Okay, so a few days ago I got a new PC built and tried to install windows XP. When I placed the disk in and started it up, it gave me an error saying: "disk boot error insert system disk and press enter". Of course, I tried re-inserting the windows disk and pressing enter, but to no avail. Could it be the actual HDD that is to blame?

Thanks for the help.

Did you tell the System BIOS Menu to boot to the CD before the HD?

Indeed I have.

So you see the prompt to press key to boot to CD? And then it says to insert disk? If so, then you have a bad, or non-bootable CD.

Well, It simply repeats the error message above. The strange thing is, I used the exact same disk to reformat my other drive just last night. Are there any other explanations?

First, you did not answer my question - "So you see the prompt to press key to boot to CD?"

I used the exact same disk to reformat my other drive just last night

What do you mean? Are you attempting to use the same installation disk for two different computers?

Originally Posted by Digerati

First, you did not answer my question - "So you see the prompt to press key to boot to CD?"

What do you mean? Are you attempting to use the same installation disk for two different computers?

Not exactly, I was going to reformat, but decided against it after I had already put in the disk and it was working fine at the moment. (The first computer came with pre-installed windows, and I was using another disk I had laying around to reformat).

Understand that installing Windows on 2 machines using the same Windows license is illegal - and we will not help you with that.

As far as booting to CD, well - can't help you if you don't answer the questions!

Originally Posted by Digerati

Understand that installing Windows on 2 machines using the same Windows license is illegal - and we will not help you with that.

As far as booting to CD, well - can't help you if you don't answer the questions!

This windows license is new, as I bought it just a few days ago to use on this new computer. Is it considered "Used" If I was going to use the disk to reformat but did not get far enough to do any formatting?

Oh sorry, I did not see that question. The only thing I recall seeing is the exact text I posted earlier, about disk boot error, and when I put it in and pressed enter, nothing happened.

Using it to format is not a problem. Installing Windows on two machines would be.

The only thing I recall seeing is the exact text I posted earlier, about disk boot error, and when I put it in and pressed enter, nothing happened.

Then it sounds like you need to go into the BIOS Setup Menu and set the CD to be ahead of the HD in the boot order.