Loading XP on an Dell GX110, Cd-Rom not enabled?

[LadyLiete]

Well I bought a Dell Optiplex GX110 off ebay, and I want to load Windows XP on it (i have the disc) however every time I press F1 it says boot failure, I push F2 to go into BIO's then to boot, and it says that the CD-ROM drive is not enabled! Ive tried delete, and just about every common button combination to get into DOS so I can enable the CD drive, but I cant figure it out!

And yes ive moved CD-ROM to the top of the boot list, its just not installed.

Help anyone?

[Nudnik]

If the drive is recognized by the bios, but is not active, will not load from start up with an XP disc, it is likely that either the drive or the IDE cable connecting it is faulty. This is an older machine, who knows what abuse the CD ROM has suffered?

First, if the drive is connected to the same IDE channel as the HD, make sure the jumpers are set to "slave" if that doesnt work, if you have access to one, I would suggest using a fairly modern CD ROM, DVD ROM, or CD/DVD R/RW unit to test the configuration. If it recognizes the new drive without incident, the old drive is bad. If the problem persists, try using another IDE cable, if the trouble continues, then you have a much more annoying defect to deal with, such as a defective motherboard. Updating the BIOS might not be such a bad idea either if the problem lingers on to the end stages.

Please wait for replies in addition to my own before proceeding. There are professionals lurking about in here who may have quite a bit more to say on the subject.

[Nudnik]

Looks like no one else is going to respond, so you might as well give my suggestions a try if you haven't already.

[CWR03]

While you were in BIOS, did you set all the IDE ports to "Auto?" The on-screen instructions are very clear.

Ive tried delete, and just about every common button combination to get into DOS so I can enable the CD drive, but I cant figure it out!
You won't enable the drive in DOS - were you referring again to BIOS?