How can I boot from CD right after Computer is restarted?

[nann]

I cannot use the hotkeys at boot to access the bios or boot menu because the screen on my laptop is broke and I'm using an external one. I'm running Windows 8 Consumer Preview right now and the external monitor wont show me anything until it has reached the login page for my windows. I've hit all the F keys but nothing ever pops up, so I'm guessing even if I did managed to hit the right one my external monitor would not let me see it. Is there a way I can order the computer to automatically start from boot on next restart from inside Windows itself? Maybe with command prompt or something

[wattekinson86]

Not that I know of - it is done from the BIOS.

If the external monitor is showing a logo screen/nothing - try pressing ESC during boot. Some systems I have had have clouded over the boot process with a logo screen so you don't see the boot process - pressing ESC gets rid of it and shown the boot happening.

Maybe that is what is happening.
An external SHOULD show the boot process.