How to escape from Repair Install loop

[mikeydread]

Hi. I am desperate. Been stuck for several days now.
How do I cancell a repair install?
I tried to do an in place repair installation following virus problems.
The installation sticks at 'Installing Devices'. If I reload it tries
to install again - same problem. If I take out cd disc it asks for it.
Can't boot into safe mode. Tried changing bios to boot from hard drive
- no change. Can only get to dos prompt via shift f10. In desperation
tried to format c drive but get error - disk in use. I just want to get
back to the CD installation main menu and do a clean install and
reformat the disc, but I can't do ANYTHING!
Have taken out all extra PCI cards and disconnected all devices other
than basics. Please help.

 

[mikeydread]

Ok - I'll answer my own question in case it helps others.
I got round this eventually by:

in bios - reset boot order to hard drisk first
reload
go into bios again and reset to boot from cd

this time when load get a 'press any key to load from cd' on blue
screen

quickly hit a key, you only have a few seconds.
Then goes back to the original cd menu with all options.

phew - took me more than a day to get back here from the loop of repair
hell.