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Recently i was given an answer to my problem, but i haven't been able to contact the person who gave me the advice. I have no idea how to boot a cd via bios, etc, everything concerning the bottom note. If someone can help me, i'll be grateful.
bios see the drive?
if you have a xp cd boot it via the bios and go into recovery console. Do a fixboot and fixmbr. If after a reboot that doesn't work start install and when you get to the choice new or repair choose repair. this will repair your os but keep your data/apps/settings.
Most motherboards have an onboard "bios" setup program. This means that on most computers, you can change settings in the bios with NO DRIVES ATTACHED, in other words, you can take a motheboard, and "boot" and get into the bios setup without booting to any operating system.
Now, the bad news, is that some motherboards don't work this way, Compaq is one example. You must either have the factory setup program which is on a special partition on the hard drive, or you must have a Compaq boot "floppy" that has this special program.
Now, assuming you CAN access your bios--you need to either watch the screen, or look up the instruction manual for your motherboard to do so.
----there are several things that must be in place to "boot" a machine from a CDROMOne--the CDROM drive itself must be new enough to support that feature, and of course must be properly functioning.
Two--the motherboard you are using must support that feature, and the CDROM must be setup in the bios in the "boot order" setting in the bios. I set my machines, which all have floppies, to boot FIRST from a floppy, SECOND from a CDROM, and THIRD from the HDD.
Three--the CD itself must be "bootable"--for example--most all OEM Windows 98 cd's are bootable, but there seems to be some arguement as to whether the RETAIL version are--(I have several RETAIL versions of '98 here, and NONE of them will boot.) Likewise, so far as I know, the UPGRADE versions of a system will not boot from a CD.
So far as I know, ALL CD's for windows XP will boot, I do not know about the "upgrades"
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Now, i can access my BIOS. That's no problem, but my computer magnufacturer won't release details on setting up my BIOS in order to cheat me out of 150 dollars worth of shipping and an extra 150 dollars worth of fixing it. When i can fix it myself, i've done it several times. Except this is my first case having to do with the missing OS. Everything is working properly, cd drive and other. Is there anything else that i should do, after i set it to the proper settings (i.e. floppy - cd rom, etc.)? A particular cd that i need? i have a copy of windows XP, and my former information from microsoft, will that work? Or do i need a bootdisk/cd of any sort and if i do, which and where can i download it from or acquire it from? Thank you to the person who gave me the first response, that clarified most of my doubts.
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Read the displayed instructions very carefully and make sure you understand them. Using the XP CD is not the easiest thing to do.
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If what you want to accomplish is to do a Windows XP Repair Reinstall using your authentic WinXP CD, follow these steps.
1. Change BIOS Boot order such that CD device (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or CD-RW or DVD-RW or Combo Drive) is made to boot BEFORE hard disk drive. [You already know how to]
2. Insert WinXP CD in the CD device made to Boot Before HDD.
3. Restart the PC and watch the screen carefully keeping a finger on any key on the keyboard without pressing it.
4. When you see the prompt "press any key to boot from CD " press a key Immediately press the key so that the Computer will boot from the CD.
5. In the Welcome to WindowsXP Setup screen press ENTER key. Don't choose R to Repair at this time. You will once again get a chance to opt for Repair and you can choose at that time.
6.Press F8 to accept theLicense agreement.
7. Later , the WinXP CD will find your installed system. If you are offered a Repair option this time (previously declined) choose and press R and direct it to your previously installed system drive.
When everything is copied and System will display the message about Automatically Restarting" you may press ENTER key or wait for Reboot.
On reboot, the Screen will prompt about pressing any key to boot from CD.
DO NOT Press any key now to boot from CD. Let it bypass the CD and boot from HDD to complete the setup.
Hope this helps.
M
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Alright, now i ran into another problem. While doing the BIOS boot order, i saw that when i highlighted the Hard Disk Drive and the Floppy Disk drive it says 'this divice is not installed'. While the Combo drive is still installed and no highlighted problems. But it still doesn't read the CD. I am positive my Combo works perfectly. The cd runs, it just doesn't do anything. Could my new problem be the actual problem towards the cd? How do i reinstall these devices.
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Is this an original Windows Xp disk, or a burned copy?
If it's a burned copy, it probably isn't bootable.
Please let us know if you found someone's advice to be helpful.
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It looks like your Floppy drive and Hard disk drive are not properly setup in the BIOS. Additionally you may have a problem with your XP CD also.
You can verify first the ability of your WinXP CD by booting with the CD in a "healthy" Computer made to boot from the CD as shown before. If it gives you a Welcome to WindowsXP Setup screen, your CD is bootable and most likely good to install the system. You can simply Quit setup pressing F3.To verify if the HDD and FDD are properly setup, check the BIOS. Since you have not posted the EXACT name of your Computer as displayed on its case, I cannot give you the detailed steps. If they are not seen there, see if you have an Auto detect option and see if BIOS can auto detect the installed HDD and FDD.
If it is unable to do that, you have a hardware problem such as:1.Loose or Disconnected Cables (Power supply or data or both).
OR
2. Damaged Cables(Power supply or data or both).
OR
3.Damaged Drives.
M
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