Windows 7 help please

[EvilPie]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

[StuartHopkin]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

You got boot only from CD drive set in the BIOS?

[kinboshi]

You mentioned this the other night at DTD, 'tis a weird one.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/thread/8b24383a-cb60-443e-a8f5-00205dcb0bcd

Does that link help? Several suggested solutions in there that might help?

[EvilPie]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

You got boot only from CD drive set in the BIOS?

What's a BIOS?

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

[millidonk]

What's a BIOS?

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

Please tell me this is a level.

[Bongo]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

You got boot only from CD drive set in the BIOS?

What's a BIOS?

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

The bit when you first turn it on and it says "press X to enter setup" usually delete or F8. But if it worked before and you didn't change it it seems rather odd.

What error do you get when the DVD isn't in the drive?

[mulhuzz]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

You got boot only from CD drive set in the BIOS?

seems quite likely to me...

[outragous76]

If that wasn't the original protocol it shouldn't change, least it didn't when I did it

Go to reinstall and see if you missed a check box, sure it gives you the option (Obv you don't have to activate reinstall unless you want to )

[EvilPie]

What's a BIOS?

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

Please tell me this is a level.

'fraid not.

[EvilPie]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

You got boot only from CD drive set in the BIOS?

What's a BIOS?

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

The bit when you first turn it on and it says "press X to enter setup" usually delete or F8. But if it worked before and you didn't change it it seems rather odd.

What error do you get when the DVD isn't in the drive?

Think I've had the problem since I first installed it.

I only found out when I took the DVD out though.

I thought the whooshy noises when it started up was just the fan. Turns out it was the disk spinning like f**k.

I'll check the error message later.

The bios settings thing looks likely so I'll give that a go.

[millidonk]

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

I thought the whooshy noises when it started up was just the fan. Turns out it was the disk spinning like f**k.

obv another masters in computer science term. 

I am genuinely astounded by all of this. I just assumed Bios would be like week 1 or something.

[bobAlike]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

You got boot only from CD drive set in the BIOS?

What's a BIOS?

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

basic input/output system

No need to thank me.

[paulpitchford]

If you haven't been into BIOS in the first place and changed anything then I would presume that the boot sequence is probably already set to 1. DVD, 2. HDD. If the CD wasn't in the drive, then it would just boot from the 2nd boot device which in this case is your HDD. The fact it only boots in when the CD is in the drive make is even more stange.

When the CD spins up, does "Press any key to continue to installation..." appear on your screen at anytime? If it does, I presume you don't press a key because doing so would take you into the Windows 7 setup. If you leave it as I would assume, from here, it just loads the MBR from the next drive in the boot sequence. This is exactly what the BIOS should be doing if the CD isn't in the drive. Further more, if it does come up with the prompt mentioned above, BIOS must be detecting the OS MBR because if there is no OS installed it doesn't bring up this prompt. Somethings not quite right here I think. I can't put my finger on it though.

Is the CD genuine or a copy? Maybe you have some hybrid copy that has a bootable image installed on it too? Maybe not? This is quite strange. I've been working with PC's for 15 years and I've never heard of such a problem. If you get into Windows, how are the drive letters assigned? If the partitions are setup correctly then I would suggest doing a google search for "Windows 7 MBR Fix" and following the instructions.

I would also recommend backing any data up first though as this will alter the master boot record of the primary partition on the HDD. If you mess it up, you'd either have to reinstall the OS on this drive or move it to another pc and fix the MBR there.

Sorry my post is a bit all over the place but it really is a puzzling situation you have there.

HTH!

Paul.

[EvilPie]

I recently did a total format and reinstall using windows 7.

It all works beautifully but for some reason it will only work when the DVD is in the drive and won't start from my hard disk.

Anybody know of there's a way of fixing this or do I need to reinstall again and try not to click a wrong button somewhere?

I've trawled the net for an answer but can't find anything so thought I'd try the blonde experts.

Cheers

You got boot only from CD drive set in the BIOS?

What's a BIOS?

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

The bit when you first turn it on and it says "press X to enter setup" usually delete or F8. But if it worked before and you didn't change it it seems rather odd.

What error do you get when the DVD isn't in the drive?

"BOOTMGR is missing"

hit ctrl/alt/del to enter setup

Tried changing the priority thing to HDD and I still get the same message.

[EvilPie]

I've only got a masters degree in computing so I'm not too good with these things.

I thought the whooshy noises when it started up was just the fan. Turns out it was the disk spinning like f**k.

obv another masters in computer science term. 

I am genuinely astounded by all of this. I just assumed Bios would be like week 1 or something.

Spent a lot of time at the pub.

It was a hybrid masters anyway which is different. You have to have a degree in something else then you combine it with computing.

Total farce like most degrees.

Obviously just learn everything for the exam then forget it because it's boring.