I had to do a clean install of Windows XP Pro on my home computer recently and everything went just fine, but it seems that the computer will not boot up unless the Windows installation CD is the in CD-Rom drive. Nothing has changed with my computer hardware wise, and this didn’t happen when I first installed windows on this computer. I’ve tried reformatting and reinstalling but it doesn’t help. Any suggestions would be great!
Tagged with: cd rom drive • computer hardware • home computer • installation cd • reformatting • windows installation • windows xp
Filed under: Clean Up Computer
I can give you a link that deals with hard drive problems.
Some drive problems can be easily fixed by yourself using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in useful. Try this site, if you can get what is required.
The problem is that you did not delete the original partitiion and reformat the drive before reinstall, so you only added a second installation. The master boot record on the Storage device is corrupted requiring a boot authorization from the CD. You will need to boot on the CD then Delete all the partitions, Create a new partition using all disk space, and format the drive then install the OS.
Upon boot up, does it say "press any key to boot from cd?". If so just dont press any key and it will bypass it. Or check in your bios and change the 1st boot-up device to primary hard drive.
Ok, here’s what you can do. First get a Windows 98 Boot Floppy. Stick it in your floppy drive, and boot off the floppy drive. Then, go into the command prompt and type in fdisk. Set your boot partition to active, and reboot with the XP Pro CD out and the floppy out. It should boot. If you need the Win98 Boot Floppy, go to http://www.answersthatwork.com/Downright_pages/downrights_bootdisks.htm
Check to see if your bios has been changed to boot from the CD only.
most likely you recieved a bad virus or you are not using the original windows XP. i know cause this happen to me.. i used a copy of XP.
Put your windows cd in and when it prompts you for what to do, hit the R button to go to the Recovery console.. Run a chkdsk on your Hard Drive, it could have gone bad.. Otherwise if that isnt it you just installed XP wrong and you need some help there..
go get it fixed
This is an odd situation. As a mac user, I installed my software only the once, and kept the cd ‘just in case’. It would appear that your computer may be refusing to accept the program unless it recognises the cd in the drive. I don’t know why this should be, but check out the links. If all else fails, contact Microsoft’s FAQ’s to root the problem out, or take it to be sorted.