thanks for all the help from the mailing list! I apoligize for being unclear, but in my message I meant that I don't have a boot device, not the media. Sony's used to be special, but some websites seem to describe booting from a generic USB cdrom with a special lilo/grub flag.
The other option, taking out the HD and manually re-grub is, is what i'm trying now, but am stuck on getting the cover off without damage. - peter
