I'm a little confused on this one. You say you downloaded the boot disk.
Most Windows Operating systems allow you to create a boot disk. This would
be a better choice for reformatting than a downloaded disk. Most Windows
boot disks allow for restarting the system both with and without CD-Rom
support. If you start the computer without CD-ROM support (real mode drivers
being loaded) then the CD will not show up or be accessible. Again my
suggestion is to make a boot disk from the operating system and not to use a
downloaded disk unless there is an overwhelming reason to do so. See Windows
help on making a boot disk for your particular version of windows (it varies
from version to version)

NOTE:
If the CD is accessible with the operating system now, then it is being
found by the bios.
And all the jumpers and such are right.

William Pike
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Colin Martin-Howes
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 4:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PCBUILD]

Dear All,

Please can someone help?

We need to format our C Drive as it has become unstable.  We have downloaded
the boot disc from the web site but our problem is this.  We installed a
CDRW many months ago now and when we tried to start the format we came up
with an error message telling us that the system could not find the CD
drive.  We don't want to try and format now incase we will not be able to
reinstall windows.

We have formatted the computer before and had no problems but this was
before we changed the CD ROM drive for the CDRW drive.

Please can someone advise us.

many thanks

Colin Martin-Howes (and wife)

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