cant re-install windows

[rich291279]

hi
can anyone help me! i had a problem with my pc so i just bought a new windows xp pro service pack 2 OEM. the problem i have is that my bios is set to first boot: cd-rom, 2nd boot: hdd, 3rd boot: cd-rom!
now when the system starts it says press any key to boot from disc. but when i press a key it just stays on that screen with the cursor still blinking but nothing else happens! i ihave even tried a windows 98 disc but that comes up with NTLDR missing!
im so stuck cos i spent money out and now cant get it to work!
please if anyone has has any idea at all i would be grateful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks rich

[rojash]

Your post is not very clear.
I can't work out if you mean that you've installed the OS and can't boot from the HDD, or if you can't boot from the CD to install the OS.

If the latter, then when it says "Press any key to boot from disk", don't press a key, and it should then boot from the CD and run the Windows Setup.

[VHG]

If your PC already had Windows on it why did you go out and buy another one?

You've paid for it once when you bought the PC so why pay for it again.

You could have used the existing serial number on the sticker on your case and reinstalled from any Windows XP disk.

Anyway, how long do you wait on the blinking cursor after pressing the key to continue ?

The computer may be checking things so make sure you wait for a while (it may be doing a disk check if maybe there are errors on the disk). Wait at least 30 minutes.

It may be worth going into your BIOS and making sure first boot is CD-ROM, second is hard disk, and set third and any others to nothing.

[ChuckFickens]

as you seem to have 2 cd drives in your system swap the boot order so the other one is number one and try booting from that one instead.

[VHG]

After reading rojash append I see what he means.

Have you done a successful install of XP from this new disk?

If so remove the Windows CD from the drive and it should now boot from the hard disk.

Or have your NOT done a new install yet and this is the first install from the new Windows disk?

[rojash]

Also, with some BIOSs in order to boot from CD, you have to not only set the boot order, but also have to enable "Boot from other devices", so it might be worth checking if you have this option in the BIOS.

[rojash]

Blimey! It's busy in 'ere ain't it?

[ChuckFickens]

well we may as well give Rich something to read :)

[ACtheTROLL]

is it a SATA HDD?

if yes - you possibly need to load the drivers fom a floppy

unless in the bios under sata ther is an ide compatibility mode

alternatively two fat32 partitions - copy the i386 filder to second partition

use winnt.exe to install to partn 1

[rich291279]

ac the troll how can i get that on a floppy?