Booting from CD

Sepheh · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:34

Hey guys, happy new year to everyone!

Just a quick query really for anyone more in the know than me.

Just trying to re-install windows on my main hard-drive. I attempt to boot from my CD and as it says press any key to boot from CD the computer doesnt seem to recognise my brutal attacks on to my keyboard and just carries on booting windows as normal.

Only other relevant information I can think of is my motherboard is:
Asus P8Z68-V

Also I am using an apple keyboard, but don't have any issues using it to get into my bios so presumably that shouldn't make a difference.

Really appreciate the help with this one guys!

andy_mk3 · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:36

So you have another keyboard you could try? I've had issues with a keyboard that did the same before, bios was fine, but doing the above it wouldn't work, nor would it work to scroll up and enter safe mode.

Sepheh · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:39

No I don't have another keyboard. I was thinking exactly the same thing, off to the enemy to go buy a cheap keyboard for me I think

Beans on toast Dave · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:44

is it a wireless keyboard as i have had trouble with them
could you not disable your hdd to boot in bios to give you more time for windows setup

Sepheh · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:47

It's a wired keyboard.

Can't see in the options to disable my HDD boot, as this was my initial thought as well!

andy_mk3 · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:50

I was just thinking that, I'm pretty sure if there's no other boot option it will boot off the cd automatically.

Sepheh · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:53

I'll have a look, though currently it just gives me the choice of boot priority, can't seem to disable any of the options!!

LizardKing · 2 Jan 2013 at 12:54

the cd detects there's already an installation of Windows on the PC and so prompts, if there is no installation it just goes straight through.

***** answer

unplug your HD sata cable until just after this point of the boot process. Sata is hot swappable so wont cause any issues.*

*edit, this may be a bit misleading, the controller has to support this feature to be hot swappable in the usual sense, but as its not been initialised this should be irrelevant as long as the cable is plugged back in before the preboot environment trys to initialise the disk controllers.

Sepheh · 2 Jan 2013 at 13:01

Sooo... In desperation I face planted my keyboard as I have got quite frustrated by this point... It's working now though so that's that issue sorted! Worse thing is I don't know why this issue was caused or how to resolve it. I must have found the all elusive 'any key'!