How to make CD bootable in XP Professional?

  • Thread starter Thread starter A.Melon
  • Start date Start date
A

A.Melon

I downloaded Acronis True Image and made a bootable CD as per their
program.

However, I have no idea if my CD driver is capable of booting the
computer.

The computer is a new Dell w/XP Pro. Dell no longer gives out a copy of
the OS with the machine, so I have no idea if my computer is capable of
booting from any other CD.

How do I find out if it is? I don't want to sit around with a
"bootable" disk that my computer cannot use.

(Yes, I've searched Google, but I don't understand a damn word of those
articles on the subject.)

~
 
I downloaded Acronis True Image and
made a bootable CD as per their program.
Click to expand...
However, I have no idea if my CD driver
is capable of booting the computer.
Click to expand...

Presumably you mean CD drive.
The computer is a new Dell w/XP Pro. Dell no longer
gives out a copy of the OS with the machine, so I have no
idea if my computer is capable of booting from any other CD.
Click to expand...

Corse it is.
How do I find out if it is?
Click to expand...

Try booting off it, silly.
I don't want to sit around with a "bootable"
disk that my computer cannot use.
Click to expand...
(Yes, I've searched Google, but I don't understand
a damn word of those articles on the subject.)
Click to expand...

Even you should be able to manage a more
viable troll than that pathetic effort, child.
 
I downloaded Acronis True Image and made a bootable CD as per their
program.

However, I have no idea if my CD driver is capable of booting the
computer.

The computer is a new Dell w/XP Pro. Dell no longer gives out a copy of
the OS with the machine, so I have no idea if my computer is capable of
booting from any other CD.

How do I find out if it is? I don't want to sit around with a
"bootable" disk that my computer cannot use.

(Yes, I've searched Google, but I don't understand a damn word of those
articles on the subject.)
Click to expand...

Did you get ANY CDs with your Dell?
BTW, which Dell model do you have?
 
Did you get ANY CDs with your Dell?
BTW, which Dell model do you have?
Click to expand...

I did get various discs that are for reinstalling the modem, scanner,
etc. None say anything about XP Pro.

I read in another group that Dell has the OS in a hidden file. The
poster said that Dell told him that if his HD went down, he would have
to order another drive from Dell, and they would put the OS on it for
him.

This is really ridiculous when they do not supply such a crucial
necessity as a copy of the OS. Of course, it's the fault of the greedy
bastard in Redmond.

I have a Dell 8400 w/XP Pro on it.

By the way, I did put the bootable CD in the drive and it did not boot
the computer. The computer booted as usual from the C: drive.

This is *really* ridiculous.

Acronis gives the option of placing the bootable files on 17 floppies.
Yeah, I *really* want to do that.
 
Nomen Nescio said:
I did get various discs that are for reinstalling the modem, scanner,
etc. None say anything about XP Pro.

I read in another group that Dell has the OS in a hidden file. The
poster said that Dell told him that if his HD went down, he would have
to order another drive from Dell, and they would put the OS on it for
him.

This is really ridiculous when they do not supply such a crucial
necessity as a copy of the OS. Of course, it's the fault of the greedy
bastard in Redmond.

I have a Dell 8400 w/XP Pro on it.

By the way, I did put the bootable CD in the drive and it did not boot
the computer. The computer booted as usual from the C: drive.
Click to expand...

You just need to include the CD drive in the boot sequence in the bios.
This is *really* ridiculous.
Nope.

Acronis gives the option of placing the bootable files on 17 floppies.
Yeah, I *really* want to do that.
Click to expand...

No need except when you dont have a CD drive.
 
Peter said:
I did get various discs that are for reinstalling the modem, scanner,
etc. None say anything about XP Pro.

I read in another group that Dell has the OS in a hidden file. The
poster said that Dell told him that if his HD went down, he would have
to order another drive from Dell, and they would put the OS on it for
him.

This is really ridiculous when they do not supply such a crucial
necessity as a copy of the OS. Of course, it's the fault of the greedy
bastard in Redmond.

I have a Dell 8400 w/XP Pro on it.

By the way, I did put the bootable CD in the drive and it did not boot
the computer. The computer booted as usual from the C: drive.

This is *really* ridiculous.

Acronis gives the option of placing the bootable files on 17 floppies.
Yeah, I *really* want to do that.
Click to expand...

Method 1:
---------------------
When your computer boots up press F12
Select CD ROM to boot from

Method 2:
---------------------
When your computer boots up press F2
Check what settings you have in Drives section,
do you see CD ROM there?
If not, change appropriate value.
If yes, check Boot Sequence section. Is CD-ROM listed
above Hard Drive? If not, change sequence.

read pages 111-117 on:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/en/om/U70350LRs.pdf
 
This is really ridiculous when they do not supply such a crucial
necessity as a copy of the OS. Of course, it's the fault of the greedy
bastard in Redmond.
Click to expand...

Microsoft is responsible for Dell's faults?

Really funny, thanks :)
 
Nomen said:
I did get various discs that are for reinstalling the modem, scanner,
etc. None say anything about XP Pro.
Click to expand...

Hmm... I just had a "friend" (actually a hot woman) ask me to help
her fix (read: wipe and reinstall) her Dell. I was wanting to do
her^H^H^Hit, but it looks like I may not be able to, eh?
 
U have to get into ur setup through the bios.
First , if ur switched off , switch on comp and press F2 u should see a
page that will tell u how to do this . If its not F2 then try F8.
If this doesnt help email me and ill try to help more

Rgards Steve (turk2045.)
(e-mail address removed)
 
Microsoft is responsible for Dell's faults?

