How to watch discs on a laptop without a disc drive: a complete guide 2026

Modern laptops are becoming thinner and lighter, and manufacturers are sacrificing disk drives for the sake of compactness. But what if you urgently need to read an old DVD movies, install the program from CD or copy data from disk Blu-ray? Buying a new laptop with a drive is not an option, and external drives are not always at hand.

In this article we will look at all current methods for reading discs on a laptop without a built-in drive - from budget solutions using improvised tools to advanced virtualization methods. You will learn how to do without additional equipment, what programs will help you create a virtual disk, and how to properly connect an external drive so as not to damage the data. We will also compare the speed of different methods and tell you which disk formats are supported in each case.

Why are modern laptops produced without disk drives?

The trend away from optical drives began back in the 2010s, when Apple was the first to exclude DVD-ROM from the line MacBook Air. Today even budget models Lenovo, HP or Acer rarely equipped with disk drives. There are several reasons:

• 📉 Declining demand: according to data Statista, sales of physical media have fallen 85% since 2010. Users switched to streaming (Netflix, YouTube) and cloud storage.
• 🔋 Energy Saving: the drive consumes up to 5 W in active mode, which is critical for the autonomy of ultrabooks.
• 📏 Compactness: the absence of a drive makes it possible to make the case 1–2 cm thinner (for example, Dell XPS 13 only 14.8 mm thick).
• 💰 Cheaper production: An optical drive increases the cost of a laptop by $15–20.

However, eliminating disk drives creates problems for users who work with:

• 🎬 Archive films on DVD or Blu-ray;
• 🎮 Old games (for example, The Sims 2, GTA San Andreas);
• 📀 Software on physical media (for example, AutoCAD, Adobe CS6);
• 📁 Backup data on disks.

Method 1: Using an external USB drive

The most reliable and universal method is to connect external drive via port USB. Modern models support all formats: CD, DVD±R/RW, Blu-ray, and some even M-DISC (for long-term storage).

How to choose an external drive:

Criterion	Recommendations	Examples of models
Connection type	USB 3.0 (speed up to 5 Gbit/s) or USB-C for new laptops	ASUS ZenDrive U7M, LG GP65NB60
Supported Formats	DVD±RW And Blu-ray (if you need support for movies in 1080p)	Pioneer BDR-XD07UHD (with support 4K UHD)
Food	From USB (for portability) or from the network (for stable operation with Blu-ray)	Buffalo MediaStation (with power supply)
OS Compatibility	Plug & Play for Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux	Any model with marking USB 3.0

Step-by-step connection instructions:

1. Connect the drive to the laptop via USB-port. Use USB 3.0 (blue connector) for maximum speed.
2. Wait for the drivers to install (usually takes 10–30 seconds). B Windows check the device in Device Manager (devmgmt.msc).
3. Insert the disc into the tray. On Windows it will appear in This computer as removable media.
4. If necessary, use a playback program (for example, VLC for films) or editing images (Daemon Tools).

⚠️ Attention: Cheap drives (price below 1500 ₽) often do not read Blu-ray or scratch the discs. Check reviews of the model before purchasing.

Make sure the laptop's USB port is working (try a different port)|Check the drive for scratches|Update the drive driver through Device Manager|Try a different drive for a test-->

Method 2: Create a disk image on another computer

If you have access to a PC or laptop with a disk drive, you can create a virtual disk image (.iso, .nrg, .mds) and transfer it to your laptop. This method is suitable for installing programs, games or watching movies without physical media.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Insert the disc into the drive on the second computer.
2. Download and install the image creation program. We recommend:
   • 🔹 ImgBurn (free, supports all formats);
   • 🔹 Nero Burning ROM (paid, but with advanced settings);
   • 🔹 UltraISO (can edit images).

In the program, select the option Create an image from disk (in ImgBurn — Create image file from disc).

Specify the path to save the file (for example, to your desktop). Choose format .iso for universal compatibility.

Transfer the received file to your laptop via a flash drive, cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Disk) or local network.

To mount an image on a laptop without a disk drive:

• B Windows 10/11: click on the file .iso right click → Connect.
• B macOS: double click on the file or use Disk Utility.
• For Linux (For example, Ubuntu): run the command:

  sudo mount -o loop /путь/к/файлу.iso /mnt

⚠️ Attention: Disc images with copy protection (such as games with SecuROM or movies Blu-ray with AACS) may not work without the original disc. In such cases, you will need to bypass the protection (legally - for personal use only!).

