Using an external harddrive with my Macbook Pro

[Kalixa]

Hey

I have a somewhat old Macbook Pro with the Geforce 8600gt graphics card.

Unfortunately both the display and the harddrive aren't working anymore. I have although successfully hooked up the computer to an external monitor. I have also bought an external DVD-drive, which I haven't unboxed yet. I was wondering, how do I know if the external - USB connected - harddrive will work with my MAC? Also, if I ever need to reinstall Mac OS X, will it be possible using the external harddrive and monitor?

Thank you

 

[iBookG4user]

You'd be much better off just getting a new 2.5" SATA hard drive than trying to use an external hard drive.

 

[Kalixa]

You'd be much better off just getting a new 2.5" SATA hard drive than trying to use an external hard drive.

Sorry. Apparently I misspoke.

I was talking about a DVD-drive all the time. My harddrive works just fine.

 

[iBookG4user]

Sorry. Apparently I misspoke.

I was talking about a DVD-drive all the time. My harddrive works just fine.

Ah, ok. What external dvd-drive did you purchase?

 

[tonywang.xmpt]

Technically you could have changed the internal optical drive too.
But other than that,
when you buy an external optical drive,
they normally have specs on the website to look at.
It should state whether its compatible with mac or not.

Please list what kind of optical drive you have so that we can help you "check"