CD ROM not detected

Reinstalling Windows XP obviously was not the problem.  However, when you do a reinstall, you must, as the second step, install the Chipset drivers before many devices will be recognized and before installing device drivers such as the sound.

 

this is general information, if you would have included your PC Model number we could have given you more specific assistance.

There are many Dell models and configurations and the PC Model Number and Operating System should be listed on any initial problem post. 

cant say if windows installation wasnt the problem - as i am unable to even begin the windows setup program because the cd rom shows in the bios as a usb device or perhaps PATA device - it always has so im pretty convinced its not the problem - however as having it set up as USB rather than IDE or other other is causing the windows setup program to fail before its begun - i think pehaps what i need to do is reconfigure the cd drive so that the setup program CAN recognise it - how can an internal drive be a usb drive anyway ? i dont get that

 

anyway its a dell dimention 8400 if that helps - comes with a dvd writer and XP home edition

 

im not even sure how to get into the case!

Here is the setup from the on-line 8400 manual.  check some of the BIOS settings and also clearing the BIOS and see if that makes any difference.  http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/SM/syssetup.htm#wp1052309

couldnt be because the installer is looking for a cd rom and all it can find is a dvd rom?

 

ill hqave to try hooking up a cd drive and see if that works

DVD or cdrom doesn't make a difference. What does make a difference is which drive you are using. Make sure you use the top dvd/cd drive because that is normally the master drive.

well windows has stopped recogniseing the dvd drive all together now lol - have attached a drive of my own which seems to work for now - cant down load drivers for the dvd drive off the internet coz NEC say all drivers are in windows - lol so i cant even replace them - however i still get a dos screen appear on boot up asking to choose between windows set up and window home edition - if i select home edition pc starts up - if i select set up it tells me setup cant locate a cd drive - im at the point of doing dells system restore function (is it F6 on start up?) reset the thing back to as it was as delivered