Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
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The answer is "yes", but that may not help you, depending on what you're attempting to do, and what computer you have.
It's not Windows you should be concerned about. It's your PC.
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Windows can certainly boot from a CD-ROM. In fact, that's pretty much what happens when you install Windows from a CD-ROM. You boot from the CD-ROM the setup program runs and it installs Windows.
What's more important is knowing whether your computer supports booting from CD-ROM. Most contemporary PC's almost certainly do, but older machines quite often don't include the support necessary - they'll only boot from a floppy, or from the hard disk.
Even if your computer does support booting from CD-ROM, some are not configured to enable that support by default.
The way to tell if you computer supports it, and to enable it if it does, is to boot into the BIOS setup for your computer. Exactly how that's done will vary from one computer to the next, but it's typically done by pressing one of the function keys at the beginning of the boot process, before Windows starts loading. Once in your BIOS setup, you can look for, and alter, boot options. That'll include which devices the computer will look to boot from, and it what order it checks. If "CD-ROM" is included, and it's looked to before the hard disk, then you should be good to go.
Creating a bootable CD-ROM is another story. Windows doesn't really include support for creating a CD-ROM that you can boot from. A popular set of tools for creating a bootable CD-ROM is called Bart PE, for "Bart's Preinstalled Environment". I'll warn you that it's not for the faint of heart - it's targeted at the more technical user.
Article C2443 - October 23, 2005 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
April 25, 2008 7:33 AM
I think windows XP home doesn't concern with possibility of wether or not booting frm CD, It's a machine that support, However i spent 6hrs trying to install OS but i fail to boot from cd,even if i followed the above instruction but still i fail.
December 4, 2008 2:58 PM
Include this non-cd boot w/bios set-up to cd 1st boot priority in WinXP Media Ctr. O.S.
Programs such as windows mem.test mtinst.exe will
not boot from reboot or cold boot up.
Also any other app such as rescueBoot Up CDs.
with hard wired keyboard.
Does anyone have a work-around for XP MCE ?
January 26, 2010 12:36 PM
I don't see the answer for the people who commented here. I did change the boot set up so it goes to read the CD first, but XP still loads anyway. That is a big deal for a lot of people it seems.
Any resolution ?
December 2, 2010 6:33 PM
I too have had this on-going problem. After a successful cleanwipe of the HDD any attemp to install OEM XP-SP2 home ed "missing MBR" is all I get. I have created active partitions on the HDD (via 2nd computer) and still "missing MBR" . Even tried a disk copy (iso) with various tools (and many partition tools). Also tried "Goddards 'Inside Dell's partitions' "pages on WIKIPEDIA No luck. I have been working this problem since July 2010.
I have decided to install LINUX. But for all others with this issue I two things for you to consider:
1) Purchase adapter for your HDD allowing you to remove it (if you have access to a 2nd computer). Overstock.com sells the for only $8.95.
2) Go to the HDD mfg site for tools to download (already in iso format- ready to burn to a disk copy). This will check the hardware integrity and HDD errors -- and fix them! This was the ONLY THING THAT WOULD RUN ON MY SYSTEM when everything else failed to get past BSOD. So what? Well I now know that the HDD is healthy and BIOS will boot from the DVD/CD drive.
This 5 month ordeal has ended for me --- unsolved (and I hate not resolving problems). I hope to gather all useful thing learned, boil them down to 1 page to pass along. For now, I need a break!
December 18, 2010 11:38 PM
Window xp stop working. used 6 utility disc it is asking for operational disc would it be easier to buy window xp home edition or window 7 home edition?