Format and load problem

I have an Aspire One that is about 1-1/2 years old, it is time for a scrub and reload. For some reason I can't get it to boot off the CD, I have set it to boot in the BIOS and also setting the boot order using F12. I turn it on you can hear it recognize the CD, I tap F12 and set it to boot from it starts to run but then bypasses to a normal XP boot. The CD shows up just fine in Explorer, I have no problem poking around various folders. It reads any disk I put in it with no issues, getting me a bit batty why it will not go through the boot sequence so I can scrub & reload.

Phil

 

The AAO's sometimes boot too quick, the LCD isn't updated sometimes, try doing the normal F12 to select CD from the boot menu, but while it's still dark (nothing on screen) keep tapping enter or the space bar.

What I'd say it's doing is bringing up the "press any key to boot from CD" message while the screen's still off, it's there, you're just not getting to see it in time

 

I have set the bios to boot from the usb CD, I have no problem with F12! It starts to read the CD for about 20 seconds then bypasses and goes to XP. I went onto the Aspire site and got their F10 thing it did not work, there must be some sort of work around to get this thing cleaned up!

Phil

 

So did you read my post and try what I suggested?

Did you keep pressing buttons durring the 20 seconds where it's recognised the boot media and is asking you to press any key to boot from CD?

As I said in my previous post, a lot of the time the AAO's LCD is not updated in time and even though it appears to be doing nothing, it is actually sitting there waiting for your input. Do a quick search, some users have posted about how they don't even get a BIOS POST screen, it just stays black until the windows screen loads.

Or if you have tried what i've suggested, then next time you post back, tell me that so I or others could suggest something else

Other suggestions:
Is your XP media an original media, or a burned one? sometimes the boot information isn't there when ISO's are downloaded, or the disk has been nLited etc
Are you using an XP Media, or a restore disk? Chances are if you're trying to use a restore disk, then you've got the image disk and not the bootable one
Is your BIOS up to date? maybe a fault in the programming is giving you what an old gigabyte motherboard gave me, simply wouldn't boot from CD media

 

Hi I have not tried to continually tapping, I have been just hitting it once that is when it appears to be going but stops. The disks came with it when I bought it all original Acer, the read write CD player has only been used two or three time previously for playing music on vacation.

 

You could also try connecting an external monitor full time. If it's there at Boot-Time the AAO might pick it as the default output, and you might be shown some things that have been previously hidden by the LCD update lag

 

Ok I need to fess up!!! I was trying to use the Aspire XP3 disk, that don't work!! You need to start with the "System" disk, out of frustration I looked at both disks and saw that the system disk looked more like a load disk the the XP3 disk. I swapped the disks in the CD and bingo it took about 45 minutes to be back to factory fresh, I spoke with a tech at Best Buy he said a lot of people end up bringing their machines to them and pay to have them reloaded when nothing is really wrong!

Phil