I am trying to reinstall the operating system. I went into the bios and set the boot sequence to boot CD-ROM first and HD second. I press F12 and choose to boot from IDE CD-ROM. I then receive the message 'strike F1 to retry boot or F2 for setup'. If I press F1 I receive the same message. If I press F2 I go into setup. Any

To boot from a CD, DVD or USB device, make sure that the device has boot sequence priority over the hard drive.

BIOS Boot

BIOS (Basic Input Output Subsystem) is a programmable chip that controls how information is passed to various devices in the computer system. A typical method to access the BIOS settings screen is to press ESC, F1, F2, F8 or F10 during the boot sequence.
BIOS settings allow you to run a boot sequence from a floppy drive, a hard drive, a CD-ROM drive or an external device. You may configure the order that your computer searches these physical devices for the boot sequence.
The first device in the order list has the first boot priority. For example, to boot from a CD-ROM drive instead of a hard drive, place the CD-ROM drive ahead of the hard drive in priority.
Before you set boot priority for a USB device, plug the device into a USB port.
To specify the boot sequence:

1. Start the computer and press ESC, F1, F2, F8 or F10 during the initial startup screen. Depending on the BIOS manufacturer, a menu may appear.
2. Choose to enter BIOS setup. The BIOS setup utility page appears.
3. Use the arrow keys to select the BOOT tab. System devices appear in order of priority.
4. To give a CD or DVD drive boot sequence priority over the hard drive, move it to the first position in the list.
5. To give a USB device boot sequence priority over the hard drive, do the following:
   • Move the hard drive device to the top of the boot sequence list.
   • Expand the hard drive device to display all hard drives.
   • Move the USB device to the top of the list of hard drives.
6. Save and exit the BIOS setup utility.
7. The computer will restart with the changed settings.

Boot Priority Options

Some computer manufacturers allow you to select the device that contains the boot sequence from a special device selection menu. The example below uses a Dell system board.
To set boot priority using a device selection menu:

1. When the computer starts to boot up, after the manufacturer's ID screen, press F12 several times. The device selection menu appears.
2. Use the up and down arrows to select CD-ROM or

im assuming you have the recovery disk

Restart the computer and press the pause/break key on the keyboard.

This key will slow down the boot process and allow you to see the motherboard BIOS access key that you'll need to press in order to access the motherboard BIOS.

Press the respective motherboard access key and check the motherboard BIOS for a boot sequence.

Change the settings in the boot sequence so the primary boot device or the first boot drive is the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

Insert the system recovery disc into the disc drive.

Restart the computer and allow it to boot up before doing anything.

A black screen should show up with the words Press any key to boot from disc CD/DVD.
Press a key to have the system boot from the recovery disc.

Allow the system to load.

Follow the on-screen instructions on how to install the rest of the operating system.

There are many different settings for you to choose.
If the operating system is just a little out of whack, you can choose to repair it.

The system recovery disc will contain important drivers and software for all the components connected to the computer system.

If you do not have a system restore disc you can search the Internet for drivers and software that are packaged for your specific eMachines model.

Restore the BIOS to their default settings so the hard drive is primary boot sequence.

This is an optional step.

You can leave the CD-ROM drive as the primary boot drive, but it will slow down the startup process by a few seconds.

hope this helps

Turn on the machine, press F12 once the Dell splash screen is displayed, the boot menu will show up. From the Boot Menu, use up-down arrow keys on the keyboard and highlight the CD/DVD/CD-RW and press Enter.You will see another menu, select "Boot from Cd-Rom" and press enter to select it. The system will boot up from the CD-Rom. Please note that this settings is only for one time boot, once the system is restarted, the boot sequence will be restored to the previous saved settings. If you wish to set it from the Bios, enter the Bios settings by hitting F2 or Delete (should be shown at the bottom of the Dell splash screen) while you see the Dell Splash Screen. In the Bios settings menu, go to Boot options and make the changes with the boot sequence.


Let me know if you need further help.

Good Luck.

Thanks for using FixYa.

1 first insert the windows cd in cd/dvd rom 2 chek in the bios if the first boot device is the cd/dvd rom 3 vhen it boots it will say press any key to boot from cd 4 after loading all the data you must format drive C 5 after formating it will restart instaling windows you must insert the windows cd key thats all

There is still a way for you to boot from your CD ROM. Just access or go to BIOS again, look for "BOOT" tab and then set the boot sequence of your computer and the set the first priority to be on the (ODD or CD DVD ROM), just make sure you put the CD ROM option at the first section and to do that, Use the arrow keys on your keyboard and highlight it and then press normally "F5 and F6" further instruction are there any way. Once your done, press F10 and select save and exit, Insert the disc on the CD ROM restart your computer at that time your computer should be booting now from the CD ROM.


Cheers . . .

put in the OS cd to you cd rom. power on the computer keep on tapping the F12 key until you reached to boot options. select your cd/dvd rom drive to boot up from your cdrom.

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Insert your System CD (the one with the operating system on it). Boot up the computer and press F12 during the couple of seconds at the very beginning of the boot sequence to access the boot menu. You'll want to specify the CD-ROM as your 1st boot device. The system will boot from the system CD and you just follow the prompts to reinstall the operating system. Just realize, this will restore your computer to "out of the box" condition. You'll have to update Windows XP several times as well as your drivers. Also, ALL data that was on the computer will be lost forever.

when the pc in post usually on dells bios there is a boot menu option it is usually f12
if you don't know what your doing in the bios it is not a good place to test your skills after pressing F12 just choose cd rom for boot

When you start your computer Press F2 or F12 to make changes in Boot sequences.Make the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM 1st in the Sequence. Save the Changes and Exit.Before rebooting put the XP CD inside the CD-ROM Drive and reboot.
If you donot have Driver's CD of Motherboard,it is better to make Driver's CD before reinstallation.

What windows are you installing?