Cant reinstall xp

**RB211** · #1 18th Dec 2008, 23:48

Good morning all. I'm having huge problems reinstalling windows. I intended to reformat my C drive and then to reinstall xp. During the install I realised that all that was happening was that xp was installing but without the formatting I had intended. I try to stop the install and now wish I hadnt. Now, on bootup the machine cycles and doesnt respond to any key commands. The motherboard opening graphics show, then it tries to go into "setup is restarting" but it doesnt start. It just goes back to rebooting. I have the original xp disk which I am trying to use. Please help...

**philthomas** · #2 19th Dec 2008, 03:03

If you reboot the PC, with the XP disk inserted, do you get the prompt "press any key to boot from CD" ... if so hit a key and you should be able to start a fresh install.

**RB211** · #3 19th Dec 2008, 04:35

Hi..No The disk is in the drive but it isnt picking it up. It just keeps cycling back to reboot. No keys have any effect.

**Hybr!d** · #4 19th Dec 2008, 04:51

Get into your BIOS and set the CDRom as the 1st boot device, then boot off the CD to do the install.

**RB211** · #5 19th Dec 2008, 06:10

OK thanks for that..But how do I do that? Sorry to be thick

**Hybr!d** · #6 19th Dec 2008, 06:16

Turn on the PC, the post screen will show, then press the key it says onscreen to enter BIOS.

Look for boot sequence and set CDRom as 1st boot device.

**RB211** · #7 19th Dec 2008, 06:59

Thanks for that Dave but like I said, none of the keys have any effect on it..I'll try again when I get home but so far there doesnt seem to be a way to control it...Its possessed lol Cheers again

**Hybr!d** · #8 19th Dec 2008, 07:08

Are you using a USB keyboard?

**RB211** · #9 19th Dec 2008, 07:26

Yes its a microsoft wireless board and mouse....

**Hybr!d** · #10 19th Dec 2008, 07:37

They don't work in the post software as they need drivers.

If you have a PS/2 keyboard port get a PS/2 KB and then you can use the functions in the post screens.