Should I boot from CD?

[Guest]

I'm trying to do a clean install of XP Pro following some very good instructions from you folks. My problem: When I opened the BIOS to set CD drive as first boot device, it is not the device installed on my machine (different manufacturer). My D drive device seems to be disabled. The reason I want a clean install is because another user managed to remotely change system settings (despite using a limited account) and control the machine via a network. Should I proceed with the clean install using a D drive that doesn't belong to me? Oddly enough, it plays a music CD when using my admin account, but won't work using the limited account. I've changed so many settings trying to regain control I'm not sure what to do. Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Willie]

I hope I understand what you just said. I don't know what you mean when you
say it "Seems to be disabled", but it plays music??? If your "D" drive
plays music, then it is the drive you want to set to boot first in the BIOS,
so you can boot from your OS CD. Go into BIOS, and set "D" to be your first
boot device, save the changes, and exit, and when you boot, it will ask you
"Briefly" to "press any key to boot from CD", and you will do that. Follow
the prompts. BACK UP all the stuff you want to save, cause if you do a clean
install, it will be gone. Let us know if you need more information. I am
pressed for time right now. Good luck, and I hope ythis is enough to get you
going.

Willie

I'm trying to do a clean install of XP Pro following some very good

instructions from you folks. My problem: When I opened the BIOS to set CD
drive as first boot device, it is not the device installed on my machine
(different manufacturer). My D drive device seems to be disabled. The
reason I want a clean install is because another user managed to remotely
change system settings (despite using a limited account) and control the
machine via a network. Should I proceed with the clean install using a D
drive that doesn't belong to me? Oddly enough, it plays a music CD when
using my admin account, but won't work using the limited account. I've
changed so many settings trying to regain control I'm not sure what to do.
Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Willie. In BIOS, my boot options showed D was already my first boot drive. I think this stems from the fact that a C:\Windows\repair was done on this computer by someone else, creating my problems. I mentioned trouble with the D drive because even though it plays a music CD, I can't explore the drive when the XP cd is in (also, one of the utility programs shows D drive is full). I went ahead and rebooted with the XP cd in the drive, but all I got was the regular Windows log in screen. Is there any other way to reinstall XP? Thanks in advance.

 

[roger]

Hi Sue,

Thanks, Willie. In BIOS, my boot options showed D was already my first boot drive. I think this stems from the fact that a C:\Windows\repair was done on this computer by someone else, creating my problems. I mentioned trouble with the D drive because even though it plays a music CD, I can't explore the drive when the XP cd is in (also, one of the utility programs shows D drive is full). I went ahead and rebooted with the XP cd in the drive, but all I got was the regular Windows log in screen. Is there any other way to reinstall XP? Thanks in advance.

When XP boots from the CD you have to press any key within a span of
seconds. If you don't, it will boot as usual.
So try to press the space key as soon as it boots.

More information for a clean install here:
Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Good luck