Trouble Installing Windows

[Mr.Coleman2u]

Ok i have a situation..
I can't install windows 2000..windows xp and my computer won't boot from my cd in order to use my compaq restore cd.
I wanted to remove my windows xp and install windows 2000
in order to do that i had to remove xp off my system because I was
getting a message saying I already had a hire version of windows.

So i made a boot disk and cleared the space off my hard drive I thought i deleted my C drive but its still on there.

So when i boot up I get the message "no operating system found on any devices" but I can run my bootdisk with cd rom support and I try to
run the setup command for windows 2000 or xp and i'll get the message "cannot run in dos".

So my problem is this..I want to install at this point ANY operating system on my computer but I need BIOS to recognize my cd drive which it doesn't. I actually installed a new dvd/rw as my priority drive....but it didnt come with any drivers but its recognized in dos..but not in BIOS...frustrating.

 

[NeoExtreme]

Is the your CD-Rom reconized in the BIOS at all?Did you try changing the boot order in the BIOS?

 

[Mr.Coleman2u]

no BIOS does not recognize my drive at all and if it did I would have changed the boot order.

 

[ImUseless]

Get yourself a Win98 or WinME bootdisk, either with CDROM support
and boot to a flashing a: prompt. I like WinME because you get a
newer version of FDisk-yes I like using Fdisk.

The boot Disk will tell you what the drive letter of your new cdrom
will be.

Put the W2K CD in your cdrom drive.

Do a cd f: (for Change Directory)-replace f: with whatever the drive
letter is for your cdrom drive provided by the bootdisk. Lets say it is G
type cd g: and hit enter

Type setup or find the setup.exe file and hit enter.

Use the W2K disk to reformat the C drive with the system files.

I would reformat then reinstall W2K so you know W2K is going on
a fresh drive. Just MO...........

If you feel comfortable with FDisk do a format c: /s to format the
C drive with the system files and when done reboot and you should
reboot to a flashing c: prompt.

After you reformatted with FDisk or the W2K CD and you can reboot
to a flashing crompt put the W2K disk in your cdrom drive, change directory cd g: and hit enter and run setup. Or if you still dont have a
cdrom yet, reboot again with your bootdisk but only for a cdrom drive
letter and not a reformat, put W2K disk in cdrom drive and run setup to install W2K.

 

[ImUseless]

www.bootdisk.com for bootdisk.

Im not sure whats up with the smiley face. Says c: prompt

MO is "My Opinion".

 

[Mr.Coleman2u]

ok let me get this straight

1. I have a Win98 boot disk it gives me cd rom support with the drive lettered E.

2. type cd e: for change directory and then run setup...which for me doesnt run in dos but i shall try again..

3. use win2k assuming setup works to copy my system files to my c drive...how do i do that?


4. format my c drive? then install win2k? im not following.
I thought by running setup I would be installing win2k

 

[ImUseless]

OK, Lets forget reformatting first and simply install W2K.

1.Put Win98 Bootdisk in floppy drive and reboot. This will give
you drive letter E: for your cdrom drive. Make sure you are booting
with floppy seek enabled so it will allow the bootdisk to boot into
memory. Make sure you see/hear the floppy working and loading the
bootdisk.

2.After booting w/ W98 bootdisk put your W2K CD in your cdrom drive.

3.Type cd e: and hit enter.

4.Type setup.exe and hit enter.

5.The install process should begin.

Ignore 3 and 4 in your post.

Make sure you have CDROM support with your bootdisk. To make sure
you are reading from your cdrom type dir and hit enter with a cd in your
drive and you should be able to see folders and files.

 

[ImUseless]

I hope you have a FULL install cd for W2K or Win XP because
that restore cd wont work for us here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need to be working with a CD that installs a full version of
the OS and not an upgrade or a system restore disk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ShadowFalls]

umm did you set your boot order in bios to the cd drive first... then you can boot from cd. If your system does not have this option in there (most do) then that system must be really old.

 

[EricB]

I hope you have a FULL install cd for W2K or Win XP because
that restore cd wont work for us here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need to be working with a CD that installs a full version of
the OS and not an upgrade or a system restore disk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

an upgrade disc is a full disk. you just need another disk to verify that you had a previous OS