Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: insanejon on February 21, 2011, 08:22:59 AM

Title: Reformatting help
Post by: insanejon on February 21, 2011, 08:22:59 AM

Hi, I am new to computerhope so I hope I am not posting on the wrong thread or something.

I currently have Linux ( Xubuntu 10.10 ) and want to reformat my PC to Windows XP.
The only problem however is that when I insert the Win XP installation CD
and change the boot settings to boot from CD it doesn't work.
It shows the screen where it says : Press any key to boot from CD, but none of the keys work.

-  So I was wondering if there is anyway to reformat PC without CD and then install Windows.

Thank you in advance.




I am using :Intel Pentium 3.0 GHz
                   512 mb RAM
                   80 GB  Hard Drive
                   128 Ati Radeon Secondary

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: Allan on February 21, 2011, 08:26:57 AM

There are three possible reasons the system will not boot from a disk:

1) The optical drive is not the first device in bios boot order or
2) The disk is not bootable or it's a bad disk or
3) The drive itself is bad

If your system actually requires you to select the option at boot, make sure the system sees your keyboard (in other words, if you are using a usb keyboard then bios has to be set to see usb at boot - assuming your bios has that option - otherwise use a ps2 keyboard).

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: insanejon on February 21, 2011, 08:28:59 AM

As for the CD, it worked on several PCs.
The keyboard will work when I need to enter the BIOS setup , but after I boot, it won't work.

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: patio on February 21, 2011, 08:30:25 AM

Quote

As for the CD, it worked on several PCs.

A Sharpie version....ehh ?

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: insanejon on February 21, 2011, 08:39:15 AM

Sharpie? I don't quietly understand what you mean.
English is not my native language.

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: insanejon on February 21, 2011, 08:50:10 AM

HELP ?

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: insanejon on February 21, 2011, 09:03:21 AM

Oh come on now, don't let me down.
I don't have much time.

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: Allan on February 21, 2011, 09:03:50 AM

HEY - this is a forum, not a chatroom. STOP BUMPING

Title: Re: Reformatting help
Post by: patio on February 21, 2011, 09:48:45 AM

You need to do an unconditional format to remove the Grub loader....there are many free tools out there for this...
I use DBAN.