Can't boot Windows XP reinstallation CD Solved/Closed

Question

Hey guys,

I'm wanting to do a clean install of Windows XP on a Dell Dimension 9150 but the computer cannot seem to boot up the reinstallation CD when turning the computer on.

I have accessed the Boot Device Menu by pressing the F12 key on startup. I then selected the 'Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive' and pressed the enter key. The message 'Selected boot device not available - strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility' appears.

As retrying the boot does not work. I accessed the setup utility by pressing the F2 key. This took me to the BIOS setup. I accessed the 'Boot Sequence' option, which is located underneath the 'System' heading. A list of 5 devices appear:

1. Onboard SATA Hard Drive
2. Onboard or USB Floppy Drive (not present)
3. Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive
4. Onboard IDE Hard Drive (not present)
5. USB Device (not present)

I moved number 3 - Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive to the top of the list, making it number 1. I saved the changes and exit. The CD still does not boot up, Windows XP loads as normal.

Do any of you guys have any idea how I can get it to boot up? I really need to reinstall Windows XP again!

Thanks guys,
Matt.

sean · Accepted Answer

if your computer is not giving you the option to boot from dvd/rom, restart computer, then hit f12 tab down to system setup, scroll down to boot sequence hit enter and make sure there is a check mark next to boot from dvd rom.. this was my problem.. check and hit exit and save changes, restart computer, f12 again... boot from dvd rom should be there

fobvious5 · Answer

Hello,

this means your DVD drive isnt recognized or may be it's damaged! you won't be able to install windows if this happened! So you will have to replace the drive or install windows from USB!

RemoTheCompGuy · Answer

Make sure your CD Rom can Read DVDS.
Try an external CD Rom device.
Windows Disk may be not work properly.

View my website, it may be helpful.
Post in forum if you like.
RCompsx.com for more details
If you need professional repair service we can help, also have software if needed

dmg · Answer

The DC's or DVD's are not defective. Usually on Dell computer there is an extra partition on the hard drive for restoring the computer. When the CD or DVD drive is booted up it will look for this partition to do the re-installation process from which it gets configuration files that are proprietor to the Dell empire.

ComputerGuy55 · Answer

Having this exact same problem, working on the fix now but I am assume it is because the older drive cannot read -R or -RW DVD's.

Is the disc you are trying to install with the original? A Burned copy?  The one I am using is an Image on a DVD -RW and the computer is quite old also and wont read the disc.  I am going to hook up an external DVD drive and see if it can read it.  If your having the same problem, look into either getting an external DVD drive or make an image of the disc onto a DVD +RW if you know how.

Hope this tip helped you, I will post back with an update shortly as I am using my other disc (a +RW) in another drive..

But I noticed the laptop I am trying to install windows on does not even see the -RW disc's in windows... Anyways, updates shortly!

ComputerGuy55 · Answer

So, I used my +RW cd in the laptop and it sees it fine.  I have to burn another Pro XP image on a +RW disc and will tell you how that works out.

I do believe this is the cause, because -RW are a newer format and the older computers, and they see +RW's fine, but not -RW's, for the exact reason I do not have the answer.  I hope this helped and if you need additional help on the problem/something else feel free to ask/contact me.

Brad · Answer

You need to go the the boot menu (F2) and change the SATA sequence to SATA/ATA, or when you boot from the disk to re-install windows, you hit F6 to install the SATA drivers from a floppy, if you have it.

Can't boot Windows XP reinstallation CD

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