My computer does read 'A' drive

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Guest

I am trying to run Windows XP setup floppy disks so that I can reinstall XP.
The reinstallation is necessary because my old hardrive failed and I have a
new one plugged in.
My problem is that my computer does not recognize anything that I put into
'A' drive. I have tried to get into the setup screen to change the boot
option to floppy, but I cannot access the setup screen. When I turn the
computer on, the indication is to press 'del' key for setup. I press delete
key, the computer continues, but the setup screen never appears.
Why can I not access 'setup'?
is there a relation between this problem a the new harddrive?
redlight409
 
You may need to use a PS/2 style keyboard in order to access the setup menu
on your particular computer. Also, you should not need to use setup floppies
unless your BIOS does not support booting from a CD-ROM, assuming you are
using an original copy of your windows disc, or that it is an exact copy.
 
redlight409 said:
I have tried to get into the setup screen to change the
boot option to floppy, but I cannot access the setup screen. When I
turn the computer on, the indication is to press 'del' key for setup.
Click to expand...

Too late. Press that key when the BIOS logo appears and keep it pressed.
I press delete key, the computer continues, but the setup screen never
appears. Why can I not access 'setup'?
Click to expand...

You may also want to disconnect the keyboard pror to starting the
computer. This will cause an error and offers the option to enter the
BIOS setup in most cases. Connect the keyboard and enter the BIOS setup.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with "Windows XP".
 
redlight409 said:
I am trying to run Windows XP setup floppy disks so that I can reinstall XP.
The reinstallation is necessary because my old hardrive failed and I have a
new one plugged in.
My problem is that my computer does not recognize anything that I put into
'A' drive. I have tried to get into the setup screen to change the boot
option to floppy, but I cannot access the setup screen. When I turn the
computer on, the indication is to press 'del' key for setup. I press delete
key, the computer continues, but the setup screen never appears.
Why can I not access 'setup'?
is there a relation between this problem a the new harddrive?
redlight409
Click to expand...


The boot diskette is a thing of the past, as all legitimate WinXP
installation CDs are already bootable.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
Detlev said:
Too late. Press that key when the BIOS logo appears and keep it pressed.




You may also want to disconnect the keyboard pror to starting the
computer. This will cause an error and offers the option to enter the
BIOS setup in most cases. Connect the keyboard and enter the BIOS setup.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with "Windows XP".
Click to expand...

Not if it is a PS/2 keyboard - you can damage the PS/2 interface on the
motherboard by connecting/disconnecting a PS/2 device with power on.
With USB devices this is ok to do.

Steve N.
 
Steve N. said:
Not if it is a PS/2 keyboard - you can damage the PS/2 interface on the
motherboard by connecting/disconnecting a PS/2 device with power on.
Click to expand...

Well, connecting PS/2 input devices while power off is recommended for
proper system recognition. Therefore, you can find recommendations like
this: "How To Install Keyboards" (excerpt)
http://www.smartcomputing.com/Edito...cle=articles/2004/w1510/25w02/25w02.asp&guid=

| Anytime you're connecting a device to a computer system, it is best
| to have the power turned off (with the exception of hot-pluggable
| devices,

However, I did not find any reliable technical documentation that
connecting PS/2 devices while power on may damage the PS/2 interface.
I know these rumors and therefore, I was testing with an old computer
several times w/o any resulting damage. Do you have any reference?
 
Detlev said:
Well, connecting PS/2 input devices while power off is recommended for
proper system recognition. Therefore, you can find recommendations like
this: "How To Install Keyboards" (excerpt)
http://www.smartcomputing.com/Edito...cle=articles/2004/w1510/25w02/25w02.asp&guid=

| Anytime you're connecting a device to a computer system, it is best
| to have the power turned off (with the exception of hot-pluggable
| devices,

However, I did not find any reliable technical documentation that
connecting PS/2 devices while power on may damage the PS/2 interface.
I know these rumors and therefore, I was testing with an old computer
several times w/o any resulting damage. Do you have any reference?
Click to expand...

I can't find any technical documentation concerning it either, but I've
seen it happen. Better safe than sorry.

Steve N.
 
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