Infinite Reboot Loop! Please HELP!!

Hi guys. This is my first time here, so if I post in the wrong place or do something wrong, please just help me out

I have a problem with my secondary computer. Whenever I turn it on it boots, shows the BIOS, then goes black for about a second, then shows the bios again. Infinite reboot loop.

I had Windows 7 on here, and I read about the fix online. But there was another problem I ran into. I can't boot from a CD for whatever reason.
There's no "Press any key to boot from CD..." or anything at all.
My CD drive is totally fine. I have a load of them in my garage, and I've replaced it twice just to make sure.
In case this matters, I have 2 BIOSes. The first BIOS is for my GPU, which is a nVidia GeForce 6600. It's an old card, but it works, so no matter. I don't think that BIOS does anything really. Then after that there's a COMPAQ bios. I checked through the settings, and I couldn't see any reason it shouldn't be seeing the CD.

I've tried lots of different CDs, my Windows 7 install, my Windows XP install, Ubuntu, Puppy Linux, Chrome OS, nope. My CDs turned out to be ok.

Also, I am totally fine with wiping this drive. I just want to put Windows XP on it and make it function like a regular computer.

Any help will be extremely appreciated. Thanks so much.
~Evan​

 

Hi and welcome to CHF.
Can you please tell us what make and model the computer is please, or if a custom build do you know the motherboard make and model please?

While waiting for that, have you tried to get to the advanced boot options window? if not, as soon as you start it, keep tapping F8 key. If the page opens, using the up/down keys select Last known good configuration.

Let us know how you get on with that and the information about the computer please.

Nev.

 

Hi there
I have a Compaq Evo. I'm not sure about the motherboard, sorry.

I set the BIOS to the Factory default, no help.
I booted to Windows 7 by SHEER LUCK a few minutes ago. Tried to get my CD drive working. No luck.
About 5 minutes of using Windows total, Blue screen. I really have to get rid of this buggy copy of Windows.

Thanks so much for responding. I really appreciate it.

 

Hi,We could really do with the full model number as Compaq made many different models going right back to 2001.
This brings the question how old is the machine? Also is it a desktop or laptop as both types were marketed under the Evo name.
Model number should be on a sticker somewhere on the case at the back if desktop, or underneath if laptop.

If you can get into the BIOS OK you should be able to find and change the setting to the CD/DVD drive to be the first boot device. You need to do that so it can boot from an operating system disk and install it.
If it won't install or even worse comes up it can't find a drive to install to, then the hard drive is suspect.

See how you get on after setting it to boot from the CD/DVD drive first and let us know.

Nev.

 

It is certainly a desktop. I know that for sure.
I looked all over this dumb thing. Top, bottom, all the sides, everywhere. Looks like some idiot peeled off all the stickers.
There was one sticker, though. It showed the serial of the machine. 6X26-JYFZ-F2VJ and for whatever reason, HP PartSurfer doesn't know what it is. Maybe this number will help you a bit? If all else fails I can take some photos of it and attach them.

The BIOS has always had the CD drive set as the first boot order. I like to keep it there because I like to replace my operating systems a lot for experiementing. It's already there on the first slot of the order.

I know the BIOS can DETECT it, because when I plugged it in, it said something like "found new hardware, cd drive 'blahblahblah' press f1 to confirm" or whatever, so I KNOW it's there.

 

Hi Evan. While your waiting for Nev.
Just because it says "Found new Hardware" doesn't mean the drivers are installed.
Don't press F1 and wait a minute or so and it will tell you in the task bar if there was a problem or not.

 

Hey. Thanks for responding.
The problem isn't only that Windows doesn't see it, the BIOS can't boot from it either.
How or is it possible to install a driver to the BIOS to understand it?
Also I don't think it should be necessary because it's just a typical CD drive. Nothing our of the ordinary.
Shouldn't most BIOSes detect it by default? Same should go with Windows.
Could it still be a driver problem?

 

Oh, hey, I found the model, by the way. It's a Compaq Evo D500

 

Even a typical CD Drive needs Drivers.
Whatever brand your optical drive is go to their Website and download and install the drivers.
If you have further issues then run Microsoft "FIXIT" and troubleshoot from there.

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems

 

Hi everyone. Thanks for all the help.
I have found my problem. Apparently removing the CMOS battery in the motherboard fixed my problem.
The BIOS must have had an error somewhere.

~Evan

 

Hi Evan, thanks for that info and glad that is all it was.

Nev.