to adjust the bios setup, press F2 when the computer is booting up (or the delete key, if you have an older dell). then use the arrow keys to navigate to the boot panel in the bios. use the plus key to move the cd-rom up to first boot device.. save and exit. the just reboot with the win xp cd in the cd-rom. you will see a message "press any key to boot from the cd".. it is real quick.. then follow the simple prompts.. i would delete the partition(s) and create a new one..

ron19154,

Set your CD-ROM drive as the first boot device in BIOS then restart your system with the XP CD in the drive. You don't have to press F12. At the prompt to boot from CD press any key and you will start the installation process.

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@ron19154 wrote:
Thats what i'm saying.....I do that..... i boot from CD by changing the bios set up.  When i get the creen press any key to boot nothing happens

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"nothing happens" .? but you said before it boots to the Desktop , I assume it still does & your keyboard works OK so have you tried pressing Space bay key. ?

Thats what i'm saying.....I do that..... i boot from CD by changing the bios set up.  When i get the creen press any key to boot nothing happens

Same thing is occurring for me

 

I have a Dell Dem 8250 and recently had a major crash with the drive and Dell just sent me a new drive. ( granted they sent an Hitachi drive in place of my Seagate which is bogus).  I already made it to boot from the CD Rom and placed in my windows XP Pro reinstallation CD and get nada or rather this message:

Press F1 to reboot or F12 to enter set up

can someone advise?

OK if it boots to the Desktop you could try New Installation from Within Windows , ie: insert XP CD after windows is started.

Select "Install" choose "New Installation" from drop down menu.
(You don't need to download new files from the Internet)
You will be asked for Product Key & it will loads some installation files then restart computer.
When message appears "Press any key to boot from CD" let it timeout & it should continue with "New Installtion".

Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 11-28-2003 06:33 AM