CD-ROM not available as a booting option

[jjr87]

Didn't know where to post this, but this question concerns a problem with the CD-ROM drive not being read in the boot menu.

The only visible option in the boot menu is the Notebook Hard Drive and nothing else.

This problem prevents me from booting a Linux installation that is required for a class.

Could anyone provide a solution for me; or at the very least help me discover the problem?

Thanks in advance; any useful information is appreciated.

 

[whs]

Does your CD drive function? Also, did you look in the BIOS setup and not only in the boot menu.

 

[caretaker]

It would help to know what OS you are using

 

[smarteyeball]

It would help to know what OS you are using

OP, Can you access your cd drive at all from within Windows? Is it visible within BIOS at all?

If no to both, then it sounds like it's failed.

Otherwise:

Some laptops also have a 'Multi Boot' option key that allows you to select which device to boot from during BIOS post.

For example, a Dell I had here - the option was F12. On my desktop, it's F8

Alternatively, you can adjust the boot order in BIOS and set the cd-rom device as the first device.


Another alternative if your drive has died, would be to install and boot Linux from a USB flash drive.

 

[Night Hawk]

Welcome to the Se7en Forums! jjr87

My last build here saw the F8 key for the Asus board while the F12 is the present one for the new desktop. On laptops the F4 or F11 could be assigned for the boot device menu if available.

In case your optical has failed and you have a usb flash drive onhand you can actually see the distro installed or run live from the flash drive itself. Some of the latest releases of some now see an option for copying the main files to flash drives as well as making them bootable if the laptop see the usb hard drive option in the advanced section of the bios or you can bring up the boot device menu making that a lot easier.

 

[jjr87]

hey, thanks for all the replies & welcome...

Yes, my CD-ROM drive is visible and functional in the GUI, but just not readable from the boot menu. Also, the drivers for it look fine.

[some additional info]:
-The OS I'm using is Windows 7 (this IS SevenForums.com right? ) Ultimate, x86, and previously upgraded (clean-install) from Windows Vista.
-It is a DVD/CD-ROM drive (Slimtype DVD A DS8A1H ATA Device) and the device is apparently "working properly."
-The drivers for the device is seemingly fine, no (!)'s or anything that the OS knows about..

It had occurred to me to go into the BIOS, but whenever I go in there to troubleshoot something, I am not sure what I am looking at/for.
If the solution/progress can be found in the BIOS, could someone layout some instructions on how to go about it?

Thanks again..!


PS: the CD-ROM actually USED to be an option before, and I was able to dual-boot my machine twice before on the upgraded Windows 7. (background info: it was only AFTER the MBR got all messed up from deleting the Linux partition, I had to re-do the Windows installation from a clean slate..the first time solved through using SuperGRUB software and the second time restoring the machine back to Vista, then upgrading to 7..huge pain)
..But of course, this may all be unrelated or irrelevant to my current problem.

 

[Night Hawk]

You may want to review the guide here for seeing a clean install when having an upgrade disk only to work with! http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

And yes you at the SevenForums.com

 

[TimStitt]

hey, thanks for all the replies & welcome...

Yes, my CD-ROM drive is visible and functional in the GUI, but just not readable from the boot menu. Also, the drivers for it look fine.

[some additional info]:
-The OS I'm using is Windows 7 (this IS SevenForums.com right? ) Ultimate, x86, and previously upgraded (clean-install) from Windows Vista.
-It is a DVD/CD-ROM drive (Slimtype DVD A DS8A1H ATA Device) and the device is apparently "working properly."
-The drivers for the device is seemingly fine, no (!)'s or anything that the OS knows about..

It had occurred to me to go into the BIOS, but whenever I go in there to troubleshoot something, I am not sure what I am looking at/for.
If the solution/progress can be found in the BIOS, could someone layout some instructions on how to go about it?

Thanks again..!


PS: the CD-ROM actually USED to be an option before, and I was able to dual-boot my machine twice before on the upgraded Windows 7. (background info: it was only AFTER the MBR got all messed up from deleting the Linux partition, I had to re-do the Windows installation from a clean slate..the first time solved through using SuperGRUB software and the second time restoring the machine back to Vista, then upgrading to 7..huge pain)
..But of course, this may all be unrelated or irrelevant to my current problem.

Hi jjr87,
Try it with another CD/DVD in it that you know 100% is bootable. It seems to me that the disk you're putting in is not a bootable CD, so the option to boot from it is not displayed.
Good luck
Tim

 

[Night Hawk]

I recently replaced one sata dvd burner on a desktop since I would have to shutdown completely and then power back up in order to boot from any disk! If the disk isn't bootable while a 7 upgrade should still be you wouldn't get very far unless running the setup on a previous version like Vista.

The clean install can also be performed by making up an installation key with a usb flash drive as another option. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html