Installing Windows XP Media Center Edition from a DVD...!!!

Question

Hello. This is frustrating. Got a Dimension 8400 and want to do a clean reformat and reinstallation of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 on the system. Problem is, the reinstallation 'CD' is not a CD, but a DVD. I have set my BIOS to boot from the CD-ROM drive first. In the BIOS settings, there is no setting for a DVD drive. In fact, here is what the boot order is:     1. Onboard or USB CD-Rom Drive 2. Onboard SATA HD 3. Onboard or USB Floppy Drive (not present) 4. Onboard IDE HD (not present) 5. USB Device (not present)   If I had to guess, I would say that it is impossible to reinstall Windows through the BIOS off of a DVD.   So, what are my options? Can I copy the files from the DVD to two CD's and run it that way? Can I boot to a USB Key and load the needed drivers? I have Windows XP Home that I could potentially install and then use the DVD to upgrade to Media Center Edition 2005, but would it install correctly using this method?   Please help me,   Thanks

dogfish3000 · Answer

Make sure your DVD drive is set as master, set the boot order to have CD ROM as first boot, save settings. This will allow it to boot from DVD.

EagleAC · Answer

Hi, thanks for the reply. A few things:   Does this mean that I need to open up the computer and switch the cables to make the DVD-RW the master? If I do this, is the DVD for Windows even bootable? Is it possible to just cleanly format the whole thing with a Windows XP Home CD and then simply upgrade to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005?   Thank you

simpswr · Answer

Where in the blue-eyed world did you get MCE2005 on a DVD? ? It comes in a two cd set . . if this is some hacked copy of the two cd's it is unlikely to install.

wrs

Message Edited by simpswr on 12-24-2004 10:18 AM

EagleAC · Answer

EXACTLY!!! Why is Dell sending out Windows Media Center Edition 2005 on a DVD??? This came from Dell just days ago, it is a legit copy. God they make things difficult.   PLEASE HELP

dogfish3000 · Answer

Set the jumper on the back of the drive to master. You could even unplug all other optical drives and then that would work. All WinXP CDs SHOULD BE (notice I said should) be bootable. Hope this helps!

simpswr · Answer

hmmm . . wonder if that is a upgrade . . not a full version . . but I sure don't understand why it would be on a dvd.   wrs

dogfish3000 · Answer

It's Dell. Go figure...lol

whiteb2 · Answer

I have found the answer after painstakenly spending hours trying to restore it. Here it goes:

1) Open computer and disconnect cd rom drive
2) Go into bios settings and disconnect cd rom drive. Also make sure cd rom is selected for first boot.
3) Put DVD Installation disk in dvd drive
4) Reboot

That should start the installation. It will now allow you to format and partion c drive. I am in the process as I write.

To avoid the hassle next time, you can make your dvd the slave drive or, buy Norton ghost and restore.

One thing....I just want to express how stupid it is to allow a customer to hit ctrl f11 to restore it in ten minutes, but then give them the windows installation disk. I installed windows using the installation disk and it wiped the original dell norton partion off the map. They should have give better documentation on how to restore.

Hope this helps since I had to figure this one out on my own.

djohncbh · Answer

Hi,

Ran into same problem with the DVD while trying to do a reinstall. I finally gave up and got the drivers that i was having problems with fixed without having to do the reinstall. Now when the computer reboots i have to select from running Media Center Edition or Windows XP Installation. How can i get rid of the Installation files so that it will only boot through Media Center Edition.

Any help would be appreciated.

simpswr · Answer

Click on Start . . Run . . type msconfig . . . click on the Boot ini tab and delete the offending boot path. wrs

Storage, Drives & Media

Installing Windows XP Media Center Edition from a DVD...!!!

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