Got knoppix but had to start windows!!

[foamrotreturns]

....There's probably not another way to do it.

Sure there is. Type the DEL key or whatever gets you into BIOS setup. Open the CD drive, insert the disk, go get a cup of coffee, do whatever you want, when you are ready to boot just leave the BIOS and all will be fine.

I thought of that, but when you go into BIOS, regardless of if you make changes or not, it will still reboot the computer. The same function as Ctrl+Alt+Del.

[Harry Kuhman]

I thought of that, but when you go into BIOS, regardless of if you make changes or not, it will still reboot the computer. The same function as Ctrl+Alt+Del.

One problem that was stated as being an issue with Ctrl-Alt-Del is that you might have to do it multiple times before you got the CD ready, which could be a serious problem, either Windows starts or you end up scratching a CD. Entering the BIOS gives you all the time that you want. There may also be other options, some BIOS's (like my HP notebook) have a key that you can hit to change just the boot order, and another to try to boot from the network. I don't believe these options do a full restart when you select or exit them, but would give you the time needed to swap in a CD.

[rsmanyan]

I am very grateful to all those responded and gave their suggestions. I thank them, especially Mr. Harry Kuhman. I tried the Smart Boot Manager, but as I am not having any DOS boot floopy, could not install from XP command prompt. May be I should get a freeDOS disk or Ultimate Boot CD, one of these days.

Entering into BIOS seems to work for me and I am not seeing the blue screen before opening the CD case, which is what I want.

I once again thank this Forum Members for being such interactive and supportive.