Reformatting the hard drive prob...

[threelions00]

Hi people...me again...

Ok, I have an Advent T9100

I have recently had the mobo changed and want to reformat my pc...

The way i have done it in the past is to just insert the CD, restart and press 'R' when it asks me to.

But now, it doesn't give me this option.

How can i get round this? I have tried putting it in the other dvd slot and allsorts of combinations but to no avail.

Do i need to set the bios so it will allow me to do it?

Thanks again anyone that may help.

[Snee]

Go into your bios and make sure the first (or second if you need to boot from your floppy) entry in the boot order is a cd-rom.

Hopefully this is all that needs to be done. Remember that the hd you want to install windows to still needs to be in the list, so if it's first then drop it a notch, don't remove it completely.

If you still can't boot from your cd no matter what, then get a bootdisk image for the appropriate os from www.bootdisk.com, and use a floppy to boot up the installer. (This is assuming your mobo detects the right drive but can't boot from it.)


EDit: also, what os are you trying to install?

[threelions00]

i am trying to put on xp home...i will give what u said a go

[threelions00]

ok snny...i got it now thanks.

i think i may be learning a little now...i even had an idea i may need to change something in the bios...woah....

[threelions00]

erm...one more thing...can i upadate all my drivers from the desktop...i.e. let the computer search for them on the web? or do i have to go and find them all?

is so what should i update? video? sound? anything else?

[Snee]

Windows will install most drivers you need to run your system. If something doesn't work you'll definitely need drivers from somewhere else.

Have a look at the cd that came with your mobo, if one did, there may be be drivers on that. Remember though, that it's usually good to get the most recent drivers you can find, and that these are usually found on the manufacturer's website.

And feel free to post what hardware you have, and I'll have a look if you want.

[threelions00]

cheers snny...i will do just that when i work out what i have....any easy way of finding out? i am not trying to cut corners by looking for an easy way round each time but i am one of the reasons that the ...for dummies was invented

[Snee]

I think some people install everest home to check this kind of thing, if you have windows working now.

If you just bought the mobo you should still have the box for it though, right? So that, you'll know what it is, anyway.

[clocker]

Go to Start>Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager.
Anything with a yellow "X" or exclamation point is needing drivers.

[threelions00]

cheers clocker...the prob was that it would not let me install any usb so i could not use net, memory stick or printer...

all sorted now, just getting sound driver then will get everest like snny said

[Snee]

Remember to run windows update as well.

I don't think you can use usb 2.0 without sp1.

[threelions00]

just running the updates now...
hopefully all will be fine....if not, i will come yelling...as always

[threelions00]

ok snny...you mentioned updating my drivers...well i got everest to see what was on my machine...

i have updated the sound and video drivers. What else should i update?

Cheers to all your help so far