Will this Work!? (new pc...)

[rob_f]

Installing Xp home onto a machine i've just put together. It won't boot from CD, and the machine doesn't have a FDD. Is it possible to put the Hard drive into my pc, load Win XP then pop it back into new pc, then solve the problem later?

Thanks,
Rob.

[Plotloss]

Is the CD not bootable or is the CD drive not in the list of bootable devices?

[Muncher]

Not really a good idea, instead copy the CD contents to a folder on the hard disk. Then create a bootable CD to get to a DOS prompt and install from the hard disk.

[rob_f]

1)It loads Nvidea boot manager
2)The Cd rom drive spins up
3)Media device failed, Check cable (or something like that)

The cable looks fine, and it's a small form factor pc so i can't test the cable. If it was knackered though i wouldn't expct it to be able to detect the CD at all. :/

Cheers,
Rob.

[rob_f]

It seems this boot manager thing loads whether a CD is in the drive or not... Weird....

Rob.

[Plotloss]

Enter the BIOS see which devices are in the boot sequence, it should be:

1) CD-ROM
2) HDD-0

[rob_f]

Okay guys, i stuck a screw through the IDE cable. Now, this is going to be interesting trying to replace this. Still, i know what the problem is now!

Thanks all,
Rob.

[Plotloss]

If its an IDE cable they should be two a penny...

[rob_f]

Ahh, but it's one of those little cases with the cables routed around the inside of the case, so it's a little tricker. Not impossible though. I just pinched the very edge of the cable so you can see bare metal. Infact if i give it a little wiggle it works so i think it may have been just shorting out. In which case i'll just tape it up. Not sure if the wires inside the cable are touching sometimes though.

Thanks for the help though plotloss

Rob.

[BliarOut]

And I bet you were swearing at Mickeysoft too

[Plotloss]

If its an IDE at both ends and you dont mind the cable being squeezed where it will fit, it'll work.