Well if it boots into xell then update to xellous. since you using the original hack take the xellous xell-1f.bin file and rename it to updxell.bin and put it on the root of your usb drive. when you boot xell it should find the file then it will update.
Then use the freeboot image that you have made on your computer, put it on the flash drive just as you did the xellous update but instead of renaming it updxell.bin, rename it to updflash. it should then flash your nand and you should boot into freeboot if you built a proper image. hope this helps.

edit: the dvd drive will not matter until you try and play a game. the dvd drive is not needed to do all this.