Can't boot from CD?

rppa · 16th November 2004, 04:49 PM

This is probably an easy problem. I have a system which is just limping along, needs Windows and a bunch of stuff reinstalled (I'm running out of a small Linux partition). But I can't install anything that requires booting from the CD drive. I can read the CD drive, but supposedly bootable CDs (like my Windows and Linux install CDs, and Partition Magic, and a bunch of other crucial stuff) won't boot.

Does anybody have any clue what might be wrong?

mortimer · 16th November 2004, 08:44 PM

Usually, you need to enable booting from CD from the BIOS. When you boot, you should get a message like "Press {F1, Alt-F2, ESC} to enter BIOS settings". Do that and check to see if you can change boot order to boot from CD first.

heath · 17th November 2004, 02:58 PM

On a lot of systems you can boot to CD by holding down the left shift key while the PC starts up. Try that.

rppa · 22nd November 2004, 01:36 PM

I should clarify.

I know about setting the BIOS. I've got my BIOS set to boot from CD. The problem is that when I've got a supposedly bootable-CD in there, it doesn't want to boot. Just chews on it for awhile then spits out an error message.

Otherwise the CD-R drive seems to work fine for reading and writing CDs, though I haven't tried to make a *bootable* CD with it. Hmmm.

I'm limited in what I can do on this system because of the booting problem. Basically I have an unusable Windows partition I haven't been able to reinstall, and a barely functional Linux partition I can't modify for the same reason.

Anathema · 22nd November 2004, 01:53 PM

How old is the CD-ROM drive itself? If it's "vintage", your problem may be there.

Edit: scratch that --- you say it's a writer too, so it can't be old enough for the problem I was thinking.

What is the error it spits out?

Make sure it has the Master/Slave jumper set correctly...it you have it jumpered as Slave and there is no Master, it can behave as you describe.

Anathema · 22nd November 2004, 02:02 PM

Also, related to my post above, if the drive is jumpered to CS (cable select), and the drive is alone on an IDE cable in the Slave position, it has the same effect as incorrect jumpers.

Anathema · 30th November 2004, 09:05 PM

Did you sort this out?

16th November 2004, 04:49 PM	#1
rppa Muse Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 794	Can't boot from CD? This is probably an easy problem. I have a system which is just limping along, needs Windows and a bunch of stuff reinstalled (I'm running out of a small Linux partition). But I can't install anything that requires booting from the CD drive. I can read the CD drive, but supposedly bootable CDs (like my Windows and Linux install CDs, and Partition Magic, and a bunch of other crucial stuff) won't boot. Does anybody have any clue what might be wrong?
rppa Muse Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 794

17th November 2004, 02:58 PM	#3
heath Thinker Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 152	On a lot of systems you can boot to CD by holding down the left shift key while the PC starts up. Try that.
heath Thinker Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 152	__________________ <small>This space intentionally left blank</small>

22nd November 2004, 01:36 PM	#4
rppa Muse Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 794	I should clarify. I know about setting the BIOS. I've got my BIOS set to boot from CD. The problem is that when I've got a supposedly bootable-CD in there, it doesn't want to boot. Just chews on it for awhile then spits out an error message. Otherwise the CD-R drive seems to work fine for reading and writing CDs, though I haven't tried to make a bootable CD with it. Hmmm. I'm limited in what I can do on this system because of the booting problem. Basically I have an unusable Windows partition I haven't been able to reinstall, and a barely functional Linux partition I can't modify for the same reason.
rppa Muse Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 794

22nd November 2004, 01:53 PM	#5
Anathema Muse Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 672	How old is the CD-ROM drive itself? If it's "vintage", your problem may be there. Edit: scratch that --- you say it's a writer too, so it can't be old enough for the problem I was thinking. What is the error it spits out? Make sure it has the Master/Slave jumper set correctly...it you have it jumpered as Slave and there is no Master, it can behave as you describe.
Anathema Muse Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 672	__________________ "The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business." -- Frank Zappa "Seatbelts. They help keep you not dead." -- LostAngeles "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" -- Matthew 26:52 (King James Version)

22nd November 2004, 02:02 PM	#6
Anathema Muse Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 672	Also, related to my post above, if the drive is jumpered to CS (cable select), and the drive is alone on an IDE cable in the Slave position, it has the same effect as incorrect jumpers.
Anathema Muse Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 672	__________________ "The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business." -- Frank Zappa "Seatbelts. They help keep you not dead." -- LostAngeles "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" -- Matthew 26:52 (King James Version)

16th November 2004, 08:44 PM	#2
mortimer NWO Janitor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,476	Usually, you need to enable booting from CD from the BIOS. When you boot, you should get a message like "Press {F1, Alt-F2, ESC} to enter BIOS settings". Do that and check to see if you can change boot order to boot from CD first.

30th November 2004, 09:05 PM	#7
Anathema Muse Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 672	Did you sort this out?
Anathema Muse Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 672	__________________ "The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business." -- Frank Zappa "Seatbelts. They help keep you not dead." -- LostAngeles "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" -- Matthew 26:52 (King James Version)