Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Gadgets & Tech Somebody - Anybody.

That's the problem, he doesn't have a windows disk.

I have the Windows disk ex0 but the drive won't read anything. I'll try bert's thing tomorrow. I've tried all the usual stuff, including stripping the computer down and putting it back together but no joy so it must be something to do with Windows Update in conflict with something I've got on there, just don't know what. The F8 spam didn't work either, the thing seems to pack in before getting to that stage. I've only got limited knowledge and at the moment I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. Like I said, it's interesting anyway but frustrating. Cheers

Got to leave it until tomorrow now, getting ready to go and call the bingo.

Not sure what significance this has, it says put disc in first then start computer, a dipstick like me would probably turn on and then install disc, educating myself now, I'm thinking it must take precedence and read disc before doing anything else, anyone enlighten me, cheers.

Tt depends on the boot order in the BIOS. Usually A first, then your C: drive and then your CD reader, but you can alter this order to suit. This is what I have been doing over the last couple of days. The computer then reads the devices in the order you've put them, except mine of course because it's goosed.
Had a look at that site bert and it's a good one but I've tried everything it said. It's a good one for future reference.
Looks like I'll have to and see the doctor but at least I've had a good go at it myself.
The reason I've had no joy is that the computer is not seeing the CD reader although it does flash through on switching on Cheers for your input anyway fellahs. Have a nice day.

Bit of an unusal one this. Would have to wonder if the problem isn't some part of the hardware itself failing, a huuuge proportion of problems can be fixed by booting to a disk. If not fixed, removed via formatting. For the disk not to load and your board to be locked out and the f8spam to not work that's really strange, something I've never personally come across before.

Be interested to see what the doc says. Good going trying to fix it yourself first.

Went the Doc's and his staff good, the DVD worked in the shop and she performed a routine to stop the updates going in which returned it to its previous state. got to try and get my cd and dvd drives working again but that seems a piece of cake to what I've been through. Must've been a conflict, will only pull down updates piecemeal from now on. Cheers yourself and bert for at least giving me a shoulder to cry on. It's got me a bit interested in computing again now, realised how much I've forgotten through not doing anything. Have a good day y'all.

Yippee, finally sorted it. Don't ask how, I went in so many circles and I was disappearing up my own disc drive. Eventually changed two readers, DVD and CD, left on jumpers on cable select and they didn't work so put one on slave and one on master, they then worked. Did all kinds of on line fixes and scans through Microsoft Fix It, changed the keyboard for another one. Rebooted with and without the Installation disc. It was a good job I had double glazing or it was going to go out the windee. Anyway, somewhere along the line it all came together and it all works. Remember the original problem started with "Update" as far as I can remember so be careful out there. Thanks for all the suggestions. It looks like perseverance won through, along with a bit of basic stubborness, Gawd knows. Cheers.