Boot Order query

[MZB]

I have a Dell Inspiron 2200 with XP Home.

I went into the settings and found the boot order listed is:

1) Diskette drive (but I have none)

2) Internal Hard Drive

3) External USB Hard Drive

4) CD/DVD Combo Drive

So, my question. If I have an emergency backup bootable CD, would it make
sense to change the order so that the CD drive is the first one checked??

In this way, if the HD crashed, I could boot from the CD.

Am I missing something here?



Mel

 

[DL]

Not really, thats just the order in which the PC searches for the boot files
If it doesnt find them in the first device it moves on to the next, etc

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

I'd suggest you leave it as is. Only if you have a major problem, and you
needed to insure booting from CD/DVD, THEN:
set it to boot from CD/DVD and bootup.

What sort of "emergency backup bootable CD" ?

 

[MZB]

Maurice:

But if I have a major problem, what if I can't get into the CMOS to change
it at that time?? Or would I be doomed anyway if that was the case
regardless of the order.

I have Retrospect B/U software and they can burn an emergency bootable CD.

Mel

 

[DL]

If you cannot access the bios, then the problem will likely be such that any
bootable cd wont help

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Hi MZB,

As longs as you know what you are doing, go ahead and set changes as you outlined. Then see how things go.
Always use extreme care when making changes to BIOS settings !

As to your last question, as long as your systemboard is healthy, and the micro processor too, you won't be doomed.
Just take standard safe practices to make off-line backups of your system.