switching to cd bootup?

[brian]

hello,
i am trying to re-format my desktop. i currently have windows xp sp2 on it.
i am using a wireless keyboard and mouse.
when i bootup with either a boot cd in or the windows xp install in, it goes
right to the OS. no boot from the cd happens.
i try clicking F5 and F2, etc... when booting up.
but I think the wireless might not get active untill the OS is up.
is there a way, once in the OS, you can set the bootup to start by looking
at the cd drive?
also i have 2 drives and 2 dvd drives.
so i would want to specify either drive to boot from.
thanks for any help.

 

[BigJIm]

you have to change your boot options in the bios

 

[Malke]

hello,
i am trying to re-format my desktop. i currently have windows xp sp2
on it. i am using a wireless keyboard and mouse.
when i bootup with either a boot cd in or the windows xp install in,
it goes
right to the OS. no boot from the cd happens.
i try clicking F5 and F2, etc... when booting up.
but I think the wireless might not get active untill the OS is up.
is there a way, once in the OS, you can set the bootup to start by
looking at the cd drive?
also i have 2 drives and 2 dvd drives.
so i would want to specify either drive to boot from.
thanks for any help.

With the computer turned off, attach a wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse.
Start the computer and press whatever key will get you into the BIOS
(see link below). Once in BIOS Setup, go to the entry for Boot Order
and change it to your CD drive first, hard drive second. Put the
Windows XP cd in the master CD drive. Some BIOS's don't care which CD
drive a boot CD is in and will look at both, some will only look at the
master. Save your BIOS settings and reboot the machine. Look carefully
for a prompt that says something like "to boot from CD press any key"
and do that - press any key, like Enter. The XP installation will
start.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm - Accessing the BIOS
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

Malke

 

[Yves Leclerc]

With the computer turned off, attach a wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse.
Start the computer and press whatever key will get you into the BIOS
(see link below). Once in BIOS Setup, go to the entry for Boot Order
and change it to your CD drive first, hard drive second. Put the
Windows XP cd in the master CD drive. Some BIOS's don't care which CD
drive a boot CD is in and will look at both, some will only look at the
master. Save your BIOS settings and reboot the machine. Look carefully
for a prompt that says something like "to boot from CD press any key"
and do that - press any key, like Enter. The XP installation will
start.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm - Accessing the BIOS
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

Malke

Also look for "Use USB keyboard" or 'Legacy USB" (or any other combination.)
This will allow you USB keyboard/mouse to work correctly in the BIOS screens.

 

[brian]

With the computer turned off, attach a wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse.
Start the computer and press whatever key will get you into the BIOS
(see link below). Once in BIOS Setup, go to the entry for Boot Order
and change it to your CD drive first, hard drive second. Put the
Windows XP cd in the master CD drive. Some BIOS's don't care which CD
drive a boot CD is in and will look at both, some will only look at the
master. Save your BIOS settings and reboot the machine. Look carefully
for a prompt that says something like "to boot from CD press any key"
and do that - press any key, like Enter. The XP installation will
start.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm - Accessing the BIOS
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

unfortunatally i do not have a wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse.
is there any way seting up the bios when the os is up?

 

[Guest]

Brian,

To my knowlege there isn't a way to set this within windows because you
would have to actually edit your bios to recognize your mouse and windows
cannot do that. Go out and buy a 5 - 10 dollar ps2 keyboard from walmart.
You do not need a mouse during setup so don't bother with that just the
keyboard. Then follow the others advice on how to change your bios settings
to boot from a cd before the hard disk. Good Luck.

Joe

Kemco IT Pro

 

[Guest]

To my knowlege there isn't a way to set this within windows because you

would have to actually edit your bios to recognize your mouse ...

Did not mean mouse I meant Wireless Keyboard and mouse... Sorry for any
misunderstandings...

Joe

Kemco IT Pro

 

[Malke]

unfortunatally i do not have a wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse.
is there any way seting up the bios when the os is up?

Go to the store and buy a wired keyboard and mouse. You can get a plain
old ps/2 keyboard and mouse for under $10 each. Or borrow some from a
friend.

Malke

 

[Jonny]

Wireless it meant within a windows environment. The bios setup, and the
beginning of XP's installation cannot "see" these. There is no fix or patch
as is.

Standard keyboard port and PS/2 port keyboards are seen natively. USB
keyboards can be seen if the bios setup has that option and is enabled.
Serial port mice may be seen, PS/2 port mice are seen in XP's beginning of
installation. Same with USB mice if the bios option for same is enabled in
the bios setup.

 

[Rock]

unfortunatally i do not have a wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse.
is there any way seting up the bios when the os is up?

No there isn't.