startup issue

[Guest]

I have a computer with windows xp home sp2. When I start the computer I get
an error that says disk boot failure. insert system disk and press enter. I
figured out that if the xp home setup disk is in the cd tray then the system
boots fine. I just let it go through the press a key to boot from cd without
doin anything. It then boots normally. Why would it need the cd to boot?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Try setting the HD as the first boot device in BIOS. Does it work then?

 

[Guest]

nope. same results.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Then all I can think is that it is a BIOS problem. Or, perhaps more likely,
the HD is taking too long to spin up and be recognized before the attempt to
access times out. Going through the bootable CD phase gives the HD time to
spin up. I'd check the mobo manufacturer to see if there is a BIOS update
that specifically addresses this issue, and if not, then I'd try a different
HD, just to see.

 

[Gerry]

I would try HD Tune (freeware).
Download and run it and see what it turns up.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive
letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )
and copy into a further message.

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy
to Clipboard ) and copy into a further message. Also do a full surface
scan with HD Tune.

Another cause of the problem could be a damaged MBR
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...dfdf6?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1&hl=en#79787f2c439dfdf6

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Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
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