PC Will not boot from CD despite CD first in Boot order

[Gasper]

Hi,

Newbie alert. I am guessing this is the correct forum for this question if not mods please move.

I rebooted my PC last Friday and it failed to reboot Win 7. I've tried all the main solutions: safe mode, Windows defender. I was trying to run with a recovery disc created on another win 7 64bit then start up with Ubuntu just to backup my files.
However I have changed my BIOS Boot order to CD and it still keeps booting to the Windows recovery screen.

The CD-Rom Group is number 1 in the boot order.
Has anyone any ideas?

Thanks

 

[bigmck]

Hi,

Newbie alert. I am guessing this is the correct forum for this question if not mods please move.

I rebooted my PC last Friday and it failed to reboot Win 7. I've tried all the main solutions: safe mode, Windows defender. I was trying to run with a recovery disc created on another win 7 64bit then start up with Ubuntu just to backup my files.
However I have changed my BIOS Boot order to CD and it still keeps booting to the Windows recovery screen.

The CD-Rom Group is number 1 in the boot order.
Has anyone any ideas?

Thanks

When you are at Windows Recovery Screen, does it give you an option for System Restore? If so, choose that and go to a date before you had the problem. This should repair it.

 

[SIW2]

Might be something with bios settings.

If you have a key F11 or similar to bring up one time boot menu, that is easiest. Should be in your motherboard manual.

 

[Gasper]

Thanks for the response bigmck.

The only options I get on the Win recovery screen are:
Launch start up repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally.

If I select start up repair the PC loads some files, goes black screen for some minutes then just displays a light blue screen with a sun ray type pattern and nothing else.
If I select start Windows it looks like it is starting but then just sticks n the Windows logo.

One other point: Although in the bios set up utility it says CD is first boot device, on the boot-time diagnostic screen it says, at the bottom:
1st drive : Hard drive name
2nd drive : cd drive name.

Cheers

 

[Gasper]

Thanks SIW2.

Wouldn't have a clue about the motherboard manual but I have tried hitting all F keys without any result.

 

[gregrocker]

What is the PC or mobo maker? BIOS Boot menu keys

How to Boot A Computer from CD or DVD - YouTube

What I would do is make the Win7 installation media for your licensed version from Step 9 of
Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start then work through those steps, starting with System Restore run from System Recovery Options . The steps also include a method to rescue your files, then if necessary reinstall.

 

[matts6887]

I have agree with greg on the last post. It does sound like there is a very distinct possibility you may need to reinstall windows; so with that in mind i hope you bothered to back up anything important.

 

[Gasper]

Thanks Gregrocker

It's an HP and I was aware of the esc key. I have already set the boot order as per the video but the PC still insists on booting from HD.
As I said in an earlier post I only get the option to start repair of windows and neither actually start, so I'm not going to bother with the Partition Wizard.

Anyway I just ran Smart Short self test and got a fail, so I'm now assuming it's a HD failure that is causing my problems.

I Just want to try and get my data. Matts6887, I do keep backups but haven't done for a couple of weeks so just most recent work is missing and that's just a pain not a disaster.

Any suggestions how I can stop it booting from HD so the CD will run?

 

[bigmck]

One other point: Although in the bios set up utility it says CD is first boot device, on the boot-time diagnostic screen it says, at the bottom:
1st drive : Hard drive name
2nd drive : cd drive name.

I think you need to go into Bios and check again on the boot sequence. Either the CD is first or it's not. It can't be two different ways.

 

[johnnya]

Hi Gasper and welcome to the Forum. You say that you made the Windows Recovery CD on another machine. Are you sure that it is a BOOTABLE cd. Have you tried it on another machine to be sure.
At boot time, does it even try to boot from the CD? Any lights flash on the CD Drive when booting?
Cheers
JohnnyA

 

[Gasper]

Hi Johnnya
No haven't checked, but I did try Win Defender disc again and that booted so I;m reckoning that the "Ultimate" and recovery are not working properly.

I think I'm resigned to replacing the HD and reloadng win 7 now...

 

[AddRAM]

Unplug the hard drive, it should boot from the dvd rom now. If it still doesn`t, then your drive is bad or the install media is bad.

 

[Gasper]

Ok Thank you to all those that gave me advice.
The problem was a completely f***** HD. I've replace that and re-installed Win7. Now I just have to sus how to reload all the HP drivers etc.!!

 

[gregrocker]

If you follow the steps and use the tools and methods provided in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
then you will get and keep a perfect install for as long as you do. But if you are planning to import a bunch of drivers from HP into a driver-complete OS then you are already on the wrong track.

 

[Gasper]

Thanks Gregrocker I will follow your advice.