Well my ears aren't hurtin. I have installed Windows from both resident disk and network as you, however it has to get to resident disk without a network by some method. Peronally, I am not so sure I would want a networked PC having a CD other than for maintenance purposes, although an IT staff can always restrict it's usage. On further recollection, I seem to recall this being the outcome of an Intel and Microsft collaboration (Wintel) to eventually replace the floppy with the CD as the primary input device. I guess in few more years, the CD will be replaced by the DVD as a minimum requirement.