Select the operating system to start

[Lisa010262]

Hi,

I think my computer has several issues. the first being when ever I boot the computer I receive a screen which says " please select the operating system to start."

        Windows XP Pro
        Windos XP media center edition

I believe that this computer was originally loaded with media center and someone removed it and added a uncertified copy of xp pro.

i would like to get this computer back to the original factory settings.

Don't know where to start to correct this issue?

[Broni]

i would like to get this computer back to the original factory settings.

Do you have Windows CD, or Recovery CD (for that particular computer)?

[Lisa010262]

Yes, I have the recovery Cd for the computer

[Broni]

Well, if you don't have any data to lose, pop the CD in, restart computer, watch for "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press any key, and follow on-screen instructions.

[Lisa010262]

Here is when other problems appears , I don't ever see the message to "press any key"

[Broni]

You have to make sure, the boot order in BIOS reads:
- floppy drive(if you have one)
- CD drive
- hard drive

[Lisa010262]

No floppy drive
 I made cd drive 1St
 hard drive 2nd
Pressed f10
computer rebooted still no message to press any key?

[Broni]

Are you sure, CD drive is in working condition?
Are you sure, Recovery CD is OK? Can you read its content through Windows Explorer?

[Lisa010262]

CD drives reads other disk regularly and yes I can read the contents thru explorer

[Broni]

I don't know what's going on. Are you positive, you have recovery CD for that exact machine?

[Lisa010262]

yes

[Broni]

It's puzzling.
1. Do you have only one optical drive?
2. Are CD drive, and hard drive hooked up to the same cable inside the computer? If CD drive is on separate drive, it may be a problem.
3. If you have any other bootable CD, see, if the computer will boot from it. If you don't have any, create one, memtest CD: http://www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news10.htm, for instance, and see, if it'll boot from it.

[Lisa010262]

hi sorry its been a while.

i only have one optical drive

This computer is a laptop, i did take the case of as far as my comfort level would let me, I did not see any thing unusual?

Could not locate any other bootable cd's.  went to the easydesk link provided not sure I saw how to make a boot disk?

[Broni]

Here: http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic62524.html is a manual, how to make bootable memtest CD.

[JJ 3000]

Most laptops have a recovery partition. Tap F11 as you computer starts up.