problem booting pc from xp sp2 cd

[Mrspoppins]

Why can't I boot my pc from a microsoft supplied CD of XP SP2, I have changed the BIOS to access the CD-rom first but with no effect. TIA.

[VHG]

When you say "with no effect" what actually happens?

Assuming you have set the CD drive to boot before he hard disk, then it SHOULD work (if the CD is already in the drive when the computer starts up).

It should display a message on the screen saying "press any key to boot from CD"

Do you get his message? If so what happsn when you press a key on the keyboard?

Is the supplied "CD" actually a DVD? If so can your CD drive cope with DVDs?

[wildwood]

Another thought.... Is this not an CD with only ServicePack2 that can only be installed AFTER the XP OS has been installed? The SP2 is only an addition to Windows, not an actual program.

[rojash]

Also with some BIOSs there is an additional option in the setup "Boot from other devices". If your BIOS has this option, it needs to be enabled to boot from CD, even if the CD drive is listed as the first boot device.

[VHG]

>Is this not an CD with only ServicePack2

Good point, reading the question that is a good possibility.

The CD might have Service Pack ONLY on it, not the full version of Windows.

Poster - Are you trying to install Windows XP, or just the service pack?

[Mrspoppins]

Thanks for all your interest. The CD only contains SP2 as you suggest. I am actually trying to do a repair installation of XP in order to remove a corrupt installation of netgear wireless adaptor software, using (up to now) advice from About.com. I am not getting a message to say to press any key to boot from CD, but I need to check if there is an additional option in the BIOS to boot from other devices. Once again, Many thanks for your responses!

[rojash]

Mrspoppins, I think you are perhaps missing the point. If the CD contains ONLY service pack two (and not Windows XP WITH service pack two), it won't be a bootable CD, and you can't use it to repair your system.

[TTG]

Bit of a drastic measure. Why not uninstall the netgear wireless adaptor software and reinstall it?