Thursday, March 10, 2011

Windows 7: Cannot boot from CD - Code error: 5

UPDATE: I've used this method to create a new bootable DVD:  http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/code5-error.html

The method detailed below works only about 20% of the time and it's a hassle to find a floppy (or even a floppy drive sometimes).

Symptom: When attempting to boot older hardware with the Windows 7 install DVD, you receive the error message "Cannot boot from CD - Code error: 5"

Problem: The Windows 7 install DVD has multiple file systems not supported by some older BIOS software. To read more about the differences, please read: AlfaMikeDelta's posts.

Solution 1: Upgrade your BIOS to a version that supports booting UDF file systems.

Solution 2: Use a linux boot manager to help emulate the missing BIOS instructions. I used the Gujin boot disk and followed the directions from AlfaMikeDelta's above post:

- Download latest version of Gujin from sourceforge
- Use your favourite decompressing software to unGzip/unTar
- Inside the uncompressed folder, you will find a file named "full.img.gz", unGzip this file too.
- Now you will have a file named "floppy.144", this is the floppy image.
- Download a "Floppy Image Writer", for exmple RawWrite (or WinImage).
- Grab a floppy and write the file "floppy.144" to it.
- Put the Windows 7 DVD in the drive.
- Boot your PC with the floppy, it will show a screen searching for boot records in your computer, follow the instructions about the video resolution.
- Once you are inside the GUI, there will be a list of supported booteable media, press the "F" key corresponding to the one that reads "no emul" or "no emulation" (it should be your DVD)
- Pay attention to the message "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" and do so when it appears.

Installation should continue as planned from there.