Thier is no "format" cd service on a cd,the only format would be on a floppy
disk which are "raw" from the mfg,or one wants to erase.Some (very few) cdrw
devices can erase a cd,if the option is there,youre cdrw can,if not,it isnt
possible.

"Ellen" wrote:

> Hi Db,
>
> first problem is, when I insert an rewritable CD in my laptop, go to windows explorer and click on the D:-drive, select FORMAT, there there is only one option and well "Full".
> There is no option named "make startup disk" (see printscreen).
>
> I do have a "Create an MS-Dos startup disk" option when I select the C:-drive as described, however it is not hightlighted.
>
> Ellen
>
> "db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:eDyyWoXSHHA.4028@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> hello Ellen,
>
> yes, you can make an emergency boot
> cd from your system, regardless of
> any updates.
>
> I'll keep this posting flagged so you
> can take whatever time you need to
> provide a status for me.
>
> stay warm...
>
> - db
> "Ellen" <e.denan@hone.xp> wrote in message news:uLJ6$PXSHHA.4672@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hi Db,
>
> since it is late here (Netherlands) I will read your steps tomorrow, when I have more time.
> I think it should be no problem at all to make that emergency boot CD from my system... but will it matter that my laptop is from a different brand?
>
> And secondly my windows XP will be more up-to-date then hers, since she has NO internet access and therefore never ran Windows updates.
>
> As I recall from making a boot disk once for W98, this all should not matter, but just double-checking!
>
> Appreciate your help and talk to you tomorrow... some of the steps (like working on her PC) I will not be able to do so tomorrow, but only later this week, due to other appointments I already made.
>
> Best regards for now!!
>
> "db" <databaseben.discussions.Microsoft.com> wrote in message news:eAwKpAXSHHA.4404@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hello Ellen,
>
> Ok, I can understand the situation. So
> lets try to take it step by step. Here
> we will first get a boot cd made from your
> computer. Then we will try looking into
> the cmos settings:
>
> Firstly, do you have the ability to make
> cd's from your laptop? If so, then
> make an emergency boot cd from your
> system.
>
> To make an emergency boot cd, insert
> a blank writable cd into your drive.
>
> Then go into your file explorer, right click
> on your cd drive and the format command
> should be indicated.
>
> Select it and ensure that the make startup
> disk is selected. Afterwards eject it and keep
> it handy.
>
> Secondly, Lets focus on the dysfunctional pc's
> cmos/bios settings.
>
> Briefly, inside the cmos/bios there are a number of
> settings that enable the motherboard to
> see the physical hardware connected to it.
>
> Most all of the motherboard cmos settings
> can be manually entered or there will be
> options to have it automatically search for
> the correct settings.
>
> If the harddrive settings have been wiped
> out due to the powerfailure, then this would
> be a cause for the hd not being recognized.
> So this is what you will focus on when inside
> the cmos/bios menu.
>
> To access the cmos/bios you will need to
> press and hold down a key like the del key
> or f2 key and then press the power on
> button to the pc. Depending on the
> motherboard it would be either the del key
> or the f2 key. So try the del key first.
>
> Press and hold down the del key and push your
> power button on. If it beeps then you
> can release the key and you should see a cmos screen.
>
> If the del key was not the right one, then
> you will likely be taken to the screen with
> the error message. So, you need to retry
> and reboot using the F2 key instead. (The
> motherboard manual will notate which key
> is required to access the cmos, if the two
> above do not work)
>
> When you get into the cmos, briefly browse through
> all the settings to get a feel for it. You should
> find a tab or a subscreen dedicated to the harddrives.
>
> Here is where the harddrives, master and slave,
> should be listed and sizes indicated. If there
> is no harddrive listed, then is a cause for loosing
> recognition of the hd.
>
> As a convenience, there could be listed on the screen
> as well a key to push for automatic search
> of the harddrives. Be using this option the specs
> for the connected harddrives will populate those blank
> fields automatically.
>
> If the harddrive(s) settings do not populate
> the fields then we need to take some more steps.
>
> If the specs do or are populating the subscreen then save
> and exit the cmos.
>
> Then we will go to the next step depending on your
> discovery..
>
> - db
> then they will have to be manually entered.
>
>
>
> "Ellen" <e.denan@hone.xp> wrote in message news:%23mKRHsWSHHA.480@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Hello DB,
>
> thanks for your reply.
>
> Yes, I am pretty sure her PC was turned off, in that sence she listens well to me (She has Down Syndrom and was home with her parents on the weekend).
> Unless somebody in her house used her PC, but I hope not, since it is her private room.
> The Error message however also mentioned something about a power failure.. so it is kind of confusing to me, what really happend.
>
> Bear with me, please, but how can I check if the cmos didn't loose it's settings... I never heard of CMOS to be honest, so... ~worried look~
>
> Further they re-installed her hard disk last August (since it crashed somehow) and the store gave CD's as well for system restore.
> Now if I use them how can I prevent using these CD's, which are the only ones I (she) have, that a system restore is done...
> I did a few system restores in the past on my own laptop, but it has been too long ago for remembering all the options it offers to choose from...
>
> Thanks for your patience!
> Ellen
>
> "db" <databaseben.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:uWECMXWSHHA.1180@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> hello ellen,
>
> well unless the pc was on during a power
> failure, then there should have been no
> problem.
>
> but if the pc was in use and there was
> a power failure, then generally a chkdsk
> could fix a problem occurring with the
> master file table.
>
> first make sure that the cmos
> didn't loose it settings in particular
> with the harddrive(s).
>
> secondly i suggest to boot up with the
> win cd and go into recovery console.
>
> at the c prompt you can run the following
>
> chkdsk /r
>
> then run a regular chkdsk again just
> to double check the state of the file system
>
> afterwards type exit and try
> to boot normally again.
>
> - db
>
>
> "Ellen" <e.denan@hone.xp> wrote in message news:eProEkVSHHA.1600@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
> Hi All,
>
> a friend called me yesterday if I could come over, since her PC wouldn't
> start.
> She was away for the weekend but she understood from her room-mates that
> there was a power failure (There was no power for a while, due to whatever
> reason).
>
> I just visited her a little bit ago and the problem is, that if you turn on
> her PC, it
> will not start windows at all and comes up with a screen suggesting
> to start in normal mode or go back to the last working configuration,
> but both options have as result you return to this same "error' screen.
>
> Safe Mode doesn't work either, since if I try this option I also return to
> the "error' screen.
> I tried to do a Safe Mode with Restore function (Since the Restore Function
> on this machine (HP Pavilion F1723) is hidden under F10 and not on Cd's) and
> when I tried this, I received an UNMOUTABLE-BOOT-VOLUME Error.
>
> The only restore I know is a System Restore and I was hoping I do not
> have to go that way, since of course she didn't make any back-ups.
>
> Thanks for any advice!
>
> Ellen
>
>
>