Burned Me Causes problems

bob08 · #1 November 29th, 2004, 11:41 PM

HELP! my son installed a burned Windows ME on to our computer now our computer dose not work. I can't start up the computer with out it in safe mode but even then pretty much everything dosn't work. So, then I made my son buy XP. The computer won't even let me install that. I really would like some help with this. Will someone please try to Help me?

**Murray S.** · #2 November 30th, 2004, 12:02 AM

Howdy and welcome to CTH:

Go into BIOS and make sure your first boot device is set to cd-rom..

Put the XP cd in and re-boot.. XP is self-booting so, just follow the prompts from there..

Murray

bob08 · #3 November 30th, 2004, 02:00 AM

Forgive me for being uneducated, but what is BIOS?
I restarted with is in the CD in but the computer won't restart unless it is in safe mode (otherwise I get the blue error screen) but then get a notice saying that it won't detect or install anything in safemode. I'm sorry for not knowing alot about computers and such but this is something new to me.

**Murray S.** · #4 November 30th, 2004, 02:30 AM

If you watch the screen as it is booting up, it will say something like "Press <delete> to enter Setup".. That is BIOS..

Your system manual should tell you exactly how to get into it and where your boot device setup is located..

Murray

bob08 · #5 December 1st, 2004, 11:43 PM

I tried but it dosn't do anything. It either goes right to a blue error screen or to where you choose what mode to start up in, but you can only start in safemode which dosn't show anything when starting up.

tetonbob · #6 December 2nd, 2004, 12:02 AM

Hi bob08-

What brand of computer is it? This may help us help you.

Typical keys for entering BIOS are Del, F1, F2, F10 or Ctrl+Alt+Esc.

Are you saying that you get no POST screen at all? No black screen with white text when you first power up your system? This should be well before any logo comes up.

bob08 · #7 December 4th, 2004, 07:09 PM

Its a dell. No words at all, it has a little blinking cursor for a couple seconds then a blue error screen pops up or a thing to select what mode you run it in but after that no words.

tetonbob · #8 December 5th, 2004, 12:29 AM

Dell: - F1 or Del.

- Some require pressing reset twice

- Ctrl + Alt + Enter

Try each of these. Start pressing buttons as soon as you apply power.

**Murray S.** · #9 December 5th, 2004, 01:02 AM

Possible key combinations to enter a DEL setup..

Dell® 400 F3, F1
Dell 4400 F12
Dell Dimension® F2 or DEL
Dell Inspiron® F2
Dell Latitude Fn+F1 (while booted)
Dell Latitude F2 (on boot)
Dell Optiplex DEL
Dell Optiplex F2
Dell Precision™ F2

Murray

bob08 · #10 December 5th, 2004, 11:25 PM

Ok, I got in to setup. I'm still having difficulties, how do you change the cd to 1st boot device??? It is currently 4. But, as soon as I change the boot device to 1 then I save, and put the xp cd in it should start up?

**Murray S.** · #11 December 5th, 2004, 11:32 PM

Yep.. but you have to "save the change to BIOS' when you exit it !!

Murray

bob08 · #12 December 7th, 2004, 03:43 AM

I made progress but then it said to insert the xp cd, but it was in, so I took it out and put it back in but it says setup cannot read cd or your windows cd is not valid. I don't know what to do. again.

tetonbob · #13 December 7th, 2004, 01:58 PM

I see from your first post that you say you had your son buy XP. Did he? Is it an authentic Windows XP disk? Or did he burn a copy from a friend's disk?

bob08 · #14 December 7th, 2004, 11:09 PM

Yes, it is genuine. I was there when he bought it. It says genuine on it, trust me its authentic.

**Murray S.** · #15 December 8th, 2004, 02:15 AM

Bob:

The only XP cd I have seen that wouldn't self-boot is a copied/pirated version..

Where did he buy it from??

What are your system specs - CPU speed, ram, hard-drive size, etc..

Murray