# Installing Windows 7 RC ... getting around CDBoot code 5

> Fix the CDBoot code 5 error when installing Windows 7 RC. Workaround for CD/DVD boot issues during Windows installation.

*Published July 28, 2009* · Categories: microsoft

Source: https://www.kimpel.com/2009/07/28/installing-windows-7-rc-getting-around-cdboot-code-5/


Just recently I wanted to give Windows 7 RC a test drive. I used to run Windows XP on a pretty old fashioned computer with the following setup:  
  
\- AMD Athlon XP 1600+  
\- 2 GB RAM  
\- ASROCK K7VT4A Pro  
\- ASUS V7100 Pro  
  
This setup works quite decently. Well, at least for the purpose I am using this machine for which is emailing, surfing and some document and media management.  
  
After downloading the Windows 7 RC iso image, I burned it to a DVD and tried to boot the computer from the successfully created DVD. Immediately after the computer starts the booting process, I ran into an error saying:  
  
"CDBOOT: Cannot boot from CD - Code: 5"  
  
Unlike some posts on the web stating that it probably originates from wrongly created DVDs ... in my case it happened for a different reason. It seems that some older motherboards (apparently from ASROCK and MSI) have problems reading the boot sector used by Microsoft in Windows 7 installation DVD.  
  
Fortunately, I found a brilliant description on how to get around this pitfall: [see here](https://web.archive.org/web/20100323015635/https://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/code5-error.html?lang=EN).