Why can't I boot from  my windows install disk using an external dvd drive?

My internal disk drive is broken on my computer, so I'm using an external one, but when I put my windows install disk in, it shows up when I'm using the computer, but it doesn't show up when I hold ALT on startup. Why is this?

Alt/Option Boot code is all in ROM. It shows an Icon for each potentially-bootable Volume.
Your Windows install DVD is not directly bootable, and so it does not show an Icon. (An OS 9 Installer CD would not show an Icon either.)
To install Windows, you need to research the use of Boot Camp, the software that provides Mac drivers and facilitates the Installation of Windows on a Mac. There are also Windows restrictions on the use of external drives which you may have to meet.

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    Z.
    The large print: please read the Community Participation Rules before posting. Include as much information as possible: model, machine type, operating system, and a descriptive subject line. Do not include personal information: serial number, telephone number, email address, etc.  The fine print: I do not work for, nor do I speak for Lenovo. Unsolicited private messages will be ignored. ... GeezBlog
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