Struggling to alter Boot Device Priority

I need to make my CD drive the priority boot drive, so I can analyse my hard drive with Sea Tools. I am in DOS and alter the boot priority to elevate the CD drive to first and press F10 to save. However on rebooting, the CD drive has been relegated to its normal #3 position. Sea Tools CD is inserted.

Please advise of what I am doing wrong.

Boot priority is set in the computer BIOS. The enter BIOS key will be displayed when you first boot the computer. F10 is a common DELL keystroke. YOUR MOTHERBOARD MAY BE DIFFERENT as DELETE and F9 are also common.

1. First, put the Sea Tools CD in the CD/DVD drive.
2. Reboot the computer.
3. During the initial start up, press F10 (if that is the correct key for your motherboard).
4. Once in the BIOS set up, select "Boot".
5. Scroll down to "Boot Device Priority".
6. Select "CDROM Group" for the 1st Boot Device.
7. Save and Exit.
8. The reboot should start Sea Tools.

NOTE: If you didn't properly burn the Sea Tools CD to be bootable, the computer will next try the hard drive.

Regards,
GEWB

Thank you. :)

Ztruker said:

No need to do that. Dell uses the F12 key at boot to open the boot menu where you can select the CD/DVD drive to boot from.

Rich, this needs "YMMV" (your milage may vary) as neither my Dell desktop nor my Dell lappy have that option available at boot.

Regards,
GEWB

Ztruker said:

That's a bummer. I thought this was universal with Dell.
Did you check BIOS to see if the display of that key is enabled?

No I haven't but it's not an issue for me as the boot order works as I need. Coupled with GRUB I'm doing what I need when I need. Note the Dell unit are old (like me).

Regards,
GEWB