Windows XP Professional original CD does not boot from CD ROM driv

[John]

My C drive started to fail so I had it replaced and the files transferred to
the new drive. However, some programs did not work as they should. I
therefore need to rebuild the software on my PC. The CD writer plays CD
music OK but will not boot my WXP Professional legitimate CD from the CD
drive. The BIOS is set up correctly with a boot priority (1)A, (2)CD, (3)C
hard drive. When I tap any key on the prompt to do so for a CD boot, the PC
then jumps to the C drive and loads the existing Windows XP SP2 version. The
Windows CD includes SP1. I have a second PC on my LAN with a separate WXP
Pro CD. I tried booting from the second WXP Pro CD but that boot attempt
also jumped to the existing WXP.

What can I do to boot WXP Pro SP1 from my CD writer drive?

What can I do to reformat the hard drive and reload WXP SP1? I will then
upgrade to SP3 then reinstall my backup files and other programs.

 

[Leonard Grey]

The correct way to move all the contents from one hard drive to a second
hard drive inside the same computer is to make an image of the original
hard drive and restore the image to the new hard drive. The software
that usually accompanies a retail hard drive includes the required
software, or you can purchase a disk imaging application on your own.

If you did not use this method, I am not able to offer you assistance.
In that case, I would reinstall Windows over itself.

 

[Jerry]

The CD drive must be #1 - not the floppy.

 

[Mike Torello]

The correct way to move all the contents from one hard drive to a second
hard drive inside the same computer is to make an image of the original
hard drive and restore the image to the new hard drive.

Another "correct way" is to clone the first to the second.

 

[Leonard Grey]

The terms "clone" and "image" mean the same thing, except that a clone
includes the disk's free space. In my opinion, there's no need to copy
free space to a new drive. Cloning is mostly used by forensic investigators.

In addition, most disk imaging programs (if not all) exclude files, like
the paging file and the hibernation file, that do not need to be backed up.

 

[Randall Flagg]

The terms "clone" and "image" mean the same thing, except that a clone
includes the disk's free space.

You are SO wrong.

An "image" is a copy in proprietary format that is also usually
compressed... and an "image" is neither bootable NOR usable without
the use of the "imaging" program.

A "clone" is an exact copy, and if it is a copy of a bootable
disk/partition, it too is bootable.

In my opinion, there's no need to copy
free space to a new drive. Cloning is mostly used by forensic investigators.

In my opinion, you are an idiot.

 

[Bill in Co.]

The terms "clone" and "image" mean the same thing, except that a clone
includes the disk's free space.

No, they are NOT the same thing.

In my opinion, there's no need to copy
free space to a new drive. Cloning is mostly used by forensic
investigators.

Also not true.

 

[Mike Torello]

You are SO wrong.

An "image" is a copy in proprietary format that is also usually
compressed... and an "image" is neither bootable NOR usable without
the use of the "imaging" program.

A "clone" is an exact copy, and if it is a copy of a bootable
disk/partition, it too is bootable.
Precisely.


In my opinion, you are an idiot.

I wonder where he came up with that "forensic investigators" crap?

 

[M.I.5¾]

In my opinion, your opinion of Leonard is an accurate one.

In my opinion, the opinion expressed of the opinion about the opinion of ...

Dang it, I've lost track of whose opinion is right and whose is wrong. :-/

 

[M.I.5¾]

I wonder where he came up with that "forensic investigators" crap?

Well what do you think forensic investigators do? No investigator in his
right mind would ever work on the original disc.

 

[M.I.5¾]

The CD drive must be #1 - not the floppy.

Rubbish. As long as both precede the hard disc, then it will work.

And in fact it is working because the prompt to boot from the CD is actually
coming from the bootable CD. Windows does not provide that function.

 

[M.I.5¾]

My C drive started to fail so I had it replaced and the files transferred
to
the new drive. However, some programs did not work as they should. I
therefore need to rebuild the software on my PC. The CD writer plays CD
music OK but will not boot my WXP Professional legitimate CD from the CD
drive. The BIOS is set up correctly with a boot priority (1)A, (2)CD,
(3)C
hard drive. When I tap any key on the prompt to do so for a CD boot, the
PC
then jumps to the C drive and loads the existing Windows XP SP2 version.
The
Windows CD includes SP1. I have a second PC on my LAN with a separate WXP
Pro CD. I tried booting from the second WXP Pro CD but that boot attempt
also jumped to the existing WXP.

What can I do to boot WXP Pro SP1 from my CD writer drive?

What can I do to reformat the hard drive and reload WXP SP1? I will then
upgrade to SP3 then reinstall my backup files and other programs.

You *are* booting from the CD because the prompt to boot from the CD is part
of the Windows installation CD's functionality. The reason why it so often
fails is because the user has a wireless keyboard that requires a driver
under Windows[1]. When you boot from the CD, there is no driver and the
lack of any seen response causes the system to assume you don't want to boot
from the CD and it then boots from the hard disc as normal. You require a
PS/2 or a USB wired keyboard [2] to be able to boot the Windows installation
CD.

[1] Bluetooth keyboards invariably do this but so do some other wireless
keyboards.
[2] Or a wireless keyboard that appears to be PS/2 or USB without any
aditional driver.

 

[John]

Good grief! Such a lot of bickering over something that does not answer my
question. We do have different opinions but to call ourselves idiots is not
good practice.

Both my WXP Pro original CDs were used on the same PC so I believe they are
OK. An answer to my question that makes sense for where I am at now is the
one dealing with wireless keyboards. I have a Logitech wireless keyboard so
I will try using a PS/2 connected keyboard. It is fortunate I kept one
instead of giving it away.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Well what do you think forensic investigators do? No investigator in his
right mind would ever work on the original disc.

