Unable to boot from cdrom

karhoe · 7th Dec 2006, 11:57 PM

I'm using Acer Travelmate 290e laptop. Recently, the OS went haywire so I decided to reinstall windows xp. I pop in the recovery disc, went to BIOS setup and configured the boot sequence. However, it did not boot from CD, and went to the 2nd boot sequence which is the HDD. I even tried other Window XP disc and I am still unable to boot from CDROM, is there any solution available ?

FYI, the CDROM drive is swappable. And the stupid BIOS is so basic, you don't get to configure the IDE devices and hence you don't know what IDE devices are connected. The XP disc and the drive is working perfectly. I am able to view the contents of the disc in Windows.

During the POST screen, which is less than 1 second, I manage to see that only 1 IDE device is detected which is the HDD and the CDROM is not detected. It could be that reason that I am unable to boot, so what can I do?

I looked in Acer website for latest bios, and to my horror, the BIOS files are removed from their server, and they even have a section in support page which is under construction with a "coming soon" label.

Hope you guys can help me out , thanks.

Thanks

Adrian Wong · 8th Dec 2006, 04:01 PM

Hmm.. Would it be possible for you to get screenshots of the BIOS screens? Especially those pertaining to the boot / setup features.

Also, while you are in the BIOS, check and see if you have this BIOS option - Delay IDE Initial. You can use it to delay the boot-up process so that your notebook can detect the CD-ROM.

More details here - http://www.techarp.com/showFreeBOG.aspx?lang=0&bogno=56

karhoe · 8th Dec 2006, 05:16 PM

I just saw in the BIOS screen that ATAPI isnt detected !!!

There isn't any delay IDE initial, I will upload the pics later on

Adrian Wong · 8th Dec 2006, 05:18 PM

Hmm.. So, you cannot even manually detect the CD-ROM in the BIOS?

karhoe · 9th Dec 2006, 01:31 AM

Nop, I cannot detect it in the BIOS

SAMSAMHA · 9th Dec 2006, 02:09 AM

I think some laptop have their images on the HD and won't let you boot from the CDROM. Sometimes the system has a key, like ESC or F10 or something which youc na press to choose which boot device to boot from, did you check that?

CALLOFDUTY05 · 9th Dec 2006, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karhoe

Nop, I cannot detect it in the BIOS

Do u mind if I suggest u to look at the back cover of ur lappy.There should be 1 or 2 screws right beneath ur Optical Drive.If it's possible,unscrew the screw/screws from the lappy.U'll be able to drag ur optical drive from the sidebay.Now just slide the optical drive to the bay again .U'll know that the drive will be clicked to the IDE socket of ur lappy.Just watch the orientation.Now try booting & see if Bios is detecting it.If not,then it's an IDE I/O Controller error which u'll need to sort out with ur vendor or the lappy manufacturer.

karhoe · 9th Dec 2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CALLOFDUTY05

Do u mind if I suggest u to look at the back cover of ur lappy.There should be 1 or 2 screws right beneath ur Optical Drive.If it's possible,unscrew the screw/screws from the lappy.U'll be able to drag ur optical drive from the sidebay.Now just slide the optical drive to the bay again .U'll know that the drive will be clicked to the IDE socket of ur lappy.Just watch the orientation.Now try booting & see if Bios is detecting it.If not,then it's an IDE I/O Controller error which u'll need to sort out with ur vendor or the lappy manufacturer.

Mine is swappable, no need for screw, just slide a button and drag it out, I have tried that, no result

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMSAMHA

I think some laptop have their images on the HD and won't let you boot from the CDROM. Sometimes the system has a key, like ESC or F10 or something which youc na press to choose which boot device to boot from, did you check that?

Yes, I press that, F10, then came a menu where I choose which device to boot from, chose CD, but it acts as if no media was inserted.

Now that the problem is ATAPI is not detected in BIOS so that is why I cannot boot in windows

CALLOFDUTY05 · 9th Dec 2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karhoe

Mine is swappable, no need for screw, just slide a button and drag it out, I have tried that, no result

Yes, I press that, F10, then came a menu where I choose which device to boot from, chose CD, but it acts as if no media was inserted.

Now that the problem is ATAPI is not detected in BIOS so that is why I cannot boot in windows

As I've told u earlier,then it's an IDE I/O Controller error which u'll need to sort out with ur vendor or the lappy manufacturer.

karhoe · 9th Dec 2006, 04:08 PM

Ok thanks, right now I just need to find someone who has a swappable CDROM to test whether is it my CDROM which is faulty

7th Dec 2006, 11:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
karhoe I'm a regular Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 347 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	Unable to boot from cdrom I'm using Acer Travelmate 290e laptop. Recently, the OS went haywire so I decided to reinstall windows xp. I pop in the recovery disc, went to BIOS setup and configured the boot sequence. However, it did not boot from CD, and went to the 2nd boot sequence which is the HDD. I even tried other Window XP disc and I am still unable to boot from CDROM, is there any solution available ? FYI, the CDROM drive is swappable. And the stupid BIOS is so basic, you don't get to configure the IDE devices and hence you don't know what IDE devices are connected. The XP disc and the drive is working perfectly. I am able to view the contents of the disc in Windows. During the POST screen, which is less than 1 second, I manage to see that only 1 IDE device is detected which is the HDD and the CDROM is not detected. It could be that reason that I am unable to boot, so what can I do? I looked in Acer website for latest bios, and to my horror, the BIOS files are removed from their server, and they even have a section in support page which is under construction with a "coming soon" label. Hope you guys can help me out , thanks. Thanks

8th Dec 2006, 04:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,382 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	Hmm.. Would it be possible for you to get screenshots of the BIOS screens? Especially those pertaining to the boot / setup features. Also, while you are in the BIOS, check and see if you have this BIOS option - Delay IDE Initial. You can use it to delay the boot-up process so that your notebook can detect the CD-ROM. More details here - http://www.techarp.com/showFreeBOG.aspx?lang=0&bogno=56 __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

8th Dec 2006, 05:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,382 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	Hmm.. So, you cannot even manually detect the CD-ROM in the BIOS? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

8th Dec 2006, 05:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
karhoe I'm a regular Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 347 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	I just saw in the BIOS screen that ATAPI isnt detected !!! There isn't any delay IDE initial, I will upload the pics later on

9th Dec 2006, 01:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
karhoe I'm a regular Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 347 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	Nop, I cannot detect it in the BIOS

9th Dec 2006, 02:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
SAMSAMHA Super Active Join Date: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 2,356 Reputation: 197 Rep Power: 8	I think some laptop have their images on the HD and won't let you boot from the CDROM. Sometimes the system has a key, like ESC or F10 or something which youc na press to choose which boot device to boot from, did you check that?

9th Dec 2006, 04:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
karhoe I'm a regular Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 347 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	Ok thanks, right now I just need to find someone who has a swappable CDROM to test whether is it my CDROM which is faulty