Computer won't boot from CD

[Sandor]

I'm trying to reinstall WinXP- it had issues, so I thought a clean install would be good. Anyway, even though I set the BIOS to boot from CD, it won't (I've tried with the WinXP installation disc as well as other bootable CDs). I don't even get the option "Press any key to boot from CD- it goes though all the checks and then directly to "DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER." I can boot from a floppy, but that doesn't do me much good since my hard drive is NTFS (and I need to be able to boot from the CD for an installation, anyway).

I've tried removing the floppy both physically and in the BIOS in case that caused an issue. I have removed everything except for the CPU, RAM, video card, one hard drive, one CD ROM (of course, now it wants me to ractivate windows). I have tried 3 different CD drives. I have reset the CMOS on the mobo. I have tried every boot option in BIOS.

Any ideas on why I can't boot from the CD?

Thanks!

EDIT:
I may have found a work-around. I was able to boot into Safe Mode, and read the CD from there to start the installation (choosing the option to copy all files to the HD first). I think this will work, but I'm still curious why the hell I can't boot from a CD

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Not sure about this but try a Win98 startup disk. There are also lots of boot disks to download. MAD BOOT is one. They will set up the CD to work. Run Setup on the XP Cd. Maybe. Good Luck, Jim

 

[furballi]

-Zero format the HDD.
-Connect the HDD to the PRIMARY MASTER IDE cable and set the jumper to MASTER or CABLE SELECT.
-Connect the CD ROM to the SECONDARY MASTER IDE cable and set the jumper to MASTER or CABLE SELECT.
-Set the CD ROM as 1st boot, and HDD as 2nd boot in BIOS. Save and reboot with windows CD and CD ROM.

You may need to try another windows CD or another CD ROM.

 

[Zepper]

I was going to note that to reliably boot, the CD-ROM drive may have to be in the Primary position on a cable or set to Master. The optical drive I boot from is always the only drive on its cable so I've never encountered a problem. Very weird if it gets to the point of 'Press "X" to boot from CD' and then can't continue from there.

.bh.

 

[mechBgon]

Also, if problems persist, post a full spec list?

 

[Sandor]

The HD is the primary master, and the CD is the secondary master- I left all other drives disconnected. I'm pretty sure I have everything setup properly, so I'm stumped.

I did find you can download from MS floppy bootup disks for XP (the file you download makes 6 setup disks for XP installation)- this worked great, and the setup had no problem reading from the CD.

I'm still curious why I couldn't boot from a CD (it could just be my mobo is getting old- its an ABIT KG7), but since I was able to format/install a fresh copy of XP anyway, I guess all is well Thanks for the help- it was the suggestions to try different boot up disks that led to finding the XP setup disks.