The comment that "cloning is mostly used by..." states just that. I'd say
a large number of other people use cloning too, and most of them are not
"forensic investigators" (i.e., that's a small subset of the users of
cloning).

 

[Anna]

My C drive started to fail so I had it replaced and the files transferred
to
the new drive. However, some programs did not work as they should. I
therefore need to rebuild the software on my PC. The CD writer plays CD
music OK but will not boot my WXP Professional legitimate CD from the CD
drive. The BIOS is set up correctly with a boot priority (1)A, (2)CD,
(3)C
hard drive. When I tap any key on the prompt to do so for a CD boot, the
PC
then jumps to the C drive and loads the existing Windows XP SP2 version.
The
Windows CD includes SP1. I have a second PC on my LAN with a separate WXP
Pro CD. I tried booting from the second WXP Pro CD but that boot attempt
also jumped to the existing WXP.

What can I do to boot WXP Pro SP1 from my CD writer drive?

What can I do to reformat the hard drive and reload WXP SP1? I will then
upgrade to SP3 then reinstall my backup files and other programs.

John:
Your post seems clear enough indicating that you want to fresh-install the
XP OS onto your replacement HDD and you're not interested in using any
disk-imaging or disk-cloning program for copying the contents of your second
PC to the new HDD on the first PC (as seems to have been suggested by some
responders). I assume you're aware of the disk-imaging and/or disk-cloning
processes and simply do not want to go that route. Do I have this right?

Assuming I do...

1. What happens when you attempt to boot to the XP installation CD in the
*second* PC? Boots to the CD in that machine without any problem?

2. Re your first PC - the one on which you want to fresh-install the XP
OS...
a. You're absolutely sure the BIOS boot priority order is exactly as shown
in your post?
b. You're certain you do not have a floppy disk inserted in your floppy
drive?

3. Have you changed the boot priority order so that the CD-ROM is *first* to
boot?

4. No other storage devices (HDD, USB flash drive, ZIP drive, etc.)
connected during your attempt to boot to the XP installation CD? If so,
disconnect them.

5. As it stands now - when you're unsuccessful in booting to the XP
installation CD - does the boot to the HDD go without incident? You get to a
Desktop and the system is functional (notwithstanding your "problem"
programs)? Or do other problems arise?
Anna

P. S.
I note M.I.S's suggestion that the problem may have arisen as a consequence
of a wireless keyboard (assuming you're using one) involving a driver issue
so that the system doesn't detect a keystroke when you receive the "Press
any key..." message upon booting to the XP installation CD. That's
interesting. I've never run into that problem myself except, of course, when
dealing with a defective keyboard, a bad PS/2 keyboard port, or some other
motherboard problem affecting the keyboard. I'm assuming that you've
experienced no previous keyboard issues. But it will be interesting to learn
whether that is the source of the problem you're experiencing. So let us
know how it all turns out.

 

[Daave]

My C drive started to fail so I had it replaced and the files
transferred to
the new drive. However, some programs did not work as they should. I
therefore need to rebuild the software on my PC. The CD writer plays
CD
music OK but will not boot my WXP Professional legitimate CD from the
CD
drive. The BIOS is set up correctly with a boot priority (1)A, (2)CD,
(3)C
hard drive. When I tap any key on the prompt to do so for a CD boot,
the PC
then jumps to the C drive and loads the existing Windows XP SP2
version. The
Windows CD includes SP1. I have a second PC on my LAN with a separate
WXP
Pro CD. I tried booting from the second WXP Pro CD but that boot
attempt
also jumped to the existing WXP.

What can I do to boot WXP Pro SP1 from my CD writer drive?

What can I do to reformat the hard drive and reload WXP SP1? I will
then
upgrade to SP3 then reinstall my backup files and other programs.

My money is on M.I.5¾'s explanation.

Just to make sure, is this the screen you see right before you tap the
"any key"?:

http://www.microsoft.com/library/me...g/setup/winxp/xp-setup-0-press-any-key-to.jpg

If it is, then you *are* booting off the CD-ROM drive. The wrong kind of
keyboard would be my first guess as to why you are experiencing your
particular issue.

 

[Mike Torello]

The comment that "cloning is mostly used by..." states just that. I'd say
a large number of other people use cloning too, and most of them are not
"forensic investigators" (i.e., that's a small subset of the users of
cloning).

Everyone should have noticed the conspicuous absence of "Leonard" in
all of this. I know he's reading.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Everyone should have noticed the conspicuous absence of "Leonard" in
all of this. I know he's reading.

Fourth post from the top (or bottom depending on your newsreader).

 

[M.I.5¾]

Good grief! Such a lot of bickering over something that does not answer my
question. We do have different opinions but to call ourselves idiots is
not
good practice.

Both my WXP Pro original CDs were used on the same PC so I believe they
are
OK. An answer to my question that makes sense for where I am at now is
the
one dealing with wireless keyboards. I have a Logitech wireless keyboard
so
I will try using a PS/2 connected keyboard. It is fortunate I kept one
instead of giving it away.

I got caught by this very problem last time I rebuilt my own PC (bluetooth
keyboard). I spent an entire weekend trying to figure out why the Windows
installation CD wouldn't boot on that PC when my trueimage bootable CD
worked OK (which obligingly, as it turned out, had generic bluetooth
keyboard drivers - which masked the problem somewhat) but the Windows CD
booted on every other PC I tried it on.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Fourth post from the top (or bottom depending on your newsreader).

LOL.
I think his point was that Leonard stated that clone and image mean the same
thing. But they are really not the same thing (although they can
accomplish somewhat similar purposes), and that Leonard never acknowledged
that for the record. IOW, it's a bit misleading to say they mean the same
thing.