I have for the second boot drive my DVD (SATA) drive. When the computer reboots, I am given an option to boot from DVD which has a bootable DVD in the drive. When I enter 'y' for yes, the computer resumes to boot Windows, and ignores booting from the bootable DVD. The DVD drive works perfect in Windows, I have checked the BIOS and everything looks good, how come the DVD drive is not booting from the bootable DVD ?
What is the first boot drive? I'm assuming that this is the floppy, since you are given the option to boot from optical (which you will only get if prior devices in the boot list contain no bootable media).
The first boot is the HDD, second is DVD. I think I may be something else, I'll keep this specific issue idle for now.
Are you certain this DVD is bootable? If it is, have you tried another one? If that one works it would suggest there's something wrong with the original DVD. If it doesn't there's something not right with the boot sequence.
Have you tried resetting the BIOS to it's default settings?
Have you checked the DVD drive leads (SATA and power) are connected?
The DVD is created as a Linux boot DVD, if that has anything to do with it ?
Here is what I ruled out, I tested it on Vista64 and another Windows7 box, both boxes read the DVD directly within Windows, except the computer that I need to boot the dvd from, although the same box can read a 8.5 gig dual-layer disc in windows.
OK. With that computer, enter the BIOS and change the boot order so that the optical drive is listed before the HDD. Alternatively, use the one-time boot menu (repeatedly tap F12 (but check the motherboard manual as this key might be different for your system) during POST) to access the drive that way.
Why isn't the computer not reading the DVD within windows ? I think that is the culprit to why it's not booting as a boot dvd.
The DVD drive has the latest firmware driver installed. The DVD drive but spins down after reading this bootable DVD. If the DVD drive wasn't connected it wouldn't read an 8.5 gig disc. I think it has to do with the DVD drive, nothing to do with the BIOS, this is strange. The connectors are fine, but I may have to call the manufacturer if no other suggestions are given.
Last edited by JerometheGiraff; 01 Apr 2012 at 21:33.
Please see if the dvd disc boots on another pc (a friend's?). Make sure that particular unit has the dvd drive first in boot order. Virtually all machines come stock with the hdd first.
It does not matter a whit if it can be read WITHIN windows. You have to first determine if the alleged "bootable" disc is indeed bootable. You could have burned it thinking you were going to get a bootable disc, but something may not have gone right.
You haven't told us if the disc is dual-layered and if your drive, the one you're trying to boot with, is new enough to read it. You haven't published any specs.
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