Windows XP Bootable CD for Reformatting

  • Thread starter Thread starter shellyadams
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shellyadams

I am trying to reformat my hard drive. I have windows xp home edition,
a bootable cd, (no floppy) I have went into the BIOS area and put to
boot from cd rom in first position but when it restarts, it goes back
like it was booting from the hard drive. How can I get this cd to boot
up? I have done it in the past but that was many moons ago and I don't
remember. Can any one direct me out there?

Thanks!

Shelly
 
I am trying to reformat my hard drive. I have windows xp home edition,
a bootable cd, (no floppy) I have went into the BIOS area and put to
boot from cd rom in first position but when it restarts, it goes back
like it was booting from the hard drive. How can I get this cd to boot
up? I have done it in the past but that was many moons ago and I don't
remember. Can any one direct me out there?
Click to expand...

You need to hit F12 to get to boot menu.
 
I am trying to reformat my hard drive.
Click to expand...



Why? It's usually a poor thing to do. If you are trying to solve
problems, there are usually better ways to do so.

I have windows xp home edition,
a bootable cd, (no floppy) I have went into the BIOS area and put to
boot from cd rom in first position but when it restarts, it goes back
like it was booting from the hard drive. How can I get this cd to boot
up? I have done it in the past but that was many moons ago and I don't
remember. Can any one direct me out there?
Click to expand...


First of all, note that this *not* a Windows issue. You either have a
hardware problem, or you are doing something wrong. Here are the
possibilities:

1. You thought you set the boot order to CD first, but you didn't.

2. Your computer requires you to press some key to boot from the CD.

3. Something is wrong with your CD drive, or its connection to the
motherboard.

4. Your CD has become damaged.
 
Yes it does, which there was no mention of in the OP, so I'm curious to know
how Louie knows the poster has a Dell.
 
Maybe Louie has a Dell, and doesn't know that not all PCs don't have the
same BIOS options.
 
I am trying to reformat my hard drive. I have windows xp home edition,
a bootable cd, (no floppy) I have went into the BIOS area and put to
boot from cd rom in first position but when it restarts, it goes back
like it was booting from the hard drive.
Click to expand...

Perhaps your XP setup CD is bad or your CD drive is bad.
How can I get this cd to boot
up? I have done it in the past but that was many moons ago and I don't
remember. Can any one direct me out there?
Click to expand...

If I were you, I'd narrow it down by testing the CD media and the CD/DVD
drive.
 
John said:
Perhaps your XP setup CD is bad or your CD drive is bad.


If I were you, I'd narrow it down by testing the CD media and the CD/DVD
drive.
Click to expand...
The XP install routine starts with "strike any key to boot from CD" If the
OP missed this, the machine will boot to the hard drive.
 
Mark Adams said:
The XP install routine starts with "strike any key to boot from CD" If the
OP missed this, the machine will boot to the hard drive.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's another possibility.
 
Maybe Louie has a Dell, and doesn't know that not all PCs don't have the
same BIOS options.
Click to expand...

I no longer had Dell. Gigabyte had the same option. Just a guess.
 
The point being F12 is not a standard, so you may be telling the OP
something he can't do, and he's gonna wonder why he can't do it.
 
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