I am stuck on a screen saying I have no CD ROM drive. Help!

[rdj1048]

I reinstalled Windows XP Professional on a new hard drive. Everything was fine until I downloaded an update from HP. When it automatically rebooted a screen came up saying it couldn't find a CD ROM drive. Press F3 to restart. It's a perpetual process. I tried to change the boot sequence to the CD drive to boot off the Windows CD but of course it didn't read it. You can press F8 for different options but none work. You can't start in safe mode or Recovery or debugging..nothing works. You can't get to the C drive. Can anyone help me?

I have a Dell DXP051, Windows XP Professional 5.1 SP 2, Intel Pentium CPU x86, 2 Processors, Speed 2793 MHz, Hard Disk Total Capacity 465.75 GB, Available Disk Space 2.99GB, Total Virtual Memory 2.0GB, RAM 4GB, IE 6.0.2900.2180 Cypher Strength 128 bit, Modem Conexant D850 56K V.9xDFVc, Wireless Connection with Time Warner Cable - Road Runner, Adapter Type Ethernet 802.3 Intel (R) Pro/1000 PL Network Connection Service Name: elexpress, System BIOS Dell Inc. A02 10/28/05, SMBIOS Version 2.3, RADEON X300 SE 128 MB HyperMemory

 

[ksiemb]

I reinstalled Windows XP Professional on a new hard drive. Everything was fine until I downloaded an update from HP. When it automatically rebooted a screen came up saying it couldn't find a CD ROM drive. Press F3 to restart. It's a perpetual process. I tried to change the boot sequence to the CD drive to boot off the Windows CD but of course it didn't read it. You can press F8 for different options but none work. You can't start in safe mode or Recovery or debugging..nothing works. You can't get to the C drive. Can anyone help me?

I have a Dell DXP051, Windows XP Professional 5.1 SP 2, Intel Pentium CPU x86, 2 Processors, Speed 2793 MHz, Hard Disk Total Capacity 465.75 GB, Available Disk Space 2.99GB, Total Virtual Memory 2.0GB, RAM 4GB, IE 6.0.2900.2180 Cypher Strength 128 bit, Modem Conexant D850 56K V.9xDFVc, Wireless Connection with Time Warner Cable - Road Runner, Adapter Type Ethernet 802.3 Intel (R) Pro/1000 PL Network Connection Service Name: elexpress, System BIOS Dell Inc. A02 10/28/05, SMBIOS Version 2.3, RADEON X300 SE 128 MB HyperMemory

Boot into safe mode. - Add Remove programs - (show updates) - Uninstall the HP update.

 

[rdj1048]

Boot into safe mode. - Add Remove programs - (show updates) - Uninstall the HP update.

I stated I am unable to go into safe mode or do any other thing. When I press F8 none of the options work.

 

[ksiemb]

I stated I am unable to go into safe mode or do any other thing. When I press F8 none of the options work.

Sorry 'bout that - You could use a different computer computer that has the drive to copy the CD to USB drive, and use that to boot from (provided you have USB boot capability.

 

[rdj1048]

I'm not sure if it will boot from a USB. What exactly do I put on the USB? The Windows installation disk? I have another new computer I can copy that to a USB.

 

[ksiemb]

I'm not sure if it will boot from a USB. What exactly do I put on the USB? The Windows installation disk? I have another new computer I can copy that to a USB.

F12 on Dell when booting should show you boot devices, diagnostics etc to see if you can boot from USB. Yes, copy Windows CD tp USB, then on the problem machine, insert the use, press F12, and it should search for a bootable media.

 

[rdj1048]

I'll give it a try but I don't think the F12 key will work because of the cycle it's in. Thanks! I'll let you know.