[Tony03]

G'day,


I've tried to reformat my hard drive using the XP Home edition CD, which I currently have installed. However, when I boot, I get the message at the bottom of the screen:

Boot from CD:

Press Any Key to Boot from CD....

I press all the keys but nothing happens. Ive tried many times. Also, Ive gone into BIOS and listed my primary, seconday and third boot as CDROM, but it still loads Windows normally. Maybe because I have two CD Drives? I dont know. Its very frustrating and I really need a reformat.

I would greatly appreciate some help with this issue. Thanks.


Tony

 

[guitar]

you don't need the cd if you can see the drive you want to format in my computer just right click and press format

 

[norton850]

Well you can't format your boot drive from within Windows of course
As long as you have the system set to boot from the right CD drive have you tried cleaning the Windows CD?

 

[Tony03]

Even if I wont to completely clean my C Drive and install new XP, I dont need the CD?

Because there are a fair few viruses and all that jazz on the computer, so I want it wiped clean.

 

[ozrom1e]

you don't need the cd if you can see the drive you want to format in my computer just right click and press format

This for sure will not work. When you are in Windows you can not format the boot drive.

The Windows install cd is it a copy of Windows you are using or a legal version disk from either Microsoft or a manufacturer like Compaq, Dell etc?

 

[Tony03]

Yeh its a completely legit disk, I bought it back in 2002.

And i wiped the disk down (cleaned it?) but it still wont do anything when i press any key.

 

[norton850]

We posted at the same time so just to clarify, you can't format your boot HD from within Windows. Understandably Windows will object to that. So yes you do need the CD.

 

[Tony03]

Yeah that's right.

But the problem is, when it gets to the start up screen -

Boot from CD....Press Any Key to Boot from CD

It just loads normally to Windows, even though Ive press all the keys on the keyboard.

 

[ozrom1e]

What kind of keyboard do you have USB or regular?

 

[Tony03]

Oh Oz man your a living legend...

Yeah Ive got a USB keyboard, which allowed me to get into BIOS but not the reformat. On your post I chucked in an old keyboard and its worked.

Awesome. Thanks for all the help and the quick replies fellas. Cheers and have a Great New Year.


Tony

 

[guitar]

oops i didn't think it was the boot drive