Bootup from CD problem

Hi - I've got an issue with trying to boot from a CD.

The issue is that my keyboard doesn't respond during the bootup period and although I press the keys after the prompt - Press any key to boot from cd...- nothing happens, it doesn't respond.

Its the same thing if windows has rto do a scan after bootup - Press any key to skip... - keyboard doesn't repsond either.

I've had similar issues with different keyboards - in fact with all but the intial keyboard the computer came with...

Is there something I'm missing - some vital configuration issue? Is there a shortcut to booting from a CD so I won't have to press any keys during this period and it can heppen automatcially?

Any advice welcome.

Assuming you can get a dos prompt at boot, and you do have keyboard access from this, you could change to the CD drive and type install or setup. Can't remember which. Type "dir" on the drive and see what's there.

Do we assume it's not a USB keyboard?

And that you have boot from CD at the top of the boot priority list in the BIOS?

And what is on the CD you're trying to boot from?

I suspect it is an usb kb...

I would assume you are using a USB keyboard, as I have had this problem also. If this is the case you need a PS2 keyboard to do it, that's what I had to do.

If it is an USB keyboard you might have an option in BIOS to enable legacy USB support which allows a USB keyboard to be used prior to Windows USB drivers being loaded. Though this is usually enabled by default in most of the BIOS with this option that I have seen. IF it is not then you would need to use a PS2 keyboard to enable it intially which is not much help, but at least will allow you to enable it for future use when such problems arise.

EDIT: Added last sentence.

Edited by deleted (Mon 14-Aug-06 13:18:33)

For situations like this I have a boot manager floppy that I boot from that automatically boots the CD. Unfortunately the web site has been screwed for some time but all the bits can be found at http://btmgr.sourceforge.net/