Computer won't read any bootable disk

[Bagi]

Gotta big problem here!

I recently bought new ASUS K53E laptop. I didn't instal OS yet. I booted from my Hiren's bootable CD and I went in to XP environment. I just wanted to see something, I didn't want to fiddle with anything. When I tried to reboot the computer it didn't want to boot from that CD or any other CD anymore. All I see now is ASUS welcome screen and black screen with blinking dash after that. When I insert any bootable CD I hear the optic working, like it's trying to read something but nothing happens. How to fix this problem? Thanks!

[Nick Vini]

Check boot order in BIOS settings, make sure that first boot device is CD-DVD drive, if no, then select CD-DVD drive as first boot device.

---------- Post added at 01:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:48 AM ----------

Most possible, you have HDD as first bootable device selected in BIOS, this HDD for some reason won't let you to boot up PC from any CD.

[Networx]

Nick is right. You should set first boot device as CD / DVD for it to work. While booting, log in to BIOS, change the preference and save. You could also set USB as second boot and HDD as third preference if you are planning a bootable USB.

[Nick Vini]

Oh, Bagi, I forgot to say, as you use ASUS K53E and if you are not aware how to enter BIOS setup, then, as I know, you should press "Escape" key during P.O.S.T. (when you see welcome screen).

[hal9000]

While I would agree BIOS boot order is something to check, it doesn't explain how Bagi managed to boot into Hiren's in the first place, rebooted the MiniXP, and then nothing worked after that, unless he pressed a key to change the boot order during POST and forgot.

If the CD's are in good order and the BIOS is as it should be, may be a hardware issue.

[Bagi]

Thank you guys for quick responses. Fortunately, changing the boot order in BIOS fixed the problem. But I am not sure how did the boot order changed in the first place. As I sad, I was able to boot with my Hiren's bootable CD and I didn't change anything. Anyway I'm glad that everything is OK now! Thanks again!!!

[Nick Vini]

Thank you guys for quick responses. Fortunately, changing the boot order in BIOS fixed the problem. But I am not sure how did the boot order changed in the first place. As I sad, I was able to boot with my Hiren's bootable CD and I didn't change anything. Anyway I'm glad that everything is OK now! Thanks again!!!

You are welcome!

---------- Post added 02-11-2012 at 02:59 AM ---------- Previous post was 02-10-2012 at 04:21 PM ----------

While I would agree BIOS boot order is something to check, it doesn't explain how Bagi managed to boot into Hiren's in the first place, rebooted the MiniXP, and then nothing worked after that, unless he pressed a key to change the boot order during POST and forgot.

If the CD's are in good order and the BIOS is as it should be, may be a hardware issue.

Oh, clearly, it was a new computer, without OS, most likely, hard drive hasn't been formatted yet. There was no any information at all. So as it contained no information, it easily allowed to boot up PC from CD first time without problems, simply in that case BIOS was unable to read something from HDD during boot and it started reading from second device i.e. - from CD drive, most possible, Bagi used some program from Hiren's CD which either formatted HDD or just added some information there, so it has been a reason of issue, after reboot Bagi was unable to get PC started with any CD.

[hal9000]

Oh, clearly, it was a new computer, without OS, most likely, hard drive hasn't been formatted yet. There was no any information at all. So as it contained no information, it easily allowed to boot up PC from CD first time without problems, simply in that case BIOS was unable to read something from HDD during boot and it started reading from second device i.e. - from CD drive, most possible, Bagi used some program from Hiren's CD which either formatted HDD or just added some information there, so it has been a reason of issue, after reboot Bagi was unable to get PC started with any CD.

Yeah, I would totally agree Nick that there would have been a difference IF Bagi had done something to the hdd while in MiniXP. I was taking his words "I just wanted to see something, I didn't want to fiddle with anything." as they sound, ie: nothing was done while in MiniXP.