Gateway computer reformat problem can some one help?

Alright so I have the disc to reformat my laptop and I did it once before and it worked, but now my cd drive is broken so the cds useless. Every time I turn in on it loops the windows load screen so I literally can't do anything on it. We've tryed using a USB to restart it but everytime it freezes on this Set up window. Does any one have any ideas how to get past that or a different way to reformat my computer? Or should I just teach it how to fly?
Gateway computer reformat problem can some one help?
Gosh.. I've never had a problem like that. hmmm.. I reformatted my Gateway like 3x too. Looks like u might need to take it to a computer repair place. Um, Best Buy, Circuit City.. some of those places will look at it too. Is it a fairly new computer 1-2yrs old. Because if you are covered under the customer service warrenty you can call them and they can walk you through whatever problems you are having. Sorry couldn't be of more assistance. Good luck.
Gateway computer reformat problem can some one help?
Does it still happen to be under warranty? If not, try emailing Gateway, or search their self help topics. I know this is not the definitive answer you want, but I really do hope the best for you. By the way, If you do decide to give it wings, let me know first! I like "junk" computers.
Reply:sorry to say it man but the looping of that screen usually means your hard drive is fried....it happens sometimes after a few reformats.
Reply:Can you boot Windows into Safe Mode (F8 just after the POST)? If so, you might can repair Windows from there and avoid the reformat.





If not, you might want to invest in a replacement CDROM drive, and fix both problems at once (broken CD drive, ability to reformat using CD).





Or you could invest in a USB flash drive (Walmart.com has a 2GB for $22), and use a friend's computer to copy your reformat disc to the USB flash drive, then boot your Gateway from the flash drive.





Or you can search the net for Linux distros that run from USB flash drives and install a free Linux setup (Ubuntu.com might be a good starting place, or Google) on the flash drive, and boot from that and have a fully-functioning non-Windows setup that would let you at least save your files to someplace else, like your left-over space on the USB flash drive or a network drive, etc. (You might even decide to install that Linux to your hard drive, since you're gonna have to wipe out Windows anyway, and see if you like it well enough to leave the Windows world and its often-breaking habits behind. If a week later you decide you don't like Linux after all, no harm done, you're back to where you are right now, ready to reformat and install Windows, if you only had a working CD drive.)