Can't get refurb win 7 dell latitude to boot from dvd drive

marsmimar · 11 Dec 2016

Have you checked the BIOS to see if the DVD is the first device to be checked during boot sequence? The computer might have the hard drive as #1. If so, it's my understanding that as soon as the boot sequence finds an operating system on the hard drive it will ignore all other devices. If I've misunderstood your question I'm sincerely sorry.

HAVOC · 11 Dec 2016

Keep us informed.
I haven't seen a drive fail where a CD will work but not a DVD. It could happen though.

townsbg · 14 Dec 2016

HAVOC said:

Keep us informed.
I haven't seen a drive fail where a CD will work but not a DVD. It could happen though.

I believe that DVD and cd use different lasers so it is possible. If I recall correctly when I lost my drive I think the dvd went out first. They are inexpensive but inexperienced users might have trouble changing them out on a laptop.

bigmck · 14 Dec 2016

guitarfiend said:

HAVOC said:

Have you tried pressing F2 right as the computer is booting? Maybe the DVD drive is dead. Does it work within Windows?

Havoc,yes...I have been able to get into the boot menu at startup.But,it still refuses to boot from my Xubuntu dvd.And,I KNOW the Xubuntu dvd is good.I can listen to music cd's & burn them.But,I don';t know about the dvd funcionality (I have no dvd's) I'm trying to borrow one (Old school)

When you were in the BIOS, did you set the boot sequence so that the DVD was the first to boot? If you don't do that, you won't ever get it to boot from the DVD.