Is it true that I can't boot from drive letter E: or higher?

Sporko

Senior member
Sep 5, 2000
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I had downloaded a bootable CD to use for BIOS flashing but my two CD drives are E: and F:

Can I boot from a CD in these drives? So far I don't seem to be able to. When my computer POSTS I choose Boot Menu, select my CDrw drive, it searches for a boot record, then goes right to my C: drive and boots into Windows from there.
 

cleverhandle

Diamond Member
Dec 17, 2001
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The drive letter has nothing to do with it - the BIOS doesn't have any idea, or care, what the drive letters in the OS will be. The problem is somewhere else. Are the drives recognized properly in the BIOS? Are you certain the CD's are really bootable? Are the optical drives on the main IDE controller or on a separate controller card?
 

ScrewFace

Banned
Sep 21, 2002
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Absolutely you can. But, watch carefully as most programs will default to C: so just change that letter to E: or F: or whatever your boot drive is.:)
 

Nothinman

Elite Member
Sep 14, 2001
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Drive letters such as C:, D:, E:, etc are Windows-isms. The BIOS or any other OS doesn't care or even know about them.
 

Sporko

Senior member
Sep 5, 2000
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Thanks everyone. That's what I thought. I got the problem solved by using Nero correctly to burn the boot CD.