so i have this computer on which the hdd is corrupt so i can't access windows. the cd-rom drive was burned out too so i couldn't even load up a windows cd to reformat it so i bought and installed a new one, but since it's new and i can't access windows i can't install the drivers so booting from cd-rom is out of the question. i checked the bios and i am able to boot from usb, i burned an image of my windows cd onto my computer and put it on the usb flash drive but it's not bootable....any ideas on how i can get my windows cd to boot up from my usb flash drive?? (googled it already and seen a few different ways, tried them all and couldn't get it to work)

TBH I'd just get an old CDROM off craigslist for like $5.

i already have a cdrom in there...didn't get a chance to install drivers tho so it's not gonna work anyway

Sorry, missed that. You shouldn't need drivers to boot from CD though, I mean, you can boot from CD before you ever even install windows. More likely you need to set the boot priority in BIOS to go CD first.

the bios isn't reading the cdrom drive so i just figured it's the drivers not being installed since it's brand new....i'm pretty sure there is a way through usb flash drive...just don't know how

you shouldn't need drivers to install a cd-rom drive. if it is not appearing in the bios then the connections could be bad. make sure its plugged in to the IDE slot on your motherboard and that a 4-pin molex power connecter is plugged into the drive.

Make sure the master / slave jumpers are set correctly, too, if the cd drive's IDE. Like Korny said, basic CD drive function should be native to the BIOS, it shouldn't need additional drivers. Only in the old days, that you need to boot a floppy then load CD from DOS prompt.

If the CD drive is SATA, you need to see if your BIOS supports it. If you played around with all SATA related settings in BIOS and still the CD drive is not showing up in BIOS, then that means it's a short coming of the BIOS.

In that case, the quick and dirty way is to borrow someone's working IDE CD Rom, load the Windows CD, reformat and reinstall. Problem solved.

The method you want, i.e. booting flash drive may be doable, but it's a long shot. Here are the methods to do it. http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

As you see there is no easy way. And this is just for making the flash drive as if it's a boot floppy. What you asked for is to also load the Windows CD image/files from the flash drive, that's another step beyond.

Your choice.

MiLLzZ said:
Dr. Peaceful is pointing you in the right direction, but there are a couple more things to consider.

1) Two apparently simultaneous hardware drive failures like you suggest, indicates you may have a more significant problem. Have you checked the PSU and made sure the respective rails are providing the proper voltages to the drives? If they aren't, you may keep damaging whatever other devices you plug into the system on those rails. (I'm assuming you may have a split rail PSU, since it seems you're indicating the system does still power-up to the point where you can see BIOS screens)

2) Also check the integrity of the CD/DVD cable and connectors (both data and power). Look for any obvious signs of damage. Check ALL the pins on the drive's (assumed) IDE connector and the Master/Slave/Cable-select option pins. Make sure the jumper (if any) is properly seated and you didn't miss a pin or damage it. I've seen people manage to insert those little jumpers at an angle and so the option was not set properly.


edit to clarify PSU issue

edit to add: Don't forget to power-off the PC AND disconnect from AC mains or switch-off the PSU (using the back PSU switch if one exists) AND then wait ~30 seconds before you start connecting and disconnecting ANY hardware.