Hi there, I have a problem regarding installing the OS on my computer for the first time.

When I switch it on I get a message saying DISK BOOT ERROR INSERT STSTEM DISK PRESS ENTER

Now I presume I am supposed to just put the disk in the drive and wait for it to do its thing but I just get the same message after I get these two messages:

PXE-E61: media test failure check cable
PXE-MOF: exiting NVIDIA boot agent

I have set first second and third boot device to CD-rom in my bios and the same thing happens.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks

Double check your data cable connections to both the cd and the hard drive
Then set the boot order to floppy , cd, and hard drive

The error message is telling you can't access the cd disk
Make sure the cd-rom drive is set to master and connected to the end of the cable
If you have 2 cd rom drives installed make sure you put the disk in the one set as master

I would suggest that it may well be a cable issue. Check the cables are securely plugged in everywhere. Mobo as well as the CD rom ends.

The 2nd message I think relates to an on board network device. Its obviously not seeing your CD rom & hence trying all other devices!

Good luck :)

I have my CD ROM set to slave and my HDD set to master.

As u suggest I will set the CD ROM to master. In this case should I set my HDD to slave?

Thanks

I only have one cdrom and one hdd btw

Unless you only wish to use one IDE controller (to save IRQs or whatever), I suggest putting your cd rom and hdd on their own separate cables and controllers (your mobo should have two connectors).

Connect your HDD to IDE1 and your CD rom to IDE 2. You can then set them both as master.

Set your bios boot order as Rick outlined, insert the WinXP install CD, then press ctrl+alt+del to restart the machine and it should boot to the CD rom and display the WinXP setup screen.

Good luck. :)

Thanks for the replies.

So, if i'm just using IDE 0, should I have the DVD ROM set to master or slave? What should I have the HDD set to?

Thanks again

If you are only using one cable then the central connector should be attached to the device jumpered as the slave (whether it's a HDD or a CDROM) and the end connector to the master. Alternatively, if this is a modern setup and you are using 80-wire cables, you should be able to set both devices to cable select and connect them whichever way you want.

One thing to look for, the IDE cable is set up so that the connectors that go to the drives are closer together than the center one and the motherboard connector, make sure that is correct. The longer part of the cable goes to the motherboard.

Everything else I can think of has already been covered, drive jumper settings depend on the cable. With older 40 wire cables use Master/Slave jumpering, with new 80 wire cables, Cable Select usually works better.

It all works fine now.

I have them both on separate IDE channels, HDD on 0, DVD on 1.

However, it only works when the HDD is set to master and the DVD is set to slave.

Could anyone tell me why this is?

By the way, thanks for helping me through my first build!