Can't boot from CD, can't boot from floppy... what to do?

[Superwormy]

Was hoping someone could help clear the following up for me... all I wanna do is install WinNT Workstation :-(


Ok, I have a cleanly formatted HD in a computer.

As subject says, the system won't boot from any bootable CD-ROM I have (Win2k, 98, 98SE... no luck at all) well actually, 98 gives me the first menu, but when I choose 'Boot From CD-ROM' on the first Win98 menu, it just blackscreens and stays like that forever.

Anyway, to continue, I also don't have a floppy drive, so I can't boot from that either.



I know that I can copy all the neccessary files for the Windows NT installation to the HD by throwing it in another computer for a little, but how can I make the computer run the WinNT install program...??? Is there a way I make that HD at least a little bit bootable so I can install WinNT? Did all that make sense?

 

[DaiShan]

when you tell the computer to boot from cd-rom how many devices do you have in the computer? (cards etc.) I'm thinking that if we can get as few devices in there as possible, you might be able to just boot up in that machine. If not I believe you can copy the cabs over to the other hard drive on another machine, then boot from hard disk. (correct me if I am wrong, I have never had to do it this way)

 

[DaiShan]

and oh btw, getting a floppy would make your life a lot easier

 

[Superwormy]

Alriiiight... whateva....

It's a computer full of cards with just one HD... but I dont' see how that matters...


My questoin was HOW TO BOOT FROM HARD DISK, if there is not operating system installed... you get a nice 'operating system not found' message if you try to boot with just data on the drive....

 

[DaiShan]

number of devices do matter, on startup the computer pings every device in your machine, this takes time, and memory, and potentially conflicts, it is always best to start with just minimal cards in your machine, also you stated you get an error if you try to boot with just data on the drive, did you format before trying to install windows? as for your other question I gave you what I know about how to do it. and if I am wrong, I am sure another of the AT guys will correct me, and you will be on your merry way.

 

[thaneboy]

Why don't u make a bootable cd from your's friends place ?.If you want a bootable ISO image try bootdisk.com and write it to a CD and u will be able to go to DOS mode from where u can start the winnt installation.

 

[Superwormy]

Maybe I did'n't make my question clear enough...

this computer WILL NOT boot from ANY CD-ROM

I DO NOT have a floppy drive


ANY COMPUTER WILL GIVE YOU AN ERROR IF YOU TRY AND BOOT WITH NO OS LOADED, AND ONLY DATA ON THE HD. TRY IT, YOU'LL SEE.

The computer will POST fine, but when it gets to the point when it trys to BOOT THE OS, if theres no OS installed... OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN ERROR!


IS THERE A WAY I CAN MAKE THE HD BOOTABLE SO I CAN INSTALL WINNT FROM IT? So like maybe a mini OS, maybe DOS? Is there a version of DOS I coudljust copy to the HD (by sticking it in another computer) and have that boot so I can install NT from DOS? Where can I get it?

 

[altonb1]

Okay, i think I understand your problem correctly, so I'll summarize the info below:
You have a PC without a Floppy, the CD-drive is not bootable, and your hard drive has no OS on it.


I believe you have a couple of options. Are you sure you don't have a setting in your BIOS that can enable booting from CD-Rom? I know it sounds like a silly questions, but it will save a lot of hassle of you have not checked for this. (I understand you said Win98 started to, but then crashed. It still could be a BIOS setting that needs to be tweaked)

Here is my take on how you can get this to work:

1) Take the hard drive out of your original machine and change the jumper to make it a slave. Insert it into another bootable PC, even it is doesn't have a floppy either.
2) Boot to a DOS prompt. (No reason to get into the Windows GUI) and type "SYS D:" w/o the quotes, where "D" is the drive letter assigned via the 2nd system. Since C: is already working and bootable, it SHOULD have the sys program on it to make D: bootable as well.
3) VERY IMPORTANT! You now have 2 bootable hard drives. This could cause a conflict if you attempt to restart the system with both drives in it.
4) Copy the necessary files for your original install over. If your CD drive works fine except is not bootable, make sure you copy the necessary CD dos drivers over and configure the config.sys file to recognize the CD-drive. You can also edit autoexec.bat to load mscdex if you always want the CD to be available when you boot. Otherwise, you can manually type the commands everytime you want to use it, or just create a batch file to type them automatically.
5) Shutdown 2nd system, remove hard drive, switch jumper back to original setting, and install back into original system.
6) Boot system and cross your fingers.

A confifg.sys file should look something like this:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\CDROM\AOATAPI.SYS /D:IDECD000

The command for mscdex is:
mscdex.exe /d:idecd000

IDECD000 is the driver file for the CD drive you are using.

Kind of a pain, but I think it would work. Better option, if available: If the 2nd system has a floppy drive and the original system supports it (not sure why it wouldn't), just borrow the floppy from the 2nd drive and temporarily install it to the 1st system. Boot to a floppy, and use a system disk to sys your drive.

Hope this helps! I BELIEVE either option will work.

-al-

Just re-read your original message. If you want to install WinNT and can get the data from the CD to your hard drive, you can run a command to kick off the install w/o needing the floppy and/or CD. Unfortunately, i can't remember the exact syntax, but look for the winnt.exe file. when you locate it, type winnt /? or winnt /help (not sure which) and read your options. I think there is an option to install without floppys and/or the CD. Once NT takes over with it's bootloader, you'll be set.

 

[jpucci1]

<< Maybe I did'n't make my question clear enough...

this computer WILL NOT boot from ANY CD-ROM

I DO NOT have a floppy drive


ANY COMPUTER WILL GIVE YOU AN ERROR IF YOU TRY AND BOOT WITH NO OS LOADED, AND ONLY DATA ON THE HD. TRY IT, YOU'LL SEE.

no need to get snappy, we are just tryin to help

 

[altonb1]

Been thinking about this some more. Do you have an external jaz drive? I believe you can make them bootable and if so, that will help you gain access to the drive without cracking open your case.

Also, please check your BIOS boot order. If your CD drive is not set to boot in the BIOS, that might be why you can't boot to it.

Just a few more thoughts...