How can I boot from the cd-rom drive?

[SonKun]

My friends computer doesent have enough ram to use XP so I am trying to install 98se. So Im trying to boot from the cd rom drive. I have done this befor but not on this old of computer. I get the options "boot from A,C) I can chang it to C,A but im not shure if this is right?

[Craig Tucker]

You need to go into the bios and select the CD drive as the first boot device. If it is a really old pc and this option isn't in the bios you may be able to update it, check on the motherboard manufacturers website for possible bios updates.

[SonKun]

That isnt an option. I cant log onto the computer. The two HDDs That are in the computer are an 8gb (master) and a 20gb (slave) these were given to me and there was somthing wrong with the OS on the drives. So what I want to do is delete everything on both drives then install windows 98se and start from scrach. I cant log onto windows because there are to many windows files missing from the drive to boot.

[mysticgohan17]

bootdisk.com get a bootdisk (floppy) of the operating system you're trying to update from and put the Windoze 98se cd and the floppy at the same time, this is the way i reinstall windows when my PCs fall from perfection

[colday]

The Windows 98 disks are not bootable! You will need to go the bootdisk method. If the drives were NTFS, then you will need to run fdisk, and delete the partitions, then format & install.

You will most likely need a bootdisk that has generic CD drivers, or you will not be able to access the CD drive.

I just went though this with one of our union computers. I've been in NT land for so long, I forgot how to use fdisk! I would spell it out for you, but, I just mungled my way through it! :P

[Craig Tucker]

Coldplay
My windows 98se disk is bootable.

Sonkun
You dont need for the operating system to be operational to get into the bios and make the CD drive the first boot device. With most bios's you press either del or F1 after turning the PC on.

[colday]

My windows 98se disk is bootable.

Well blow me down! So is my 98se! All these years & I never discovered that. I've been in NT land to long!

But, my "Me" disk is not... Go figure. Then, it is an upgrade, but so is my WinXP Pro & Home, and my Win2k, and they all are bootable.

Oh well, I'll go home now! 8)

*It is not THAT cold up here!*

[loveturtleozark]

Win 98SE and Win ME disks are bootable if you are talking about the floppies for bootdisk and both have generic cdrom drivers
I still havent figured out how to make a boot floppy for xp

[vitualis]

No, we're taking about bootable CD-ROMs.

I don't have a WinME disc but my Win98SE CD is bootable as well (as is my WinXP).

You can make a bootable floppy under WinXP by formatting a floppy and clicking on the transfer system box... However, this is much less useful under WinXP, especially if you use NTFS as you won't be able to access the HDD.

Realistically, a CD drive that you can boot off (which should be ALL PCs that even have a chance of running WinXP) is a must. If you really screw up your PC, you can boot off the WinXP CD and use the "Recovery Console".

Regards.