CD won't boot with GA-880GM-UD2H

[RYKIN]

Hey,

I have a Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H motherboard and I'm having issues booting from CD-ROM. I'm trying to reformat and I can't get it to even recognize the CD. I just used the same CD last week to install on my mother's laptop and it worked flawlessly.

What I've done so far:

1.) Set the CD-ROM as priority.
2.) Completely removed all other boot devices and tried the CD-ROM by itself.
3.) Unplugged the HD and it still doesn't recognize.

I have verified that the CD is actually bootable. I checked the CD and the files are intact and readable.

Now, the main problem that I can see is that I keep seeing this "Loading Operating System" screen. Normally, on previous PC's I would get the option to "Press any key to boot from CD" then I'd be on my way. I can only really see this as being an issue with it not booting from CD. Maybe there's a BIOS option I'm not seeing, but I've carefully went through each BIOS setting and cannot find anything particular to my issue.

Now, I know this was super annoying to load an OS on when I first got this PC, but I am completely out of things to try. It should and likely is pretty basic and silly mistake by me, but I've literally tried everything in my pretty-good level of computer knowledge to solve this and I cannot figure it out.

Any advice would help me a ton.

Second question:

If I just install from my desktop I don't get an option to format the drive, and it says that all my old files will get saved to Windows.old. Now, if I do this type of installation, can I just delete the Windows.old and assume everything is wiped?

Thanks, I would really appreciate any assistance.

Brandon Q.

EDIT: the bios version is 6.00PG.

[absic]

Hi there,

Is your DVD/CD drive SATA or an older IDE model?

If it is SATA then attach it to either SATA Port 4 or 5 on the motherboard and in BIOS make sure this is set to Native IDE as a lot of these devices do not like to work under AHCI mode. You can leave your HDD attached to one of the SATA2_0 to 3 ports in AHCI mode or Native IDE whichever you prefer.

If you are not running a floppy drive make sure you disable this feature in BIOS too as that can sometimes cause a problem.

If you still can't get the drive recognised can you post back with your full system specs to help with further trouble shooting.

[RYKIN]

Yeah, it's SATA. I will try switching it after I post this.

System specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H
Bios version: F8
Processor: AMD Phenom II x6 1100T
GPU: Nvidia GTS250
RAM: 8gb DDR3 PC10700

[RYKIN]

So, does that mean, if I hook the CDROM up to SATA 4 that I have to actually SET SATA 4 as the Native IDE? I'm not 100% sure how to do that.

[absic]

yes, you do this in BIOS under the Integrated Peripherals heading.

You need to set the OnChip SATA type to AHCI for your HDD
When you do this you can then set the OnChip SATA Port4/5 Type to Native IDE

If you do not want to use AHCI Mode for your HDD then you can set the OnChip SATA type to Native IDE and the SATA4/5 ports to as SATA type.

[RYKIN]

Alright, so I tried what you recommended. I finally get:

"Loading Operating System"
"Boot from CD-Rom"

Then it continues to boot Windows.

I'm done with this. I've put too much time in to figuring this out. I'd rather go buy new hardware than mess around with something that's going to completely suffocate my long weekend.

I'm going to try installing with a thumb drive as my last resort. If that doesn't work, I'm not reformatting.

Thanks so much for all of the help.

[absic]

Hi again

when you get the BOOT from CD-ROM option are you leaving the PC to continue or are you pressing the "Enter" key? You need to hit the "Enter" Key at this stage to BOOT from the CD

[RYKIN]

USB worked. Still unclear as to why the CD-ROM won't load it but I honestly could care less. I'm sitting at a freshly installed desktop at the moment.

[absic]

I've got to say that I stopped using a Disk for install ages ago and have found using a USB Pendrive much quicker and easier to do.

[Dark Mantis]

The USB drive has more or less killed off the disk as far as copying and moving data is concerned.