Cannot boot from CD using dual boot config

[Sumotku]

I was adjusting the page file on the xp64 partition, rebooting, and found I was unable to boot successfully. I tried about a dozen times, trying Safe Mode, Last Known Good Configuration, etc. - boot up begins, but goes black and sits for as long as I care to watch a black screen.
Next I put the XP64 install disc in (the same drive that was used to install it in the first place 9 months ago) and tried to boot off that to repair that installation. No go. Checked bios for boot priority to include CD first, as well as 'boot other:enabled". Nada. In fact, I never even get the option to boot off the cd, just the usual dual OS boot choices. The XP32 boots fine throughout. Any ideas on how to regain the ability to boot off a CD? I'm wondering if a switch could be added to the working OS's boot.ini to force an extra choice into the list. Open to suggestions. Thanks all.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Change the boot order in the bios. Make the optical drive the first boot device. Watch the post screen as it will count 5 seconds with the prompt to boot from cd by hitting any key.

 

[igibson]

Will it boot from any CD? If it's just that CD, burn a copy of it.

Occasionally I've had trouble with original Windows CDs, and there's nothing wrong with a copy as long as you keep it and the original.

 

[Sumotku]

As noted above, "Checked bios for boot priority to include CD first, as well as 'boot other:enabled", so that's not it. I tried other XP discs of various types and nothing there either. I'm going to try recovering just that partition from an old clone in hopes of getting to a good restarting point. Wish me luck, I've never tried Acronis for partition to partition cloning.

Edit: Acronis successfully restored just that partition off a backup clone - phew.