Today, the CD player is no longer essential, although in some cases it is still a peripheral that can prove useful. We explain to you what to do in 2022 when you don't have a CD player connected to your computer.
Use a USB-connectable CD player
Use a USB-connectable CD player is a great way to install software if you don't have a CD drive on your computer. This is also a good solution if you want to install software on a computer that does not have an optical drive.
All you need is a USB key and the software CD.
If you don't have a CD drive on your computer, you can still install software from CDs using a USB flash drive. Most computers these days have USB ports, so you should be able to connect a USB flash drive without any problems.
Once the flash drive is connected, you simply insert the CD into the drive and the computer will read it as it would with a regular CD drive. Keep in mind that you will need enough free space on the flash drive to hold all the CD data. Otherwise, you may not be able to install the software correctly.
If you don't have a USB port on your computer, don't worry. Indeed, the USB standard is gradually being replaced by the USB-C standard on new computers. Therefore, if you have just purchased a computer, it is very likely that you do not have a USB port available. In this case, it is necessary opt for an adapter.
Connecting a CD player via USB-C: it’s entirely doable
To connect a CD player to a USB-C port, you will need an adapter compatible with this connection type. These adapters are not very expensive and you can easily find them on the internet.
Buy a USB-C to USB adapter
When you have your adapter, all you have to do is connect it to your computer's USB-C port and then connect your CD player to the adapter. That's it, your computer will be able to read data from your CDs as if they were inserted into a regular drive.
Of course, this solution is not ideal. It's always better to have a dedicated CD player that you can use whenever you want. However, if you don't have one, this workaround will do the trick.
Buy a USB-C CD player
Did you know that there are directly connectable CD players with a USB-C port. It is even a standard that is developing since the classic USB port is gradually disappearing in favor of USB-C.
Their price is not excessive, but they are still relatively unavailable in stores. It is better to buy them on specialized sites.
Download a program rather than using a CD drive
As a last resort, you can always download the program you want to install directly from the Internet. This isn't always possible, but it's worth checking before purchasing a new CD player or adapter.
In some cases, you may find the program you are looking for on a site like Softonic ou CNET. These sites offer safe and secure downloads of popular programs. However, remember that not all programs are available for download. And even if they are, the version you find may not be the most recent.
You can also try to find the program you want to install by searching for it on Google. Be careful, however, because many sites offer falsified or infected versions of programs.
Buy a video game online
If you want to install a video game, the best solution is to buy it directly from a site like Steam ou GOG.
These platforms sell games that can be downloaded directly to your computer. No need for a CD player or USB key, everything is done automatically. In addition, buying your games on these sites has the advantage of being cheaper in most cases.