Can't Install W7 over XP... what am I doing wrong?

[Slimbone]

I currently have XP on my machine. I've copied the files I need saved, and want to install Windows 7 new. I insert the disc, and I'm told to reboot the PC, and then choose custom install. However, I leave the disc in the DVD drive, restart the machine, and the disc never comes up. I'm brought right back to the log-in for XP.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[DocBrown]

Do you have yor Bios setup, set to boot from CD/DVD first, the HD ?

 

[Slimbone]

Yes. I went into Bios and made sure it was set-up that way, and it was. Still not reading the disc.

 

[DocBrown]

Is this a retail win7 DVD or one that was made from a .iso file?

 

[Slimbone]

Retail. Got the pretty box and everything. Just double checked the Advanced BIOS Features:

First boot device: CDROM
Second boot device: Hard Disk
Third boot device: Removable

The disc worked before when there was no OS already installed, but now it's giving me this trouble. Any thoughts?

 

[DocBrown]

Sometimes you can get a Boot Menu screen during boot-up if you tap the F8 or F10 keys

 

[Slimbone]

Okay, I'll try that. Hitting the delete key brings me up to my BIOS screen, but I'll try F8 and F10.

 

[Slimbone]

Thanks, DocBrown! Hitting F8 brought up the Advanced Boot Options screen. From there, I chose 'Start Windows Normally', and it read the disc.

Problem solved!

 

[DocBrown]

Good job, Just ask more questions if you have any problems with anything else.

 

[gregrocker]

It's a DVD, so you're not using the CD-ROM drive set first to boot.

I would wipe the HD before install to overwrite old or infected code: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html