computer wont boot from cd

[mize06]

I have an older computer that has been upgraded to windows xp home edition. they are wanting a clean install or even a linxu os on it so they can sell the computer, I am having a problem getting the computer to boot from the cd or any cd i put it in. I tried the cds on other computers and they work. does anyone have any suggestions on how to reinstall when I can not get it to boot from disk.
thanks

 

[ProTech Support]

I am going to ask a stupid question...

Have you tried to verify the boot order in the BIOS....

 

[mize06]

Yes i did and it is set for the cd drive to boot first. when it boots up from the cds no matter what one i put in it gets a black screen with a blinking cursor at the top left but if i take the cd out and let it boot to the hard drive it boots up fine . I just cant get it to boot and install from the cd

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

I know it's a stupid question but have you tried a different CD Drive and/or IDE cable?

 

[mize06]

yes i have and i have checked the cds in different computers and they work

 

[ProTech Support]

Have you tried to troubleshoot this thing at all? BIOS, swapping the hardware, running diagnostics on the hardware, etc..

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

so when it boots into Windows, can you see the contents of the CD in there?

 

[shamrin]

OK, here's my stupid question, how much are they expecting to get for a Windows 98 era computer? Enough to pay you to get this antique running?

A machine that old may not be able to boot from a USB, but you can put Ubuntu on a USB drive and do an install from there.

 

[mize06]

i havent tried the ubuntu from a usb yet but have it on a cd and had all the windows recovery disks and everything and they all did the same. i know the computer is old and its for a family member. i will try to figure it out soon if not it will end up in the recycle center lol. thanks for all the suggestions and help

 

[Mushin]

Yes i did and it is set for the cd drive to boot first. when it boots up from the cds no matter what one i put in it gets a black screen with a blinking cursor at the top left but if i take the cd out and let it boot to the hard drive it boots up fine . I just cant get it to boot and install from the cd

Please post the steps that you have done to diag this issue as we can all spin our wheels with basic suggestions. If we know what you have done then we can get to the heart of the issue much faster.

 

[mize06]

1. changed boot order in bios
2. tried a different cd drive
3. tried the cds in known working computers

and to answer a previous question while im in windows i can see the contents of the cds but it wont allow me to install them from there

 

[Mushin]

Really this does not make sense. If the problem is happening on both drives then I would say change the IDE cable. Also make sure that you are not running the drive on the same ide channel as the hard drive. Verify jumpers as well.

I prefer to manually set drives as master and slave rather than using cable sellect.

 

[meanderer]

from what I learned, only the master can reliably be booted. Try to change the drive, the computer was attempting to boot from CD but somehow it's stuck.

 

[Corbin]

Question: Are you booting to a CD or a DVD? some computers that old, only have CD drives, not DVD drives. What about booting to a floppy?

 

[Styxbound]

Won't boot

On many of the old '98 machines you have to start it off with a floppy for '98 and then it will boot the cd. Google windows '98 boot floppy and you'll probably find something.

 

[norm1320]

On many of the old '98 machines you have to start it off with a floppy for '98 and then it will boot the cd. Google windows '98 boot floppy and you'll probably find something.

I was just thinking the same thing. I don't recall ever getting a win98 era system to successfully boot from a CD without a floppy.

 

[JAY]

I take it the computer boots into windows? Why not install from there? you Can install Ubuntu or Windows without having to boot from start.

 

[kozman]

Do we need a boot disk to load the cd drivers first in 98 and me? This would then allow the cd drive to work.
Peace,
kozman

 

[Xander]

I take it the computer boots into windows? Why not install from there? you Can install Ubuntu or Windows without having to boot from start.

True, true. Some things can be done more simply than others.

 

[gazza]

My advice is to backup there data and then either update and/or reflash the motherboard bios and set it up computer up with default settings.