Method 3: Connecting a disk drive from an old laptop

If you have an old laptop with a working disk drive lying around, you can connect to a modern device via adapter. This method is cheaper than purchasing an external drive, but requires some technical skill.

What you will need:

• 🔧 Laptop drive (usually with an interface SATA);
• 🔌 Adapter SATA-to-USB (cost ~500 ₽, for example, ORICO 2129C3);
• 🔄 Screwdriver for removing the drive from an old laptop.

Step by step instructions:

1. Remove the disk drive from the old laptop:
   • Turn off the power and remove the battery.
   • On the bottom cover, find the screw that secures the drive (usually marked as DVD).
   • Carefully pull the drive out by the special loop or press the latch.

Connect the drive to the adapter SATA-to-USB. Pay attention to the connector keys - they must match.

Connect the adapter to the laptop via USB. Wait for the drivers to install.

Insert the disc and check its display in the system.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Free (if you have an old laptop);
• ✅ Reading speed is higher than that of cheap external drives;
• ✅ All formats that the original device read are supported.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Requires disassembly of equipment;
• ❌ Adapter SATA-to-USB may not provide enough power for Blu-ray;
• ❌ The disk drive takes up space on the table.

How to check the compatibility of the drive and adapter?

It is better to choose adapters with additional mains power (for example, Sabrent EC-UFLC), if your drive consumes more than 0.9A. Also check if the adapter supports UASP (protocol to speed up data transfer).

Method 4: Virtual drives and emulators

If you already have a disk image (.iso, .bin, .mds), but there is no way to mount it using standard means, it will help emulator program. It creates a virtual drive, which the system perceives as physical.

Top 5 disk emulation programs:

Program	Supported Formats	Features	Price
Daemon Tools Lite	.iso, .mds, .nrg, .bwt	Supports up to 4 virtual drives, integration with Windows	Free (with ads)
Virtual CloneDrive	.iso, .bin, .ccd, .img	Lightweight, does not require registration, supports up to 15 drives	Free
Alcohol 120%	.iso, .mdf, .cdi, .pdi	Can record images, bypass some protections	Paid ($29.95)
PowerISO	.iso, .daa, .uif, .dmg	Built-in archiver, format conversion	Shareware
WinCDEmu	.iso, .cue, .nrg, .mdf	Open source, minimalistic interface	Free

Instructions for mounting the image in Daemon Tools Lite:

1. Download and install the program from official website.
2. Run Daemon Tools and press Add image (or drag the file into the program window).
3. Select virtual drive (default DT or Virtual DVD-ROM).
4. Click Mount. The image will appear in This computer as a separate disk.

For emulation Blu-ray or protected disks:

• Use Alcohol 120% with option enabled Emulation of protection;
• For films Blu-ray may need a program AnyDVD HD (paid, ~80$);
• Games with StarForce or Denuvo may require the original disk even when mounting the image.

Method 5: Reading discs over a network (LAN or Wi-Fi)

If you have a second computer with a disk drive connected to the same network, you can connect its drive as a network drive. This method is convenient for offices or home networks.

Instructions for Windows:

1. On a computer with a disk drive:
   • Open Control Panel → Network Settings → Change advanced sharing settings.
   • Turn on File and Printer Sharing And Disable password protection (if both devices are on the same network).
   • Right click on the drive in This computer → Properties → Access → Share.
2. On a laptop without a disk drive:
   • Open This Computer → Network Neighborhood (or enter in the address bar \\computer_name).
   • Find the shared drive and double-click on it.
   • Insert the disk into the drive on the first computer - it will become available for reading over the network.

For macOS:

1. On a Mac with a disk drive: System Preferences → Sharing → File Sharing → add the drive to the list of shared folders.
2. On a laptop: in Finder select Go → Connect to server (⌘K) and enter smb://IP-address_Mac.

Limitations of the method:

• 🐢 Reading speed depends on the network (according to Wi-Fi may be slower than USB);
• 🔒 Not all programs support installation from a network drive;
• 📀 The disk must remain in the drive on the first computer at all times.

