I have a dimension 8250, what other details do you need? I can't or don't know how to get into my system set up program?

You don't say which model computer you have, so we can't provide details.  Go into your system setup program and change the boot order to boot from the CD-ROM drive first.  When you restart with the Windows XP CD in your primary optical drive, you still have to watch for a message that asks if you want to boot from the CD. 

 

Steve

Hit the F2 key immediately after you restart the computer.  See the following:

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8250/syssetup.htm#1084976

 

Steve

Like the other person said. When your computer starts to boot up... start pressing F2. This should take you to a blue screen. you will see a list of options there. Use your down arrow key to locate the Boot section. Once on the boot section press enter. You should notice a 1 and 2 number beside your a drive and HDD ( i think that is correct) what you will need to do is use your up and down keys to highlight the one that has the number 1 beside it and press your space bar. Do the same thing for the one with number 2. Then go down to the CD drive option in the same list and press your space bar. This should now put a number 1 beside it. Now press ESC and save. Then ESC save and exit. This should restart and reboot trying to use your CD drive. Notice you will have to change this order once you have completley installed what you are installing. If not you will keep getting the message which tells you "to book from CD press any key"

 

hope this helps

Okay guys, I am throwing the towel in and surrendering to this computer of mine! It is not working, I have tried restarting my computer several times, shutting all the way down and turning it back on, when it starts up I press F2 all the way until it boots all the way up, and yet I get nowhere.  AAAAHHHHHH   i am still not understanding where the original screen when that gave you the F2 and F12 choices went?  This is starting to get really frustrating.  Help me please, I am in desperate need of doing a clean install as well as a memory upgrade.

Thanks

Do you have a USB keyboard?  If so, only one of the USB ports is active before Windows loads.  I can't say which one for sure, but as I recall it is the upper port on the right as you look at the back of the computer tower.

 

Steve