Why, what error are you getting when you try to boot from cd? And what cd are you using to boot from.

Zep516,
There is no error message, when I turn the computer on and the BIOS information screen comes up and just sits there. When we go into the BIOS and enable the BOOT from CD Rom it will then restart and the BIOS Information starts up and then the Boot From CD prompt says press any key to boot from the CD. Well when we press any key, it just sits there blinking cursor The CD we want to boot from is the Windows XP Pro installation disc.

I think I might download the Win98 startup disk from the link below and use that to start and format the hard drive. It will only give you FAT32 but it will clean and format the drive. Then when you use the XP CD hopefully and set the drive up, including a reformat to NTFS if you orefer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Create a boot disk

Owbist,
I would download the Win98 startup disk and use it, if I had a floppy drive. When my youngest son helped me build this computer, he didn't buy a floppy drive like I asked for. I bookmarked the site to have when I can order a USB floppy drive after I get a full paycheck. Since school has started the two paychecks I have received have had less than the full two week pay period due to a day off for Tropical storm Fay right after we started the school year on Aug 18. Then the next pay period had a day off due to a Teacher work day /student holiday. My next paycheck will be on the 26 and it will have a day off in it also due to Labor day

Daylilly I am not sure I would buy a USB floppy. First will it be recognised during those early moments of starting up. Second how often does anyone use a floppy these days.

I assume the computer you are using now is the Linux box. If so does it have a floppy drive? You could then remove the HDD from the problem box and format the drive on the good computer. You would remove the 80 wire ribbon cable and power cord from the Linux HDD to use on the problem drive. No need to install the drive, just stand it on end or rest it on a box or whatever so the cables reach it.

Another thought might be finding a used floppy, try a local computer store rather than the big box. You would have the ribbon cable as that should have come with the motherboard you used in the recent build. New floppy drives are only about $15 if you can find them, that is why I suggested a used one.

I hope that makes sense LOL.

Owbist,
The computer I am using now was the one that had the Ubuntu on it. Then my son reformatted the hard drive I am now using so no, I do not have a floppy drive in it. The old HP Pavilion will not not boot up at all when hooked up. My hubby and oldest son, and grandson were using that computer till it quit one day after oldest son shut it down the evening before.
There are not too many computer stores around here that are in areas I go to. Some of the ones listed in phone book are in a section of town that has a lot of drug dealing and violence in it. I do not frequent those areas if I do not have to go there. I can live with the hard drive being not hooked up until I can get a floppy drive. I may salvage the floppy drive out of the old HP Pavilion if I can get it out of the case.

Do you have the CDRom set as the First Boot Device in the BIOS.

Randy-Ca
Yes we have the CR-Rom choice set as the First Boot Device in the BIOS. It is just the hard drive that is not currently hooked up that will not boot up. I was wanting to see if I wiped it clean with a program , then maybe I can use it again and this hard drive I am currently using would go into another build for my hubby and others to use.

So if I read you correctly this computer has Windows? So take the drive you need cleaned and slave it to this computer and do a format of it. Going this route you can select to format in Fat32 or NTFS. NTFS being more efficient.

Again, you need not install but place the drive alongside. If you have the hard drive and DVD player sharing a ribbon cable you can use the secondary IDE socket on the mobo for this job to give you more elbow room.

Yes Owbist, this computer has Windows on it now.Can you outline the steps I need to do after I have got it alongside? I don't know how to reformat from Windows if I am using Windows as the operating system on the hard drive I currently have hooked up.

Of course I will outline the steps for you. I assume your 'alongside' means you are comfortable removing the offending drive from the computer. You seem to have done enough with computers that this will be a piece of cake for you. Keep a bare arm resting on the computer case to ground yourself as you work inside. If you do get frustrated simply walk away for a few minutes.

When you remove the drive also bring the 80 wire ribbon cable with you (leave it connected to the drive as you remove it)

Shut down the good computer and remove the power cable from the rear of the case.
Remove left side panel
Look for the existing 80 wire cable connecting the HDD to the mobo.
Very close will be a second connector probably marked IDE2.
Connect you ribbon cable here.

