Laptop does not boot WindowsXP CD?

Question

Hi.

I am using an ACER laptop and it had a virus on it. I was unable to boot from my windowsXP cd so I could not reinstall windows. I then took the hard-disk out and formatted it on another computer.

Changing Bios so it reads from CD first, a message came out saying No Bootable CD Detected. Not the Cd's fault as I could boot fine using other computers. I then took out hard disk again and reinstalled windows on it using another computer.

This time when I booted from HardDisk, a message came out saying Windows Configuration Error (this is probably due to me re-installing windows on another computer). I am still unable to boot the WindowsXP CD and totally running out of ideas.

Read somewhere about a boot-sector virus. Could this be it? If it is, how can I fix it without being able to access command prompt.

HELP!!!!

Answer 1

Have you tried system restore? if you have then it seems that the virus has corrupted your windows start up file. you will have to flash (clear) your BIOS. You will have to go to acer's website and download the file so you can make a cd that will flash the bios. then you will be able to reinstall windows xp using the original cd.

Answer 2

If you have a floppy drive in the laptop get a windows boot disk, boot to it then run fdisk /mbr, that will repair your master boot record. Then try to boot from the windows cd. If you don't have a floppy get a copy of gparted, it comes on cd and is a free download. I use it all the time to re partition, format, and repair master boot records for windows computers.

Answer 3

boot from a win 98 disk into dos and format the drive then boot from an xp cd thru dos prompt