[cstrikehero777]

lol. hey thanks for telling me b4 i tried..

i just dont know what to do .. ive tried almost everything...i have a killdisk program and ubuntu 9.04 on disks and they both boot perfectly, but for some reason the XP CD refuses. I have no idea why. its surely stumped me.
i dosent even try to boot the CD..

terry:
I don't understand why the XP install CD will not boot. I thought any bootable CD should be able to boot regardless of the existence or status of any hard drive(s). Can somebody confirm this, or set me straight?

You're sure you have the CD selected first in the boot order? I ask because "BOOTMGR Missing" could be because the hard drive is being accessed before the CD.

now that i think about it ur right about this.. i read someone else was having the same error with a HD issue. but maybe thats not my problem. ya ur right about thius. the CD should boot without a HD

[Cappi]

An XP (OEM) bootable disk provided by Dell for example will not bootup on an IBM computer. I have found that a standard XP bootable disk will boot on most computers.

[new tech guy]

Have you tried using killdisk to just bluntly blow everything away? Then install xp? That might be the issue here. Or after the wipe the xp disc is not booting? Id try the killdisk again however. Then immediately after reboot and throw in your xp boot cd and try to boot off of it.

[BlackHorseman]

Just my two bits: after you successfully boot with XP CD, remove all existing partitions from disks (though you shouldn't have any) and then create a partition for windows and a partition for Linux. You can later format the Linux partition during the Linux installation, just be sure to select 'Manual' in the partitioning step of the installation, so that you can allocate the partitions yourself.

If you have more than one physical disk, and you intend to install all OSs on one of them (say - the first) you can create partitions for both systems on the other disk, so that you can move your Windows pagefile to one of them (improves performance), create your Linux Swap on that other disk and save most of your data there too - this helps share the load of disk access between two physical disks, thereby improving performance. When installing Linux, pay attention to where the boot loader is written to (you have an option to change it in the Ubuntu installation, but I'd rather just leave the default).

I understand that installing a different OS on each different physical disk is more tricky, especially if you want to have a completely separate boot handling of each (meaning you'd have to install each with one HD unplugged physically - here the order of OSs' installation doesn't matter). This means you'd have to change the harddisks' boot priority in BIOS each time you restart and wish to switch between the two. So, I'd just install both on the first physical disk, XP in the first partition and Linux in the second. Your Linux boot loader will take over boot after you install Linux.

D.

[TerryNet]

Just my two bits: after you successfully boot with XP CD ...

By my count cstrikehero777 has stated five (5) times that he CANNOT BOOT THE XP CD on this computer.

Your ideas are good, BlackHorseman, but he really needs some new ideas of what's going on with the failed boot.

[saikee]

Could it be a dodgy CD drive that is tempermental with the XP disc but not others?

[happychic]

Hi,

It has been established that you are not able to boot the XP CD.
I think I have a suggestion that may help. What i am suggesting is hardware based. Most computers have a jumper lead that can change your HDD from a master ( or primary) to a slave. Maybe it would help to open up the pc and change the order? Prehaps your HDD is a slave not a master.

I am not an expert in the matter.

However, this is something I would try if I had run out of options.

Feel free to disregard my comments!

All the best.

TC

HC

[Cappi]

Have you tried using this XP CD to boot another computer? It will indicate whether the CD is good or not.

[BlackHorseman]

Hello,

Firstly - I apologize if I'm clogging the thread, that is not my intention.
TerryNet - I just thought he might need this info later on during the installation, 'cause he will be dealing with those issues before his current problem is fully resulved.

I think looking at the harddisks' physical configuration & the corresponding BIOS configuration - HD boot priority & boot sequence - would be a good idea now. How the disks are plugged in, how are they jumpered (if they are jumpered)?

(silently exiting stage left)
D.

[saikee]

I think the OP has confirmed that

(1) The CD drive does boot up a CD first. It is just the XP Cd that doesn't boot. Ubuntu disc and another CD boot up fine. That is the evidence that the hardware works and the first bootable device is indeed the CD drive.

(2) The XP CD has been able to boot up in another PC so it is healthy.

It is my experience some CD drives, say well used ones, can be temperamental. It is also not uncommon that a CD burnt with one CD drive may not work on anther, although with modern day equipment I seldom encounter such fault.

[happychic]

Hi BlackHorseman,

I mentioned jumpers and the sequence in my last post ( which was before yours). I did this in the hope I could help 777 who originally sent the post. I know I am a beginner here - but please do not disregard my comments. I am not completely stupid.

[BlackHorseman]

Hey happychic,

I did not disregard your comment, rather repeated - and possibly added to - what you've suggested. In any case, I think saikee's come up with the best idea in this case.

D.

[happychic]

Hi Horseman

NP

[cstrikehero777]

hey guys i got it and im closing the thread... had an XP CD that wasnt from a Dell.. i found the right one and it worked fine. ive got XP home up and running and ubuntu as a dual boot. works great.

thank you all for ur help