Force boot from CD. How?

[MadDoctor]

Got a computer here at home I can't get to boot up anything but the virus software. I want to force it to boot from the Win98 CD or the A:startup disk but it acts like it sees the A: but not the CD.

Is there a F key I can hold down to make it boot from the CD?

[mnosteele52]

As far as I know MadDoc you need to change the boot sequence in the BIOS.

[MadDoctor]

I can boot to safe and to a DOS prompt. When it does boot up, and I to a control-alt-delete, the only thing running is AVG. No explorer, no nothing.

So you say I should edit a file and change the boot order?

(I might have lot of posts... but I'm dumb as a rock when it comes to computers)

[mnosteele52]

Nope just reboot the pc and while it's booting go into the BIOS. You have to hit a certain key to enter it - not sure which one on that particular pc usually it's F1, F10 or del or something of that nature, once your in the BIOS change the boot order to boot from CDrom first and you can fdisk, reformat or do whatever you want with a 98 cd.

[MadDoctor]

Thanks. I'll give it a try. Not sure when my daughter last did a backup. This should be ugly.

[MadDoctor]

Not F1 or F10 or delete. I can get to the Win98 statup menu and that's about it. When I tell it to boot normal... it brings up the background but as the tool bar starts to appear... it halts (mouse still moves).

[mnosteele52]

Try Esc. What type of pc is it? or motherboard brand, if you know you can find out how to get into the BIOS.

[Easto]

Is it a name brand computer. I'll try and find the entry key for the bios for ya. Sometimes on Dells etc just holding down the Del key dosen't do it

[MadDoctor]

It's *shakes head in shame* a Compaq. She has the oldest computer in the house. Maybe it's time to replace it.

esc key is not the one.

[mnosteele52]

All Compaqs are F10, you have to hit F10 while it is displaying the Compaq logo screen during boot.

P.S. You should hang you head hehehe - a Comcrap.

[MadDoctor]

I know... my daughter hopes it doesn't come back to life so I'll buy her a new one (not compaq). Silly girl.

Okay F10 did work and I told it to boot from the CD first. It did (CD makes whirring sound) and then boots back to where the tool bar starts to load............... and it stops (displays desktop, mouse works). No "my computer" icon, no "my network places", documents, etc.

control-alt-delete does not show explorer running (which is probably the big problem)

[mnosteele52]

That's odd MadDoc when it boots from the cd it should give you the option of reinstalling 98 over top of itself (which is probably what you want to do).

[MadDoctor]

Originally posted by mnosteele52
That's odd MadDoc when it boots from the cd it should give you the option of reinstalling 98 over top of itself (which is probably what you want to do).

Right you are sir!

*daughter looking real happy now*

[MadDoctor]

Okay. I booted to the Compaq utility (where I found the option to boot from CD). I also found the Quick Restore CDs from Compaq. Is this something I want to do/try? Restore Win98 seems more appropriate.

I have a feeling that the Quick Restore disks are going to want to reformat.

[MadDoctor]

I put the 98 startup disk in a: and the win98 CD in f: I then told it to boot from A: first and then F: and then C: It got to the A: and poped up a menu that asked me if I would like to restart with help from the CD. I said yes and took me through some junk and ended at the A:

I was hoping for a restart of windows.

[MadDoctor]

I can now get to the drive with the windows 98 CD. Regardless of which .exe file I try on the Win98 CD, it says it needs windows to run the command.

Now how would I start windows from the CD in DOS mode. That would be the question

[mnosteele52]

In DOS to start Win98 setup just type D:\setup (D is whatever your cdrom drive is).

[MadDoctor]

So... I boot up (f8) to the menu and boot up in DOS mode only. The CD is drive F: The system won't find F: (strange).

I ran the command win and it brings up windows (which is what a normal boot does) but then after windows comes up (less the tool bar or any icons) you can't do anything. Nothing to click on without the tool bar or icons.

BTW... right mouse button does not bring up a menu.

[Norm]

Use a win98 startup floppy, allow cd support when asked.

Once you get to the a:> prompt the line above it will tell you the drive letter of your CDRom.

type: x:\setup

Where x: is the letter of the CDRom

[MadDoctor]

Thanks Norm. Tried 44 times and failed each time. I finally went to a reformat. My daughter is not happy. She was shooting for a new machine.