Computer will not boot from cd - bios/cmos is correct

  • Thread starter Thread starter dynamo52
  • Start date Start date
D

dynamo52

I am fixing a P4 pc whose WIN2K install has been badly damaged. From
within the OS, 2 cd drives are visible but neither will read a cd.
Both drives appear in the cmos and i have set the cd-rom to be the
first boot device but it still loads into Windows when I insert a
bootable cd (I've tried Knoppix, Ultimate Boot, etc). I tried
replacing the IDE cables and installed a different cd drive but get the
same results. I have loaded setup defaults and there are no conflicts.

Ideas anybody???
 
Start by going to the mb manufacturer's website and see if there is a newer
bios version. This has happened to me before with an Abit mb. I went through
five different bios versions until the very last one they put out before it
would actually allow booting from the CD-ROM. Of course make sure the first
boot device is the CD-ROM.
 
I am fixing a P4 pc whose WIN2K install has been badly damaged. From
within the OS, 2 cd drives are visible but neither will read a cd.
Both drives appear in the cmos and i have set the cd-rom to be the
first boot device but it still loads into Windows when I insert a
bootable cd (I've tried Knoppix, Ultimate Boot, etc). I tried
replacing the IDE cables and installed a different cd drive but get the
same results. I have loaded setup defaults and there are no conflicts.
Click to expand...


I've worked on a number of machines that will only boot from the cd if it's
setup as master.

try with just one cd-rom and set it to master
 
When I installed the new cd, I installed it as secondary master with no
slave and as the only cd drive
 
Have you attempted to use a different CD-ROM drive. Your first post
mentioned that neither CD-ROM drive would read a CD within Windows.
From within the OS, 2 cd drives are visible but neither will read a cd.
Click to expand...

Can either of these drives read CDs?

For the heck of it you might try a Win98 floppy boot disk just to see if
loading the drivers for CD-ROM drives would allow either of these to read
CD-ROM disks.

Jan Alter
(e-mail address removed)
or
(e-mail address removed)12.pa.us
 
Yes, I disconnected both of the original CD-ROM drives and connected a
different one as secondary master w/ no slave but with the same
results. The drive is recognized in POST but it does recognize any cd
in the drive. The same is true in the OS. This is with any CD-ROM
installed. Also, USB devices are not recognized although the
controllers (and everything else) appear fine in the device manager.
 
I am fixing a P4 pc whose WIN2K install has been badly damaged. From
within the OS, 2 cd drives are visible but neither will read a cd.
Both drives appear in the cmos and i have set the cd-rom to be the
first boot device but it still loads into Windows when I insert a
bootable cd (I've tried Knoppix, Ultimate Boot, etc). I tried
replacing the IDE cables and installed a different cd drive but get the
same results. I have loaded setup defaults and there are no conflicts.

Ideas anybody???
Click to expand...

Upper and lower filters. It's a fairly common issue.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=270008
 
I do not believe that this in the OS. It seems to be a motherboard or
BIOS issue as it cannot boot from the cd drive. Even so, I checked the
KB article and removed the lower filters value, (there was no upper
filtes key). Same problem. Also, it is not that I cannot see the
drives or the drivers appear to not be installed, it is that niether
the bios or the os wll recognize when a cd is inserted in the drive.
Another, possibly related symptom is that USB devices are not
recognized even though the controllers appear to be fine.

I do, however, appreciate all responses.
 
I suggest that you try the Win98 floppy start up disk. If you don't get
access to a CD-ROM drive with it then I'd guess confidently that one or more
IDE controllers are shot. I would also try switching IDE connectors with
your hdd for a CD-ROM and see what occurs.
 
I do not have a Win98 disk. I did try installing a cd drive as slave
on the primary contrller though and same results. Can the motherboard
fail in such a way as to make this happen or am I missing something in
cmos?
 
If you'd like to make a Win98 startup disk you can download it at
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and make one onto a floppy.

As I said before if you don't get the ability to access your CD-ROM drive
after you use the startup disk then I would suggest there's something wrong
with the IDE controller (s) on that mb. I also mentioned that you should try
switching controllers with you r current hdd to the CD-ROM you're using.
 
Jan said:
If you'd like to make a Win98 startup disk you can download it at
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and make one onto a floppy.

As I said before if you don't get the ability to access your CD-ROM drive
after you use the startup disk then I would suggest there's something wrong
with the IDE controller (s) on that mb. I also mentioned that you should try
switching controllers with you r current hdd to the CD-ROM you're using.
Click to expand...

Have you tried a different IDE cable?
 
Thanks for all the help and that is a great site, but I scrapped the
motherboard before I read your last post. Maybe I'll try getting it to
work another time.
 
Back
Top