CD/DVD problem - no stickies

I have a CF-28MCFAZDM fitted with a new blank HDD. It also has a Panasonic CD/DVD module.
BIOS has been set up for 1st boot from CD/DVD. I have the Panasonic rescue discs for this model and a WinXP disc.
With the recovery disc 1 in the drive, the Cf-28 refuses to boot up from CD/DVD , which starts and then stops and the system reverts to HDD and the screen reverts to the set up options. Using ESC to go to boot menu , brings up the small window with the CD/DVD as first choice, but pressing ENTER just repeats the above and I end up either with the set up screen or "operating system not found"
Any suggestions anyone, please?

 

You can try removeing the HHD from the boot order . I have had to do that before . then after the 1st reboot restore it ,the HHD ,to the boot order .

 

Sounds like the cd-rom you have is not OEM and needs the cd mod done. Please read the below post

http://forum.notebookreview.com/pan...cf-29-cd-dvd-swap-tutorial-lots-pictures.html

 

That's my first guess. Been there done that.

 

Ya Sidney, follow the instructions in that guide to disassemble the DVD drive housing and see if the PCB has been modified to jump the two connections. If not, you can follow the directions and either run a bead of solder to those two connections, or as most of us have done, solder a small wire to connect the two points. This will, in turn, make that CD drive a master drive that will allow you to boot from it as first boot once CD is selected as first boot. There is no need to worry about it always staying that way, because once you are done, switching to HDD as first boot option will make it boot from the hard drive. Hope that helps and let us know how it goes.

 

Just to be clearer for the newer members, the caddy (module) might be Panasonic BUT the cd-rom in the caddy might not be . You will need to read the link above for the fix

 

Thanks, guys. I'll try out all suggestions and let you know. But will take time- of which I don't have a lot.

Sidney.b

 

Hi Guys,
I have good news and bad news. The good is that i checked the drive and it did not have the mod to R2, so did the mod and reinstalled it.

The bad news is that it didn't make any difference. Still can't boot from CD/DVD

As for removing the HDD from the boot menu. I couldn't see any way of doing that. I put it as no 3: 1-CD/DVD, 2-floppy 3 -hard disk. Could see no way of deleting it.

back to square one. Next move, when I get the time, is change the m/board, or maybe that is a bad idea.
I'm off to have a cup of coffee.
sidney.b