I will give you a warning but these days it is hard to do this wrong. Be SURE the cable is connected with the coloured edge at pin #1

Now find a four pin power supply to hook into the faulty hard drive.
Make sure the HDD is sat flat or standing on end so it cannot fall as you move about.
Having decided the hard drive is connected to both the power and the IDE connector we are ready to move forward.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the computer.
Start the computer.
Whatch and listen to assure everything is normal.

Now we have the computer running smoothly.
Right click on Start
Click Explore
Look down the left side.
You will see your C:\ drive
D:\ will probably show as your DVD player
E:\ should be your old drive needing a format.
Click on E:\ to be sure this is the one you wish to format. You will see the contents listed on the right side of the screen.
If everything is as it should be then right click on E:\ (still on the left side of the screen)
In the pop up menu you will see the option to Format...
(Those 3 dots after the 'Format' always indicate another step before the action is started)
Click Format...

Now we have a new window which shows the capacity of the drive. The option to format in NTFS, allocation in byte size and a Volume label.
I like to give my hard drives a name so I am not confused somewhere down the road. Mine is Derek-slick and my wife's is Pat-acer, I forget the others.

Once you have made your selections (Please do not do the quick format, you are trying to eliminate problems so do the full format) click Start, then sit back and enjoy a coffee or whatever while it does it's magic.

On completion shut down, remove the newly formatted drive and close the good computer. Now you should be able to put the clean drive in and hopefully install the operating system.

Owbist,
Does it matter if the hard drive is a SATA drive? Do the instructions still cover it?

Owbist, I think I got the drive formatted. At least the message said format complete and successful. I think my son will be glad to hear that when I call him and tell him I was able to format it. Right now it is too late to call him as he has to get up early and take his son to daycare before he goes to his duty station in Key West. He is in the U.S. Navy. He is the one who helped me build this computer and he also helped with the price by paying half of the build I researched.
Owbist I want to thank you for your help. I printed out the email with the steps so I would have a copy of it to go by while the computer was unplugged for the few minutes it took to take the side off and hook up the drive for formatting it.
Now if you need something knitted , just let me know and I can do it.

Yes I knew your son was in the navy and that he helped pay for and build the computer. I kept abreast of your happenings at the other place, I still visit there as often as here - it is still my Home page. For a couple of years I kept score in the 'basement' for the UD distributed computing team.

Good job you continued on without waiting for the answer on the SATA drive, I do not own any so would not have been able to give you a definite answer.

I am glad I was able to help get you underway again. Helping out helps me stay in touch too so it becomes a 2 way street.

That is very generous of you to offer to knit for me, thank you, but I am at the age where I have told my 2 girls to stop buying clothing because I cannot live long enough to wear out what I already own. My wife was a regular knitter till her mastectomy 8 years ago this month. She no longer has the interest in knitting.

Owbist,
I am glad your wife is a survivor of breast cancer. I too am a cancer survivor but mine was thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed with it just before it started to exit out of the thyroid gland and spread into my body. This is my 8 year anniversary too.

Owbist,
I called my son this morning after I came in from my school crossing guard duty. He said to tell you he is very thankful for your help. He did not have much time to spend here when he was here earlier in the month. He had been evacuated from Key West before Hurricane Ike came through the area around the Keys. He tries to keep his dad and I with a functioning computer so he can be in contact with us if he goes overseas again. He has said that he has a limited knowledge of the computer and Windows but is more knowledgeable about it than I am I try to gain more knowledge about it by this forum and PCQ& A also. I am very appreciative for your help in both forums.

Well, now your son can rest easy knowing Mum can do the repairs once the method is pointed out. Not much inside these cases is hard to do, it is just the fear of the unknown and the chance of possibly messing up. Once you see all parts have different connectors that worry is overcome too other than seating the heatsink on the CPU.

I love it when people are willing to do what you have done, you probably had a feeling of satisfaction once you realised the format was complete. Now you have no need of repair shops LOL.