Making the DVD ROm drive the Boot drive?

[dnelms]

I've got to reinstall Vista. My only BIOS settings are CD-ROM, no option for
DVD drive. Bios is latest avaliable. Is my only option to open the case and
disconnect the CD-drive? I assume that then the BIOS would see the DVD drive
as a CD drive and boot the DVD from that?

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

I've got to reinstall Vista. My only BIOS settings are CD-ROM, no option
for
DVD drive. Bios is latest avaliable. Is my only option to open the case
and
disconnect the CD-drive? I assume that then the BIOS would see the DVD
drive
as a CD drive and boot the DVD from that?

It doesn't matter.. If you set CD first, it scans for whatever optical drive
is fitted and has bootable media in the tray..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
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Mike's Window - My Blog..
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[dnelms]

So are you saying that I'd have to disconnect the CD drive so that the only
optical drive is the DVD drive? Because it looks at the CD, which has no
media, then the HD. I guess if I do that, I'll have to hook the CD drive back
up after reinstall so the system will pick it up.

Thsi is a PIA to not be able to just reinstall from the DVD drive directly
(it's an upgrade DVD). Thia Vista install has worked perfectly until a couple
of days ago.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

So are you saying that I'd have to disconnect the CD drive so that the
only
optical drive is the DVD drive? Because it looks at the CD, which has no
media, then the HD. I guess if I do that, I'll have to hook the CD drive
back
up after reinstall so the system will pick it up.

Thsi is a PIA to not be able to just reinstall from the DVD drive directly
(it's an upgrade DVD). Thia Vista install has worked perfectly until a
couple
of days ago.

Are you saying that it never checks the DVD drive?


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
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Mike's Window - My Blog..
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[dnelms]

That is correct. Even double checked the BIOS settings to make sure HD was
not the first boot. The CD drive flickers, then the DVD drive flickers, but
then it goes to the HD. If I let it boot to Vista, I can go the DVD and see
all the files, so I know it is working. A stupid question, but I'll ask
anyway. This is an upgrade DVD with SP1 already on it. There is not a chance
that MS plugged up the hole that allowed a boot install to trial , then
reinstall for good as the workaround for a clean install for an upgrade DVD?

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp

Are you following the way to do it in the above link?

 

[dnelms]

Yes,, the problem is that my computer is looking at the CD drive and then
bypassing the DVD drive, therfore I can't boot from it. So I can't do
anything else until I solve that problem. I do think I'm going to physically
disconnect the CD drive and just let the computer saee only 1 optical drive

 

[Mick Murphy]

Are you sure the DVD drive even works?

 

[dnelms]

Yes, as stated in earilier posts in this thread, I can start Vista fine. I
can then start the Vista setup from the DVD drive, see all the files, etc.
Vista works fine except for one thing, Vista Media Center. I getting errors
from it, and something has screwed up some codecs and thus has stopped me
from being able to use my extenders on my TV's. Actually is sad that in order
to correct one part of Vista, I've gotta jump thru these hoops. But I'm
convinced that thisis my only alternative to getting it all working again.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Yes, as stated in earilier posts in this thread, I can start Vista fine. I
can then start the Vista setup from the DVD drive, see all the files, etc.
Vista works fine except for one thing, Vista Media Center. I getting
errors
from it, and something has screwed up some codecs and thus has stopped me
from being able to use my extenders on my TV's. Actually is sad that in
order
to correct one part of Vista, I've gotta jump thru these hoops. But I'm
convinced that thisis my only alternative to getting it all working again.

Are you sure that CD has priority in the BIOS boot order?


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[dnelms]

Are you sure that CD has priority in the BIOS boot order?


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

Yes, double and triple checked it.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Yes, double and triple checked it.

I would suggest then that there may be a read problem with your DVD drive.

Either that or you are not pressing a key when asked. You should get a "Boot
from CD" message followed by a request to press any key. If you fail to
press a key, it will then move to the HDD..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[dnelms]

I'd like thank everyone for their comments and advice. My DVD drive is fine,
plays, reads etc. I've tried changing BIOS settings, changing setup as it
goes thru POST, etc. Nothing works to get this boot. I'm going to just pop
the machine open tonight and disconnect the CD so the DVD will be the only
optical drive found. Thanks again.

 

[andy]

If the drives are IDE, set the DVD drive as master.

 

[Andrew Murray]

Does the BIOS show two "CD-ROM" drives, even though one is actually the DVD?
Most BIOS's can list several "boot" devices; so if you try "CDROM" as Device
1 and CDROM as Device 2 and then "Hard disk" as device 3, this might prompt
the system to properly check the DVD for bootable media.

Maybe you need to rededect the drives. How are they configured e.g. is the
DVD the secondary Master or Primary Slave? Maybe swapping them around - make
the DVD Secondary Master, and CDROM Secondary Slave, with the HDD as Primary
Master?