Loading a OS...

I have a old pc that I just picked up...currently does not have any OS installed on it. When booting, just goes to a grey screen. My question is, how do I load a OS on a PC without anything installed on it? How do I get to the BIOS to have it boot to a disk/cd? Also, the CD-Rom does not open currently, is is suppossed to without a OS installed on it? I have never installed a OS on a PC without anything on it. Thanks

1. RE: Loading a OS...
lbyard Nov-06-01 04:48 PM
In response to message 0

Boot to a floppy. See http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/software/windows/upgrade/intro.htm. Larry

2. RE: Loading a OS...
JKennedy55 Nov-06-01 08:36 PM
In response to message 1

If I put in the boot disk and reboot the machine, will it boot there automatically? Is the BIOS suppossed to come up with no OS installed or anything on the HD? Is it normal for the CD-Rom to not be opening and if so is it b/c there are no drivers installed for it? Thanks for all the help......

3. RE: Loading a OS...
lbyard Nov-07-01 09:54 PM
In response to message 2

>If I put in the boot disk and reboot the machine, will it boot there automatically?
Yes, if the CMOS Setup is configured to boot to the floppy. You may have to wait a while on an old computer while it checks the hard disk.
>Is the BIOS suppossed to come up with no OS installed or anything on the HD?
It should tell you it can’t find a bootable disk. See http://duxcw.com/faq/win/nosys.htm.
>Is it normal for the CD-Rom to not be opening and if so is it b/c there are no drivers installed for it?
Yes. On newer computers it may be possible to boot to a CD if the CD is bootable, but the CMOS would probably have to be configured to do it.
Try it. Larry