Help - did a stupid thing and XP is down for the count

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Stupid newbie (aka peter) (peter)_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 12/23/04 

Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 19:11:02 -0800

Okay - sit back and think about how stupid I am. Then please see if you can
help.

I tried to replace my CD-R with a DVD-R by myself. (The Dell has a CD and
CD-R - matters for later). I didn't think to back ANYTHING up. At all.
Including wedding photos (only a couple of months ago so new wife may soon be
a new widow when she finds out).

The story - I opened up the computer shell. In order to remove the CD-R, I
needed do disconnect the two cables (power and data) from both the CD and
CD-R, which I did. I did nothing else. I installed the DVD-R and
reconnected the cables as before, this time to the CD and DVD-R.

When I turned the machine back on (all peripherals connected as before), I
got this message "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media
in a selected Boot device". When I put the Windows XP reinstallation disk
in, it wants to fully re-install Windows XP which I assume will kill all my
data (did I mention my idiocy in not backing it up?).

I've since returned the machine to its previous configuration with the OEM
CD-R back where it was. Still no luck.

Any thoughts anyone?

Signed,
Stupid, but still hopeful. (aka Peter)

Relevant Pages

  • Re: DVD Burner questions
    ... _Now plays DVD-R and DVD+R discs created in ISO9660 ... Aaton Cantar (DVD-RAM, DVD-R, CD-R) ... The DV40 and DV824 can play individual components of a BWF-M ...
    (rec.arts.movies.production.sound)
  • Re: Just Cause demo
    ... I no longer backup data to CD-R and I never did with DVD-R. ... I'm talking about storage medium. ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action)
  • Re: Creating a firmware disk
    ... Oops, my typo. ... file onto a CD-R (not DVD-R), ... I need to buy a CD-R, ...
    (comp.sys.mac.misc)
  • DVD super multi drive cd write problem..
    ... days earlier those CD-Rs were reading fine on my drive. ... sometimes it doesnt read it..and the LED of the drive keeps lit when it ... And i found that I am unable to write on cd-r. ... When i insert a DVD-R media..the drive doesnt detect it as a blank ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • DVD super multi drive cd write problem..
    ... days earlier those CD-Rs were reading fine on my drive. ... sometimes it doesnt read it..and the LED of the drive keeps lit when it ... And i found that I am unable to write on cd-r. ... When i insert a DVD-R media..the drive doesnt detect it as a blank ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)