Can't boot from CDROM, why ? help please

[MSNY]

Using Adaptec 3.5 software I burned a CDROM bootdisk as per these instructions from the manual:

To make a bootable CD, follow these steps:

1 Insert the source bootable floppy disk into your floppy disk drive.

2 Select CD Layout Properties from the File menu.

3 Click the Data Settings tab.

4 Select the ISO 9660 from the File System option.

5 Select Bootable CD-ROM.

6 Follow the procedures in How to Make a Data CD.

When Easy CD Creator begins writing files and folders to your blank CD, two files are at the root directory of your CD layout: BOOTCAT.CIN and BOOTIMG.BIM.

I then added all of files from my Windows98 SE boot floppy also, and burned the disk. I then rebooted and changed the CMOS boot order to CDROM,C,A and saved it. On restarting, with the CDROM in either drive it does NOT boot up, instead it goes to my c: drive. What did I miss here ? Any ideas on why I can't boot from either CDROM ? I'm a newbie to CD burners so please be gentle. Thanks all !

System:
P3-650
Creative GeForce DDR
Abit BX6-R2
30 gig Maxtor (ATA-100), setup as master 1st channel
8.4 gig WD,setup as slave 1st channel
HP 9310i, 10x4x32 CD-RW, setup as slave on 2nd channel
Creative 48X CDROM, setup as master on 2nd channel
Aureal Sound Vortox 2
128 megs ram

 

[SUOrangeman]

Have you tried booting the floppy. Something may be corrupt on it.

For all intents and purposes, it looks you've done everything else right.

-SUO

 

[digitalman]

even though you did switch the order in your bios, check that it is working by putting in a different disk that is bootable. if it works you know that it is something about your cd-r. if it doesn't work you should check your bios
bm

 

[moregolf]

Many probs with Adaptec software. May want to try Nero. Far better and NO coasters...

 

[abracadabra1]

make sure the you have boot other device (or something of that nature) activated in the bios

hope that helps..

 

[MSNY]

Thanks all for your replies. Well, the floppy boot disk works fine by itself in A: drive. All the files got copied to the CDROM also. Not sure the problem here, maybe I'll give Nero a try and see if it's the Adaptec software. I have another burner at work, so I will try it there also.

Thanks for all your replies !

 

[Fumiup]

You can't boot a windows CD-Rom because it needs to be able to write to the boot device in order to boot. It's not your software, it's windows.

 

[kw7]

I don't think so, I's made a CD bootable in DOS...

Anyway, where did you put your CD?? I believe you need to put the CD in your Creative CD-Rom drive, since you set that one on master. If this doesn't work try to switch one of the CD-Roms to primary IDE channel and use that to boot again.

 

[MSNY]

Nope, the bootable CD disk does not work in either CDROM drive.

Fumiup...
You CAN boot from a CDROM just like a win98 boot disk...there is no difference except in my case I think the BIOS is not "seeing" the CDROM drives for some reason as the primary boot device. Dunno ??

Still can't get it to work...

Anyone else ????

 

[Mal007colm]

Are you trying a clean install on a new system. If so I am having the same problem. Let me follow this thread. Help!!!!!!

 

[rahvin]

Are you putting in the boot disk when it asks or are you manually copying the files yourself?

 

[MSNY]

rahvin..

It prompts me for the boot disk. It then copies 2 files ending in .bin. I manually copied over the rest of the boot disk.

Docs outline this as correct procedure...

 

[rahvin]

I never had to copy anything over manually myself. Got me stumped...

 

[JeSpre]

Well, my MicroStar MS-6119 supported the boot from CDROM option just the same way that you had to select yours, but it never worked. I had 3 devices (DVD, CDROM, recorder), and it wouldn't boot from any of them no matter what. I would find a pressed CD that you know is bootable, like Win98 first version. The point is that it may not be a software problem. It wasn't for me anyway, because the same setup with an ASUS CUSL2 boots fine.

 

[Mal007colm]

Well I got mine to work I used a boot disk which gave me a prompt. I then used some dos commands from a buddy and ran the setup from the CD-rom.