/uses substantial current. Even an iPad doesn't supply this 'magically abundant' current.
So... get yourself a portable battery/solar/fossel fuel powered 'powerpack' for these ventures where no Ext. AC is available for an HDD. OR.... 1) use an SSD drive (uses 1/4 the power of an HDD) or, 2) use the microsd slot, with 64G cards, as it is intended.
