Any help will be appreciated as i have totally messed up my PC (win xp home sp2)
I intended to re install windows on my c drive as a fresh installation to format my hard drive .
I pressed the delete key and entered the BIOS to set it to boot from CD and tried to install windows. It wouldn't boot from CD so i stupidly went ahead and installed win xp home anyway. It installed a a partition on my c drive still leaving the original files intact. Now when i start my pc i get a choice of 2 windows xp installations but the arrow keys on the keyboard do not move. 30 seconds countdown and widows opens in the new partition.
pressing delete now does not work so i cannot get into the BIOS.
I would still like to format my pc.
i now have 6 floppy disks to boot from floppy but i can't get into the the BIOS to set it to boot from floppy disk.
Help please!!

Welcome to PCHF.

Try this procedure...

Removing the AC power cable from the computer
Open the computer chassis
Remove the BIOS battery from the motherboard for 5 minutes
Replace the battery and then the chassis cover
Reconnect the AC power cable.

Boot up the computer
Go into the BIOS
Set the factory default settings.
Insure that the floppy drive is the first boot drive.


If this works, recommend before you format your hard drive that during the installation procedure you delete the "C" partition on the HDD. This will insure that you have a fresh installation on a fresh "C" drive.

Thanks Gandalf
I will try that