Desktop Will not allow boot from DVD Drive 1

[Ndrd]

Hi, Recently I purchased a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate, and attempted to boot the OS from startup. I inserted the DVD into the DVD drive of my desktop, but after entering the boot utility, I found that there was no option to boot from my DVD drive. I wen't into my Bios to try and look for a solution to my problem, but I was unable to find anything that could help. I would like to be able to do this without an external drive since I do not own one.

Any help is greatly appreciated
- Ndrd

 

[maultier]

The forum can better assist you if you include the particulars on your system in your post.

 

[Ndrd]

Sorry, at the moment I am running Windows XP Service Pack 2 on a Dell XPS Gen 5 desktop. I have been having problems with my OS, so I can't run the install from my computer. I'm not really sure what other details you need about my computer, as I am new to this forum.

 

[acewarlock]

How old is this computer?

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[Ndrd]

The system is around 2-2.5 years old. And if I understand your metaphor correctly, I would like to upgrade to vista becaues I'm reinstalling windows, and I decided that I may as well upgrade. Even if i chose to reinstall XP i feel that I would run into the same problem, as I assume that the XP instalation disk is also a DVD.

 

[acewarlock]

That's an Analogy, it doesn't have anything to do with your problem, per se. It's just my signature that is put on every reply. But does relate to some peoples questions when they try to do things the hard way.

The reason I asked how old it was is because I've never seen a PC that is fairly new that didn't let you boot from a CD/DVD.

Have you tried F8 when it starts to boot to see if it will let you select a different boot source?

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[Ndrd]

Sorry, I didnt realise that it was a signature, as i said I'm new to this forum. My computer allows me to boot from the cd drive, but there is no option to boot from my DVD drive. This is my problem, I have been trying to figure out how to get my computer to allow me to boot from the dvd drive. When i have a USB flash drive inserted into my coputer it also gives me the option to boot from that. Which leads me to believe that my computer isnt recognising the drive on startup, but I may be wrong. Can anyone shed some light here?

 

[acewarlock]

The DVD should be able to read CD's, so it should work if you set it up as CD.




This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[acewarlock]

I added a disclamer and spaced it down a few spaces to seperate it from the main message.




This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[vacunita]

As long as it is set to boot from "CD" it should if you place the disc inside the DVD drive boot from it, even if it is a DVD. Just make sure in BIOS that BOOT from CD is set as the first device to boot form.



----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[Ndrd]

The DVD should be able to read CD's, so it should work if you set it up as CD."

Can you explain how to do this, or provide a link?

"As long as it is set to boot from "CD" it should if you place the disc inside the DVD drive boot from it, even if it is a DVD. Just make sure in BIOS that BOOT from CD is set as the first device to boot form."

I will try this and reply on how it goes, thank you for the advice.

 

[Ndrd]

Unfortunatly, the above method did not work, as when I chose to Boot from "onboard or USB CD-Rom Drive" It produced an error message saying "Selected boot device not avaliable". I have a feeling that I am doing something worng, so I will list what I do upon starting my copmuter.

1) Power up the machince
2) Press F12 to enter the Boot Device Menu
3) Select "Onboard or USB CD-Rom Drive"

Is this process right? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Freestone]

I have a Vista Business Upgrade DVD that is not bootable. Is your Vista a full version?

 

[vacunita]

There should be another option to boot from CD. Can your BIOS detect your DVD drive?



----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[Ndrd]

I have The Vista Ultimate Package, so I would assume that it is the full version.

I'm not sure that my BIOS can detect my DVD drive. Is there a way to check this?

 

[Ndrd]

Also I'm fairly sure that my disk is not an upgrade disk, but the full version of Vista.

 

[vacunita]

When you get in to BIOS it should tell you what it can detect. It should List your hard drives and optical drives such as DVD drives.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[Ndrd]

I'll Give this a go, In case I can't figure it out, what section should the list of Drives be under?

 

[Ndrd]

I Think My bios did recognise it as it was under the drives section labled "Drive 5: PATA - 1" Does this help at all?

 

[vacunita]

Machines can have different BIOSES since I don't know your BIOS's layout, its hard to say.

It should say something about the DVD drive, maybe brand name or type?

For example:

Se how the DVD is picked up as IDE Secondary Slave, and then it describes it: LG DVD-ROM etc..

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.