Help please

[jonnopon3000]

Hello escapists.

In relation to my windows 7 RC thread...http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.124390...I am at the step where i install windows. SImple as right?

No, apparently not

I need to boot from the installation disc i made to be able to install 7 on my new partition i made specifically for windows 7, so that i would be able to dual boot and keep my files etc.

But my laptop, even when i specifically select CD/DVD-ROM drive in the boot screen, will NOT boot from the disc. I have checked all the settings-boot from CD/DVD-ROM drive is enabled, and the drive is first the boot order list. As i said, I even went to selecting the drive on the boot screen just in case automatic boot wasn't working.

It just loads vista as usual. I don't get why, but it won't work!

So close to finishing, I'm at the simplest stage and i cant seem to get through it!

EDIT: i have also tried running the installation when running my vista. It gets to a point and says i need to boot from disc to install on the partition.

Please help

 

[barryween]

That happened to me while trying to install Ubuntu (thank god, Ubuntu sucks). Um... if it has another disk drive, try that, that's what got Ubuntu to work for me (but it didn't install properly and crashed my computer thankfully Windows is better ) Other then that, I can only tell you what I'm gonna do when 7 comes out for real: Buy a usb port 1TB drive, copy all my files over to it, then just wipe out XP.

 

[Ezzay]

I can tell from reading this you are pretty intelligent when it comes to computers, but I need to ask.

You are pressing any key when it says "Press any key to boot from CD" ?

Just checking, believe me, I work in the business and its a bloody common mistake.

If it does not boot from CD, and does not display what I said above, you sir, have yourself a problem.

 

[jonnopon3000]

That happened to me while trying to install Ubuntu (thank god, Ubuntu sucks). Um... if it has another disk drive, try that, that's what got Ubuntu to work for me (but it didn't install properly and crashed my computer thankfully Windows is better ) Other then that, I can only tell you what I'm gonna do when 7 comes out for real: Buy a usb port 1TB drive, copy all my files over to it, then just wipe out XP.

Funnily enough, your plan to use a TB hard drive to backup files and wipe XP is similar to what i plan to do to my vista laptop. I will install vista on my hard drive, though, as a complete system backup incase 7 fails. I love vista. Don't wanna get rid of it completely.

And thanks for your help...but my laptop only has one DVD drive. Sigh. I cannot find any other way that i have not tried to install 7.

I could copy all important files over to my partition I intended for windows 7 (increasing its size of course), upgrade my vista to 7, then use the simple downgrade tool when i wanna revert to vista. It is much more complicated way of doing it, and i would love to dual-boot, but at the moment i see no other alternative

 

[jonnopon3000]

I can tell from reading this you are pretty intelligent when it comes to computers, but I need to ask.

You are pressing any key when it says "Press any key to boot from CD" ?

Just checking, believe me, I work in the business and its a bloody common mistake.

If it does not boot from CD, and does not display what I said above, you sir, have yourself a problem.

When i boot my laptop it goes like this:

It comes up with a screen saying COMPAQ, and lists a few buttons to press to do certain things. I entered the BIOS to increase the length this message appears on screen, so i can remember most:

F1-Some settings
F2-more settings
F4-forgotten
F9-Boot device selection
F10-BIOS settings
F11-Recovery

I have entered BIOS and changed the boot order so that my DVD drive is first. Becuase for whatever reasong it does not automatically boot from the DVD i have in there(the windows 7 RC install disc that i NEED to run from boot)I restarted and pressed F9, then manually selected the DVD drive.

After a few seconds with a blinking icon in the top left hand corner of the screen, it loads vista as usual.

Out of interest, I tried doing this without a disc in, and it does exactly the same. Thinking the disc is corrupt so it isn't reading it, i burned another disc. Same again.

I downloaded the RC from microsoft itself, so there is nothing wrong with the ISO file itself.

So according to you...I have a problem.


BUT

Everywhere i have looked, and your post, have mentioned a screen or message saying "press any key to boot from drive". I have never ever encountered this on any computer i have ever used. The manual selection of the DVD drive should be the same sort of thing right? or is there a problem?

Thanks for your help by the way, really appreciated

 

[Scrythe]

Go to the BIOS menu (usually by slapping F1 or F2 on startup) and check to see the "Boot order". Make sure your CD drive is up top.

 

[jonnopon3000]

Go to the BIOS menu (usually by slapping F1 or F2 on startup) and check to see the "Boot order". Make sure your CD drive is up top.

Have done. and checked again and again-it is at the top my friend. Read my previous post for a more detailed description of what happens

 

[Ezzay]

snip

Strange..

Most motherboards will throw up a "Press any key to boot from CD" even if you have selected the first boot device as CD Drive.

Aside from flashing / upgrading your laptops BIOS (Which I do not recommend, its a dangerous thing to attempt) I have no ideas for you

 

[jonnopon3000]

snip

Strange..

Most motherboards will throw up a "Press any key to boot from CD" even if you have selected the first boot device as CD Drive.

Aside from flashing / upgrading your laptops BIOS (Which I do not recommend, its a dangerous thing to attempt) I have no ideas for you

Dayum. Not gr8. Thanks for your effort mate.

I will try a few more times, then see if there is any possibility of putting this plan into action:

I could copy all important files over to my partition I intended for windows 7 (increasing its size of course), upgrade my vista to 7, then use the simple downgrade tool when i wanna revert to vista. It is much more complicated way of doing it, and i would love to dual-boot, but at the moment i see no other alternative

 

[Scrythe]

Go to the BIOS menu (usually by slapping F1 or F2 on startup) and check to see the "Boot order". Make sure your CD drive is up top.

Have done. and checked again and again-it is at the top my friend. Read my previous post for a more detailed description of what happens

Gah! Beat me by a few seconds (look at the timestamps)!

Something similar has happened to me with my laptop when I downgraded from Vista to XP. Sometimes, some anomaly occurs and you have to just start all over again. It sucks, but it happens.

I just hope it doesn't happen to you as... frequently as it did for me.

 

[barryween]

That happened to me while trying to install Ubuntu (thank god, Ubuntu sucks). Um... if it has another disk drive, try that, that's what got Ubuntu to work for me (but it didn't install properly and crashed my computer thankfully Windows is better ) Other then that, I can only tell you what I'm gonna do when 7 comes out for real: Buy a usb port 1TB drive, copy all my files over to it, then just wipe out XP.

Funnily enough, your plan to use a TB hard drive to backup files and wipe XP is similar to what i plan to do to my vista laptop. I will install vista on my hard drive, though, as a complete system backup incase 7 fails. I love vista. Don't wanna get rid of it completely.

And thanks for your help...but my laptop only has one DVD drive. Sigh. I cannot find any other way that i have not tried to install 7.

I could copy all important files over to my partition I intended for windows 7 (increasing its size of course), upgrade my vista to 7, then use the simple downgrade tool when i wanna revert to vista. It is much more complicated way of doing it, and i would love to dual-boot, but at the moment i see no other alternative

yeah, my father has Vista on his laptop and he let me look at it, it's really cool. And I love XP to death and will probably wait to see how 7 fairs with people before buying it. And sorry I couldn't help, I am good with computers but not that in depth. But it sounds like a good idea (albeit a difficult to execute) plan.

 

[jonnopon3000]

Ok, I have an update for you all. I have managed to contact HP about my seemingly faulty Disc drive.

I in the meantime am litterally sweating buckets to try and sort it myself. I am also VERY frustrated. GAR