Can't install Windows 7 after purging HD

[Salzus]

With the USB drive plugged in the boot order is:
1: USB CDROM
2: ATAPI CD/DVD ROM Drive
3: Notebook Hard Drive
4: USB Floppy
5: USB Hard Drive
6: USB Diskette on key
!7: Network Adapter

 

[Teerex]

Well, Salzus, now I'm out of options I can think of. It could be a keyboard fault, but this can't be handled online, someone has to physically inspect the laptop.

 

[Salzus]

It can't be the keyboard if I can go into the bios and move around to select the options. If it was a keyboard fault it should still not be showing a flashing cursor. I am stumped too.

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 installer cannot boot from a CD-ROM as it is on a DVD.

If the USB drive boots DVD's then it should be labeled DVD.

 

[Salzus]

But I used it to install windows7 on a net book(as you know net books have no CD-ROM, unless it worked because it had an OS already.

 

[Salzus]

The front of the CD-Rom player also states DVD - Multi it just shows up at USB - CD-ROM

 

[Salzus]

Either way, when I use the external drive or the built in drive it does the same thing.

 

[Salzus]

Any suggestions?

 

[Salzus]

Don't know if this helps but I used DBAN Nuke to purge the HD. I put that CD in now and it can read it. So I am thinking perhaps it is an issue with reading DVDs so I am currently download XP from the Microsoft ISDN site and will try and install it. If it works then I got a stepping stone.

 

[whs]

For a test, download and burn this CD (last item on the webpage) and see whether that boots. It must have something to do with the fact that your working with .isos.

 

[Salzus]

Free Download Bootable CD Now! - Home version?

 

[Salzus]

It worked that link, what now? What am I doing wrong?

 

[whs]

What have you done. Did you burn the download to a CD and tried to load it from the CD reader?

 

[Salzus]

Correct, so perhaps it can't read any DVDs. I am finding it difficult installing XP as a bootable CD. I have XP but dont know how to have it as bootable. Plan was to use XP as a stepping stone to install Win7. Unless I have other options.

 

[whs]

You did not answer my question.

 

[Salzus]

You also asked: Did you burn the download to a CD and tried to load it from the CD reader?
I replied "Correct" I downloaded the iso, burned to a CD and loaded it successfully using a CD/DVD rom player on the laptop (not an external drive)

 

[whs]

OK, I did not get that part. What I suggest you do is use your new bootable CD of partition wizard and reformat the disk. Then define a primary, active partition on it and then try to install from the DVD to that partition.

 

[Salzus]

OK, I did not get that part. What I suggest you do is use your new bootable CD of partition wizard and reformat the disk. Then define a primary, active partition on it and then try to install from the DVD to that partition.

Do I wipe any sectors? Also how do I define a primary active partition.

 

[whs]

Just format the drive in NTFS. Then go to partition tab > create. Then to Partition tab > Modify.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you say your DVD autostarted once you wiped the HD with DBAN as expected? WIll it load files and proceed with Custom install? Clean Install Windows 7