Really funny, thanks :)

--
Maxim Shatskih, Windows DDK MVP
StorageCraft Corporation
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.storagecraft.com
Click to expand...

My understanding from posts around Usenet is the MS put pressure on the
companies to not give copies of the OS with their computers. It hurts
Redmond's business. Dell was one of the last to cave on this subject.

Also, Dell is in a much more highly competitive situation than is MS.
Where else is one going to get Windows of any kind except from MS?

MS is a master at cheating customers with crapware. Their faulty OS,
full of holes and conflicts. is sold for a ridiculous amount of money.
The try their best to screw you out of its use even after you've bought
by restrictive access to its use in order for them not to lose a dime
through piracy.

Finally, it is not *really* funny. It's not funny in the slightest.
 
Method 1:
---------------------
When your computer boots up press F12
Select CD ROM to boot from

Method 2:
---------------------
When your computer boots up press F2
Check what settings you have in Drives section,
do you see CD ROM there?
If not, change appropriate value.
If yes, check Boot Sequence section. Is CD-ROM listed
above Hard Drive? If not, change sequence.

read pages 111-117 on:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/en/om/U70350LRs.pdf
Click to expand...

From what I saw when using the F12 key, the sequence in which the
machine looks through is:

1. Floppy
2. SATA C: drive
3. IDE C: drive
4. CD-ROM

If this is the case, why should I worry about changing it?

If I'm understanding this, if it does not find an OS on any of the
first three, it will go to the CD drive. Or am I misunderstanding this?

By the way, thanks for sticking with me through my ignorance. I do
appreciate your patience.
 
MS is a master at cheating customers with crapware. Their faulty OS,
full of holes and conflicts.
Click to expand...

No conflicts at all, best security patch distribution policy, best usability,
best hardware support, no architectural holes (only bugs due to developer's
attention problem), best development tools etc.
 
Method 1:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/en/om/U70350LRs.pdf

From what I saw when using the F12 key, the sequence in which the
machine looks through is:

1. Floppy
2. SATA C: drive
3. IDE C: drive
4. CD-ROM

If this is the case, why should I worry about changing it?

If I'm understanding this, if it does not find an OS on any of the
first three, it will go to the CD drive. Or am I misunderstanding this?

By the way, thanks for sticking with me through my ignorance. I do
appreciate your patience.
Click to expand...

The purpose of using F12 is to see a SELECTION list from which
you can choose how to perform a CURRENT BOOT ONLY,
not to see a boot sequence order.

Boot order you can see/change after hitting F2 (System Setup) and
selecting a Boot Sequence menu option.

What your Boot Sequence says?
 
Nomen Nescio said:
From what I saw when using the F12 key, the sequence in which the
machine looks through is:

1. Floppy
2. SATA C: drive
3. IDE C: drive
4. CD-ROM
Click to expand...
If this is the case, why should I worry about changing it?
Click to expand...

Because it wont boot off the CD unless none
that are higher in the list are bootable.
If I'm understanding this, if it does not find an OS on any of the
first three, it will go to the CD drive. Or am I misunderstanding this?
Click to expand...

Thats correct, but that is an unusual situation with a system
thats been used at all, so it will never boot off the CD.
 
My understanding from posts around Usenet is the MS
put pressure on the companies to not give copies of the
OS with their computers. It hurts Redmond's business.
Click to expand...

That's a lie.
Dell was one of the last to cave on this subject.
Click to expand...

Dell chose to do it like that for THEIR convenience.
Also, Dell is in a much more highly competitive situation than is MS.
Where else is one going to get Windows of any kind except from MS?
Click to expand...
MS is a master at cheating customers with crapware.
Click to expand...

Fools like you love any silly conspiracy theory going.
Their faulty OS, full of holes and conflicts.
Click to expand...

No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use it.
is sold for a ridiculous amount of money.
Click to expand...

No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use it.
The try their best to screw you out of its use even
after you've bought by restrictive access to its use
in order for them not to lose a dime through piracy.
Click to expand...

No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use it.
Finally, it is not *really* funny. It's not funny in the slightest.
Click to expand...

No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use it.
 
What Dell used to do was have a ghost image of the original
installation C: drive in a hidden partition of the hard disc. If you
screwed the C: drive, you could restore the original setup from this
image. Because of this, they did not provide an OS disc.

Same applies to IBM - I have a T22 laptop and IBM told me I could not
hav a copy of the OS on disc if this image resided on the hard drive
because this would require TWO licences for the OS, i.e. MS was saying
I had two copies. So I reformatted the hard drive wiping all
partitions, installed Linux and then IBM mailed me the OS disc !!!!!

IIRC if you hit F12 at boot up, you get a list of devices you can boot
from - you can select any device from this list by hitting the number
beside it. This works just for that boot. The permanent (alterable)
boot order is stored in the BIOS.
 
chrisv said:
Hmm... I just had a "friend" (actually a hot woman) ask me to help
her fix (read: wipe and reinstall) her Dell. I was wanting to do
her^H^H^Hit, but it looks like I may not be able to, eh?
Click to expand...

Update: Her cheap Dell*, bought about a year ago, does indeed have
the XP disk included.

*What a wretched machine. Celeron 2.0, 15" CRT, and only 128M of DDR!
Why do people buy computers without consulting someone who has a clue
first?

Anyway, I'm going to bump her up to 512M, throw-in a Northwood 2.2
that I had collecting dust, and do the fresh XP install. I think
she'll be amazed at the improvement. 8)
 
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