Cannot boot from ANY CD. Have changed the bootup options to boot from CD. Help!

Question

Hello. I have an insprion 3500. I cant boot from ANY CD's (including Windows XP, Linux, you name it, it wont boot). I do not have an OS on my Hard Drive so that cant be the problem. I have changed the BIOS options to boot from a CD. When I insert a CD and try to boot from it, it says: 'Invalid system disk. Replace the disk, and then press any key.' I've tried this with Windows 2000, XP, 98, 95 and others and I cant boot into them. I can boot into a floppy. I suspect it is a BIOS problem. Need ideas! Message Edited by Sygnus X1 on 12-01-2004 05:48 PM

leduke30 · Answer

Are you putting the CDROM into the Bay? Or are you trying to use it on a Parallel Port cable? The latter is strictly for the floppy drive. If it is in the bay, then you may have a bum CDROM. W98SE and W-ME are not bootable CDs, but W2000 and W-XPcertainly are and should boot from the CD if you press any key when prompted by setup. If you are not getting that prompt, your CDROM is suspect.

Inspiron 3500 C600GT
Windows XP Pro
600mhz Celeron CPU
512mb PC100 SDRAM
40gb Hitachi 7200rpm # HTS726040M9AT00
Built Up Lite-On LSC20482k CDRW/ DVDROM
Margi Card DVD Decoder
Floppy and Cable

.

NemesisDB · Answer

i thought ME was bootable?

Sygnus X1 · Answer

Just noticed that! Yeah, on my other computers it would usualy say 'Press any key to boot from CD' during the start-up. This one, doesnt. I am not trying to boot from an external CD Drive and it is connected inside the laptop itself. So is it a CD Drive problem or not is the question. If so, what do i do?     BTW: neither 2000 or XP would boot. Message Edited by Sygnus X1 on 12-02-2004 05:23 PM

Sygnus X1 · Answer

So i take out the hard drive, then try to boot from the CD right? ???*confused*??? Message Edited by Sygnus X1 on 12-02-200405:54 PM Message Edited by Sygnus X1 on 12-02-2004 05:54 PM

NemesisDB · Answer

removing the hard-drive *might* force a boot to the CD ...  worth a shot if nothing else works, though if you can't hot-swap the drive back in you probably still won't be able to install an OS ... still, it would tell you if the CD drive works

leduke30 · Answer

The Dell W-ME Recovery CDs are bootable, but the retail boxed and non-brand specific OEM versions are not, and are shipped with a W-Me Boot Diskette to get things started., just like W98/98SE

NemesisDB · Answer

removing all other drives *may* force the bios to boot to the cd

Sygnus X1 · Answer

I've confirmed that its a CD drive problem because when i took the HD out it would say 'No Operating System Loaded' or somthing like that, not regognizing that the CD drive was there.

leduke30 · Answer

A suggestion: you can buy a Lite-on LSC24082K from www.newegg.com and replace the CDROM  gut with it. You would then have a CDRW and if you buy a Margi PCMCIA card, also a DVD Player. This conversion works fine and the bezels are a near exact match. It is what I did.

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