Cannot Format PC. Getting Error.

[Coldkilla]

I buy a new HDD and WindowsXP disc. (Last HDD failed). I insert the CD and get this:

Boot From CD:
DISK BOOT FAILURE. INSERT SYSTEM DISK TO CONTINUE.
(along those lines)

Why am I getting this? I thought it would work. I don't understand it. Best Buy wants $200 dollars to fix and I think I've formatted enough PC's in my day to figure this out but now I'm stumped.

I set it to load from CD Drive First. Didn't work.
I disabled loading HDD @ Startup. Nothing.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well if you don't set it to load from the cd before the hdd then you'll never install anything. There's also the possibility that you have another hardware problem, ie your optical drive is bad.

 

[silverpig]

If that's true then either:

1. Your cd drive isn't plugged in properly.
2. Your disk is bad (try another).

 

[Coldkilla]

I went to a friend's house and borrowed his CD. Same error. I'll try another Drive... I'll be pissed if I spend the 60 bucks on another drive, just to find out that that wasn't the issue.

 

[Coldkilla]

I just tried the XP disc's on my pc too and I'm getting a similar error... Why does this happen to me!?!! Ugh.

 

[Captante]

Assuming you double-checked all connections/configuration already:

(1) You have a bad XP CD

(2) You have a bad optical drive (although since you say it happens on your PC as well, I think #1 is more likely)