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How do you make a computer that WILL NOT boot from a CD.. Boot from a CD I am trying to reformat...

You need to enter the bios and change the boot order. What brand and model is your computer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverlayke

how do you make a computer that WILL NOT boot from a CD ..Boot from a CD I am trying to reformat...

As Need said you have to go into CMOS (BIOS) Settings and change the boot order. However, not all PCs support booting from CD. If your PC does not have a floppy drive, its does support it. However, if its an older PC, it might not have the feature. Only way to tell for sure is in the CMOS settings.

Hi,
Here are steps to enter the CMOS/BIOS:
The following is step-by-step for entering the computer's CMOS/BIOS computer settings.
Newer computers use the F1, or either F2, or either Delete, or either the Esc key. Dell uses F12. After re-boot or startup, immediately press down one of these keys, hold down for about 2 seconds, release, they press down for 2 seconds. Continue until it either goes into the settings window, or boots to windows.
If it boots to windows, then shutdown or restart, and try the same thing with one of the other keys.
Older computers use a combination of keys, such as Ctrl Alt Esc, (holding down all three keys at the same time), or Ctrl Alt Shift, or Ctrl Alt Delete.
A Del computer also sometimes, uses DEL key.

After you get to the settings screen, the right hand side of the screen gives instructions on how to navigate around,; such as "the arrow keys" move up and down, or right and left. Esc key takes you back a step back. etc.
If you wish you change a setting, such as the boot sequence, then:
Key down to the "Boot Options" or "Boot Sequence". This tells the computer to boot to the floppy drive, then maybe the CD-ROM, and last, the C:/ prompt, then it automatically boots to windows.
In the "Boot Options" space, some computers say press the Enter key to view the choices.
Select how you want it to boot. A good choice(s) is to boot to all three; i.e. floppy, CD-ROM, then C:.
This will enable you to install the operating system with either a floppy (Boot disc) or the install CD for windows, if you have the CD.
Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to go to the different Menu categories at the top.
After finishing, just press Esc, and following the directions to either "Save" or "Cancel" (without saving), returning to the normal booting-up process.

You can set it NOT to boot to the CD-ROM.
Best wishes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

You need to enter the bios and change the boot order. What brand and model is your computer?

Dell deminsion 8100 am running windows ME

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

As Need said you have to go into CMOS (BIOS) Settings and change the boot order. However, not all PCs support booting from CD. If your PC does not have a floppy drive, its does support it. However, if its an older PC, it might not have the feature. Only way to tell for sure is in the CMOS settings.

Thanks! Will let you know the out come of this procedure

If it came with ME then there is a good possibility it has the ability. Different BIOS chips use different CMOS settings. This varies depending on the make and model of the BIOS. Therefore, you may not see what Fred is posting.

As you boot it will tell you what key to press to enter SETUP. From there look around for something called Boot sequence. That's all you need to know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

If it came with ME then there is a good possibility it has the ability. Different BIOS chips use different CMOS settings. This varies depending on the make and model of the BIOS. Therefore, you may not see what Fred is posting.

As you boot it will tell you what key to press to enter SETUP. From there look around for something called Boot sequence. That's all you need to know.

When I go to boot sequence.. it will not recognize it and boot from cd...

Not sure what you mean by not recognize. The boot sequence should offer several options about the order of boot. Any option with CD in there should work, though I would set CD as first.

Are you sure you have a bootable CD?

Are you trying to boot from a bootable CD? Or...
Are you trying to get to the settings that will STOP the computer from booting form a CD?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredg

Hi,
Here are steps to enter the CMOS/BIOS:
The following is step-by-step for entering the computer's CMOS/BIOS computer settings.
Newer computers use the F1, or either F2, or either Delete, or either the Esc key. Dell uses F12. After re-boot or startup, immediately press down one of these keys, hold down for about 2 seconds, release, they press down for 2 seconds. Continue until it either goes into the settings window, or boots to windows.
If it boots to windows, then shutdown or restart, and try the same thing with one of the other keys.
Older computers use a combination of keys, such as Ctrl Alt Esc, (holding down all three keys at the same time), or Ctrl Alt Shift, or Ctrl Alt Delete.
A Del computer also sometimes, uses DEL key.

After you get to the settings screen, the right hand side of the screen gives instructions on how to navigate around,; such as "the arrow keys" move up and down, or right and left. Esc key takes you back a step back., etc.
If you wish you change a setting, such as the boot sequence, then:
Key down to the "Boot Options" or "Boot Sequence". This tells the computer to boot to the floppy drive, then maybe the CD-ROM, and last, the C:/ prompt, then it automatically boots to windows.
In the "Boot Options" space, some computers say press the Enter key to view the choices.
Select how you want it to boot. A good choice(s) is to boot to all three; ie, floppy, CD-ROM, then C:.
This will enable you to install the operating system with either a floppy (Boot disc) or the install CD for windows, if you have the CD.
Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to go to the different Menu categories at the top.
After finishing, just press Esc, and following the directions to either "Save" or "Cancel" (without saving), returning to the normal booting-up process.

You can set it NOT to boot to the CD-ROM.
Best wishes.

I have finally gotten my puter in safe mode.. I followed instructions and nothing worked (puter would not boot from cd) where can I go from here to get this to reformat.. I am lost! HELP!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

Are you trying to boot from a bootable CD? Or...
Are you trying to get to the settings that will STOP the computer from booting form a CD?

I am trying to boot from a bootable cd

I am trying to boot from a bootable cd... I changed the bios settings to boot from cd but it changes the settings back..

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverlayke

I am trying to boot from a bootable cd...I changed the bios settings to boot from cd but it changes the settings back ...?

I doubt it. Most likely cause is that the computer didn't see system boot files from the CD. Is this a CD you make yourself or is it a MS Windows CD?

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverlayke

I am trying to boot from a bootable cd...I changed the bios settings to boot from cd but it changes the settings back ...?

Either what NeedKarma said or your BIOS settings weren't really saved. If you changed your BIOS to boot from CD first, rebooted, went into BIOS again, and saw that the settings went back then you didn't save your settings.