Some time during the night we lost power briefly. Now my computer won't boot. I just get a message stating verifying DMI pool data....Boot from CD:

It doesn't go past this screen, and I can't find the XP disk. Do I need the disk to boot? If so, is there a way to download the needed files?

Welcome to the PCHELPFORUM



Please check for these first.....................
# Corrupt boot files on the computer.
# Settings for hard disk drive are not correct.
# Floppy diskette or CD in computer causing issue.
# Boot devices not set properly.
# BIOS corrupt or misc. setting not set properly.
# Connections loose or disconnected.
# Bad Hard disk drive or other bad hardware

Then if everything is in order try this
Creating a Windows XP boot disk

Note: The Microsoft Windows XP CD is a bootable CD and in many cases you should not need a bootable floppy diskette. Booting from the Windows XP CD will allow you to not only install/re-install Windows XP but will also allow you to troubleshoot it.

Create MS-DOS bootable diskette

When formatting a floppy diskette, users have the option of creating a MS-DOS startup disk, follow the below steps to do this.

1.

Place diskette in the computer.
2.

Open My Computer, right-click the A: drive and click Format.
3.

In the Format window, check Create an MS-DOS startup disk.
4.

Click Start

Create Windows XP Setup diskettes

Microsoft is beginning to phase out bootable floppy diskettes in favor of bootable CD discs and has not included a method of easily creating a bootable floppy diskette in Windows XP or from the CD. However, Microsoft has downloads available for users who still need to create bootable diskettes to install (not upgrade) Windows XP. These downloads can be found through KB310994. How to obtain Windows XP Setup disks for a floppy boot installation
Additional help and information about troubleshooting bootable CDs not booting is found on document CH000217.


If you have no floppy,well i am still looking for a USB boot,or you could borrow a XP cd from a friend

Looks like the hard drive is the problem. It's only about 2 weeks old.