reformating xp from external source

so the cd rom/burner on my sony vgn-b100b behaves pretty badly. so, i am unsure that it will read CDs properly. Now i need to re format my hard drive coz the thing is slower than congress.
So, can i a) reformat from the recovery discs loaded onto an external hard drive or b) from an external dvd burner, which i assume can read basic cds.
It is windows xp service pack 2

your thoughts please

 

@thornton

please don't create multiple threads with the same question. I answered in your other thread.