Operating system wont load

[stalesweetness]

Got my computer built and running. Now I am trying to install the operating system so I can use it. The first disc that loaded was the motherboard disk (gigabyte). I then installed the operating system from an old disk I had. It copied all the files on the hard drive but when it reboots it does not load into the operating system.

It goes to the gigabyte screen for a sec
then says its loading the operating system
then back to the gygabyte screen
then says its loading the operating system
then goes blank and sits blank.

whats going on?

[patio]

Not too clear on whats goin on...but normally you install the OS 1st...then load the MBoard drivers...
Wipe the drive again and start over...

I then installed the operating system from an old disk I had.

This may also be the issue if it's a copy of an OS CD...

[stalesweetness]

the gigagbyte screen i am referring too is the prompt screen.

Gigabyte shows up where you can hit TAB: ?, F8: Bios, F12: Boot Menu, and DEL: ? (cant remember what the question marks are)

I formated the drive twice and reinstalled twice. The "old" disk is a copy I received with my old dell and is Microsoft XP. It did the same thing both times I formatted and re-installed the disk.

[patio]

A Dell CD will not install properly to anything but the machine it was written for....therein lies you're dilemna...

[stalesweetness]

ok. the other thing i tried is i downloaded linux off a laptop and burned it to a disk. i tried to run that but the auto run did not enable.

if the "old" disk does not work, what can i do?

[patio]

ok. the other thing i tried is i downloaded linux off a laptop and burned it to a disk. i tried to run that but the auto run did not enable.

if the "old" disk does not work, what can i do?

You need to make the CD bootable...not just burn the .iso to cd...
I use ImgBurn.

[stalesweetness]

ok. talk me through how to make the cd bootable. is there a buttn i click or what???

[patio]

All the info you will need is in the ImgBurn Help files...

[stalesweetness]

do you know where to get operating systems for free or dirt cheap....besides linux?

[stalesweetness]

Also, do I need to reformat the hard drive again or can i load linux with the screwed up microsfot xp on there?

[patio]

Also, do I need to reformat the hard drive again or can i load linux with the screwed up microsfot xp on there?

I wouldn't...but thats just me...

[stalesweetness]

yeah. didn't see an answer so i all ready started formatting

[stalesweetness]

You need to make the CD bootable...not just burn the .iso to cd...
I use ImgBurn.

I made the disk bootable but it did not work. when i go through the steps only two files come up to click when making the disk bootable.

isolinux.bin
sbm.bim

which one do i click?

any thoughts as to why that is not working??

[stalesweetness]

I use ImgBurn.

which do you download at the site? there are different downloads.

[soybean]

You seem to be making this too difficult.  You have the ISO file, right?  So now, follow this tutorial on using ImgBurn to create a bootable disc: http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61