Method 6: Converting the disc to digital format (ripping)

If you need copy data from disk once, the easiest way is to make a digital copy (rip) of it and no longer depend on physical media. This method is suitable for:

• 🎬 Movies on DVD or Blu-ray;
• 🎵 Audio-CD;
• 📁 Programs and games (if the license allows).

Ripping programs:

• 🔹 HandBrake (free, for video);
• 🔹 MakeMKV (free in beta, supports Blu-ray);
• 🔹 Exact Audio Copy (for Audio-CD without loss of quality);
• 🔹 DVD Fab (paid, bypasses protection CSS, AACS).

Instructions for ripping DVD in HandBrake:

1. Install HandBrake with official website.
2. Insert the disc into the drive (external or on another PC).
3. B HandBrake click Open source and select your drive.
4. Select a preset (for example, Fast 1080p30 for films).
5. Specify the folder to save and click Start.

For Audio-CD use Exact Audio Copy:

1. Download the program from developer site.
2. Insert the disc and press Copy Selected Tracks → Compressed.
3. Select format (FLAC for lossless or MP3 320 kbps).
4. Wait for the process to complete (takes 5–15 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Ripping protected discs (Blu-ray with AACS, games with Denuvo) may violate the license agreement. Use this method for personal copies only!

Method 7: Alternative solutions (cloud services, rental drives)

If none of the above methods are suitable, consider unconventional options:

• 🌐 Cloud services:
  • Load the disc to Google Drive or Dropbox from another computer and then download to your laptop.
  • Services like Disc Soft offer remote disk reading (for a fee).
• 🔄 Drive rental:
  • Some cities have equipment rental services (for example, Rentmania in Moscow).
  • External rental cost DVD-ROM — from 200 ₽/day.
• 🏠 Copy centers:
  • In copy centers (for example, Photo Country) can copy a disc to a flash drive for 100–300 ₽.
• 🤝 Help from friends:
  • Ask someone you know with the drive to create an image and send it to you via Telegram or cloud.

Pros of alternative methods:

• ✅ Does not require the purchase of equipment;
• ✅ Suitable for one-time tasks;
• ✅ Which services offer additional services (for example, format conversion).

Cons:

• ❌ Dependence on third parties;
• ❌ Risk of data leakage when transferred via the cloud;
• ❌ Additional costs (in case of rent or copy center).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about reading discs without a drive

Is it possible to connect a disk drive from PlayStation 4 or Xbox to a laptop?

Technically yes, but it's complicated: game console drives use non-standard protocols (for example, SATA with proprietary firmware). You will need an adapter and modified software like PS4 Drive Emulator, which violates the license agreement. It's easier to buy an external one Blu-ray drive.

Why doesn't my laptop see the external drive?

Check:

• Is the drive connected to USB 3.0 (blue port);
• Are the drivers installed (in Device Manager there should be no exclamation marks);
• Does the drive work on another device?
• Is there enough power (try connecting through a hub with external power).

If the problem persists, update the driver manually through the drive manufacturer's website.

How to copy a disc if it is scratched and cannot be read?

Use data recovery programs:

• CDRoller — specializes in damaged disks;
• IsoBuster — extracts data from bad sectors;
• Unstoppable Copier — copies files despite reading errors.

Also try:

• Wipe the disc with a soft cloth (from the center to the edges);
• Use a drive with the function Error Correction (For example, Plextor PX-891SAF);
• Reduce reading speed in the program settings.

Is it possible to burn a disc without a drive?

No, to burn a physical disc (CD-R, DVD-R) you definitely need a drive with the function Burner. Alternatives:

• Use an external writeable drive (such as ASUS SDRW-08U7M-U);
• Create .iso-image and save it later on another PC;
• Send files to the cloud and order a disc burn at a copy center.

What laptops will still be released with disk drives in 2026?

The list of models with optical drives is extremely limited. New devices (2023–2026) include:

• Dell Latitude 5430 (optional with DVD-RW);
• HP ProBook 450 G10 (in some configurations);
• Lenovo ThinkPad T14 (for corporate orders only);
• Budget models Acer Aspire 3 (in regions with low demand for SSDs).

In most cases, a disk drive comes as an option for an additional fee ($20–50). To ensure a guaranteed purchase, check the specifications on the manufacturer's website or check with the seller.