Issues reinstalling OS on older Macbook Pro using external CD Drive

I want to give my father my old Macbook Pro that I bought in 2006/2007. Before giving it to him, I would like to wipe the hard drive and reinstall the OS. I have the original installation disc(s) that came with the computer (Mac OS Version 10.4.5). The original CD drive in the Macbook no longer works so I am trying to use an extrernal USB CD drive to do the reinstall. The laptop is currently running 10.6.8.
For the life of me I can get the laptop to boot form the extrenal CD drive / installation disc. I have restarted the computer multiple times holding down just C, just Command (⌘), and also Command (⌘) + R and it always just goes to the login screen.
Not sure what I need to do in order to make this work. Any advice would be much appreciated.

figured it out, was using USB to connect the external CD drive to the laptop, tried firewire and it worked like a charm holding down C during restart

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