Computer will fail to boot without windows cd

[infinitesadd]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Troubleshooting starter

1. Overview of the problem
   PC will not boot without windows cd in cd-rom.
   
   
2. Full description of the problem and symptoms
   I am running a 74 gig raptor SATA drive on an EPOX NF570 SLI mobo. I had to do a fresh install of windows xp in January. After installing it booted up fine. I had set my boot options correctly in bios, windows had install no problem. I went to boot up without the cd in the cd-rom drive and no dice. "DISK BOOT FAILURE. NO OPERATING SYSTEM FOUND." I reset with windows cd in the drive. Everything works great. So ever since then, I've had to boot with the cd in. The harddrive works fine otherwise.
   
   
   
3. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
   It never booted without the CD. Always got that same error during start up.
   
   
   
4. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
   100% repeatable.
   
   
   
5. I already tried these steps:
   I've tried switching the raid controllers on, even though i don't have one. The SATA drive is set to boot first, nothing works in bios to change the error.
   
   
   
6. My software:
   • 
     Windows XP Home.
     
     
     
   • My hardware
     • 
       EPOX NF570 SLI
       Athlon XP 64 X2 4200+ (overclocked to 2.55 ghz for months now)
       ATI Radeon x1950 XT
       2 gig OCZ SOE PC-667 RAM
       Thermaltake Toughpower 600W PSU
       
       

1. • 
     
     ty for any help.

 

[BigZ1981]

clear CMOS & reenter settings, but keep speeds at stock settings
if it still won't boot without CD, try ffr at stock speeds

 

[Cutthroat]

Probably your Master Boot Record is messed up. A repair install might fix it, if not you can probably fix it manually by editing your boot.ini file.

 

[infinitesadd]

I actually changed which SATA port i was plugging into. And oddly enough...that fixed it. I don't need the CD in the drive to boot into windows now.

Thank you for the responses.