BIOS (Non-KeyBoard) Problems

So, I've been trying to format my PC, and my computer won't boot from the XP CD so I can do it the easy way. (My floppy drive doesn't work, to get that section out of the way)

I've tried to go into the BIOS to set it to boot from CD, however, no matter what key I hit it only starts Windows up.. (except F8 asks me what operating system to use, though there's only one option)

Then, finally, if I try to just install from disk with Windows running, it says that I have a better version of windows and I should just be satisfied with that.... so... yeah...

Any clue?

Be sure to use an XP SP2 Slipstream disk. I don't know how long ago but I remember using either a 2K or an XP disk at some point that didn't support booting from the CD.

>>2
XP and 2K have always booted from CD. If you couldn't boot from a CD, it was either a clumsily pirated/modified disc (someone just copied the contents and not the boot block, or fucked up the boot block) or else it was some weird OEM restore disc that also required a boot floppy or something.

Anyway, >>1 , you will need to put the CD-ROM drive above the hard drive in the boot priority, which means getting into the BIOS. Find your motherboard manual (or download a copy from the manufacturer's website) and find out how to get into BIOS. Sometimes it's not the most obvious keys (F1, F2, Del, etc), and I've come across computers where you have to have a key held down while booting to get into the BIOS. Failing that, clear the CMOS and hope it gives you the old "CMOS checksum failure. Press F1 for setup" message.

>>3
 The disk I was referring to was of questionable quality so you're probably right.

>>1
I've come across some machines that were very picky about booting a CD. Mostly very old machines where I'd have to open the tray and insert the disk during boot with the right timing so that it was spinning during the boot process otherwise it wouldn't see the disk.