cannot boot from cd

duked

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im trying to format my computer. popped in my XP cd and configured the BIOS to boot from the cd-drive first. after restarting it won't boot from cd and proceeds to load my OS (also xp service pack 2) ne ideas?

edit: also hit F11 which brings me to an option asking what to boot from (HD, cd drive, floppy) and i choose cd of course but still the same thing
 
Perhaps your CD isn't bootable? Is this a CD-R or original copy of XP?

If you have set your BIOS correctly, as long as your drive doesn't have problems reading discs, your PC should boot from it.
 
not an original copy of xp, and it's a cd-rw (it's all i had at the time), is that a problem?

is there neway i can still get it format and install? perhaps get to DOS somehow (don't know how to do that either)
 
XP Setup cannot run from DOS, it has to be run from the CD directly in a 32-bit environment. A CD-RW isn't a problem, but the disc you copied might not have been bootable.

If you can boot to Windows at all, double-click the drive with your CD in it, and run an install that way. Do a clean install (not upgrade), and during this I believe you will have the option to format.
 
Make sure the CD is finalized.
Make sure the CD is bootable.
 
If your "cd" drive is really an older DVD drive then it may not be able to boot from CD's. I've seen a few of these around.

If you have a newer DVD or a CD only drive available install that to reload from.

Also, you can try burning a copy of the XP CD-RW to a CDR. As above make sure the burnign program is set to finalize the copy.
 
Just to let yall know, all is well now (finally).

Problem was the cd wasn't bootable, I guess when I downloaded it I didn't realize, after reading through the forums 15 pages I figured out the boot file was not included with the XP but luckily there were instructions on how to do so.

So after 3 (that's right 3) XP installation attempts, a successful format and a new era has begun. :D with a lesson learned.
 
Glad to hear you got it worked out. Sometimes things that take you awhile are good learning experiences :)
 
wwwdjrcs said:
Perhaps your CD isn't bootable? Is this a CD-R or original copy of XP?

If you have set your BIOS correctly, as long as your drive doesn't have problems reading discs, your PC should boot from it.
yes perhaps it isnt bootable
 

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