help again!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter nickjc
  • Start date Start date
N

nickjc

New member
hi,

I got an awesome response to my last post on this board so I thought I'd ask you guys again :D

I have finally got my hardware up and running but now the software is trippin me up!! :mad:

ok, maybe I'm stupid, but here's my problem. I can't get windows xp to boot on my system. I have checked and the disk IS bootable. I have also tried an older Windows 95 disk as I heard that XP doesn't boot the same way (?), but this didn't work either. My BIOS is set with CD-ROM as the first boot disk. I get the error message "DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER".

The CPU doesn't seem to recongise the CD drive. It doesn't list the drive at the POST, and when I press enter the CD drive does not spin. :mad: However, when I first put the CD in, the drive DOES spin and the light flashes. I've opened up the case like 4 times and everything's connected right.

What am I missing? Is it a problem with my CD Drive? If so, I got some stern words for the sellers . . . .

any help VERY much appreciated
 
You may try to change your BIOS setting to indicate IDE-0 as your first boot choice (assuming that the HDD is on that IDE channel), and see what happens.
But before doing that I would suggest that you check the correct Master-Slave-Cable Select settings on your hard and cd drives.
 
I thought WinXP was only put out on DVD.
I'm probably wrong.

H2H
 
Bulls Hit said:
Why are you trying to boot off the CD?
Click to expand...

sorry, I misread your post - I am trying to boot off the CD as it is a brand new computer and I have no floppy drive. what do I have to do?
 
If the CD drive is not recognized in BIOS/CMOS, you probably have a hardware, configuration, or connection problem. Are you sure the jumpers are configured correctly on that IDE channel?

Back in the olden days, when CDs were newfangled, a program had to run in order for the PC to be able to recognize the CD drive as another drive. Usually this program is called MSCDEX.EXE. Unless XP is already loaded, this is probably still the case. Kind of a catch 22...
 
It could be the XP CD itself. Can you exchange it for another copy?

Other option is to get a floppy drive and use a boot diskette (98 or even 95 or DOS). This should have enough of the right drivers so you can get into DOS and Change Directory to the your CD-ROM, ie 'CD D:' and see if you can browse the xp disk
 
Bulls Hit said:
It could be the XP CD itself. Can you exchange it for another copy?

Other option is to get a floppy drive and use a boot diskette (98 or even 95 or DOS). This should have enough of the right drivers so you can get into DOS and Change Directory to the your CD-ROM, ie 'CD D:' and see if you can browse the xp disk
Click to expand...

like I say at the top I tried it with windows 98 and its not co-operating. so I'm pretty sure it's not the disk
 
AGCurry said:
If the CD drive is not recognized in BIOS/CMOS, you probably have a hardware, configuration, or connection problem. Are you sure the jumpers are configured correctly on that IDE channel?

Back in the olden days, when CDs were newfangled, a program had to run in order for the PC to be able to recognize the CD drive as another drive. Usually this program is called MSCDEX.EXE. Unless XP is already loaded, this is probably still the case. Kind of a catch 22...
Click to expand...

the XP CD I have has MSCDEX.EXE on it. I think you're right though. I've got a mate who has the same mobo as me so he is going to check his BIOS settings against mine (he loaded his XP the same way and it worked fine). Failing that, I guess it's back to the retailer . . . if this is a faulty part, heads will roll . .. . :mad:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top