Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Cant boot off CDROM

0 helpful
8 replies

by lccomputers

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hello
i am working on a machine(PIII 900) that will not boot(freezes)into XP Home. It will boot into safe mode. Ive tried various troubleshooting techniques with no luck. I want to boot off the CDROM and try a few things and barring that just reinstall. BIOS is set to boot from CDROM first, problem is it still freezes. Not sure why. Anyone have any ideas or anything else i can try. I do believe if i format the hard drive i should be able to boot off the CDROM but want another opion before i goahead. Thanks

8 replies

by thechas

What's on your hard drive should have no impact on booting off of a CD-ROM drive.

I suspect that you have a memory or resource conflict problem.

Start by verifying that your RAM and CRIMM module are seated (this assumes that you have a RDRAM (RAMBUS) motherboard)
For RDRAM, you need either 2 matched DIMMs, or 1 DIMM and a CRIMM card.

Next, remove all devices other than the video card and drives.

If the system boots, you have a resource conflict, try the cards in different slots oneat a time.

Chas

by ann777

Change the boot order in the BIOS and arrange it such that the cd-rom device appears before the hdd. Save and Exit the BIOS setup and you should be able to boot from a bootable cdrom.

by ann777

I read you question too quickly and didn't notice that you had already set the boot order.

Make sure the cdrom you are using is bootable.

by wim

Go to http://drd.dyndns.org and create yourself a bootable floppy with cdrom drivers (special Xp disk is also there)
Then repair your Xp...

Then if you have time check why your cdrom isn't booting, without stress of a non working system...

This discussion is closed to new replies.