Getaway nv52 laptop, how to boot from cd/dvd

I just bought this laptop and it came with vista home sp1, but i want to change OS, only problem is how to start boot process from my dvd, i tried TAB button, F10, F8, DEL, but nothing i found was helpfoul and now I dont have any clue.. so pls help!

 

Remember before you start to reformat be sure to have all the drivers needed.

1. Insert the OS DVD/CD into the computer's disk drive and restart the computer.
2. When the Gateway logo appears on the screen, press the F12 key repeatedly to get into bios.
3. Look for a section called boot device Select either CDROM or DVD,
4. Look for a Press any key to boot from CD or DVD... and let the fun begin

 

Hi, tried that, but pressing F12 did not work, he just continuous to rise the system (i tryed a lot of buttons, but nothing seams to get me to the bios )... its like i dont press the buttons at all! And I wrilly need to get rid of that afoul vista.

P.S. my windows dvd is bootable (checked on my desktop)

....yes i forgot, when i press F8 or F10 (not sure) it takes me to some boot manager or something, and there it says that root of the boot system (hope this make sence) is on hard disk and it hase a path there, but i dont now how to change it... (if that is actually the solution).

 

F2 should be the BIOS setup, pretty sure there was an option in there to show the boot menu and setup prompts, that will remind you what keys you need to press every time the nv52 starts up.

You have to tap it VERY quickly ASAP, which is probably why you haven't been able to get it. It will beep if you press it soon enough.

I don't remember what key the boot menu was.

 

i manage to open the bios and i ajusted dvdrom to be the primery source. Thx BUT now... it wont install windows xp, every time he finishes reading files and is ready to start windows (install) it display blue screen, sayin that there was an error and i need to restart! Why? Is it because of the 4 GB of RAM?....

 

Just so you know this will VOID your software
warranty! Gateway tried to charge my $20 for
original recovery discs! my recovery discs that I
had to make when I bought the computer did not
work

 

Since you got that far, I am pretty sure this isnt the case, but does your windows xp cd have at least service pack 2 slip streamed in it? If so, after the gateway screen clears, start hitting f8 and see if you can load windows into safe mode.

 

You need the AMD AHCI driver slipstreamed if you want to use XP on that laptop in AHCI mode.

You will need to go back into the BIOS setup and change AHCI to IDE.

It is not because 4GB of RAM, the XP service packs won't change anything either.

 

Thank you...