From what I can gather you arn't booting from the CD.
First thing to do is set the boot order. You want CD, A and Hard Disk.
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When the Dell? logo appears, press F2 immediately.
If you wait too long and the Windows? logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.
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System Setup Screens
The system setup screens display the current setup information and settings for your computer. Each screen is laid out with the system setup options listed at the left. To the right of each option is a field that displays the setting or value for that option. You can change settings that appear as white type on the screen. Options or values that you cannot change (because they are determined by the computer) appear less bright.
A box in the upper-right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted option; a box in the lower-right corner displays information about the computer. System setup key functions are listed across the bottom of the screen.
The screens display such information as:
System configuration
Boot configuration and dock configuration settings
Basic device configuration settings
Battery charge status
Power management settings
System security and hard drive password settings
Save the new settings and reboot the computer for new settings to take effect.
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Commonly Used Options
Changing the Boot Sequence
The boot sequence tells the computer where to look to find the software needed to start the operating system. To change the computer's boot sequence, change the device settings in the Boot First Device, Boot Second Device, or Boot Third Device options.
Boot Sequence Option
Description
Boot First Device
Tells the computer where to look first for the software it needs to start the operating system
Boot Second Device
Tells the computer where to look next if it cannot find the software on the drive identified in Boot First Device
Boot Third Device
Tells the computer where to look next if it cannot find the software on the drives identified in Boot First Device or Boot Second Device
Boot the computer with the 2000/XP CD in the drive and allow setup to begin. When the screen appears showing the existing partitions and unpartitioned space available on the computer you should see a drive listed in the lower portion of the screen. Now you'll see all the partitions listed that are currently on the drive. To delete all the existing partitions hit the 'D' key followed by the 'L' key. The screen instructions will be visible to guide you through the process.
Once all the existing partitions are deleted the display will show the total unpartitioned disk space.
If you only want one partition then hit enter and the entire disk space will be allocated to a single partition and you'll be taken to a screen where you select a file system.
If you want to create one partition of a specific size or several different partitions then do not hit the Enter key. Instead, hit the 'C' key to create a partition. Hit 'Backspace' until the cursor moves to the first digit location. Enter the size of the first partition to be created. Repeat the create partition process as many times as you want until either the desired number of partitions has been created or all available drive space is allocated to partitions.
Once all the partitions have been created, use the 'Up' arrow key to select the C drive partition and press the 'Enter' key to install XP to the partition. It's necessary to choose a file system and format the partition before the installation can proceed.

Thank you for your quick response! I've had this problem in the past-- about three years ago and done everything you've suggested. One thing . . . I don't have Windows XP. I have Win 2K, Win 98 Burgundy or SE.
So, now after booting up it doesn't grab either the Win 98 or Win 2K CD ROM's. In fact it says: Invalid drive Specification
When I insert the Windows 98 floppy disk into the Drive this seems the only way to boot-- I'm able to get a C: prompt, but when I try for a prompt it shows Volume as MS-RAMDRIVE.
If I remove the floppy drive and replace it with the CD ROM drive and insert any Windows Disks it states Invalid Drive Specification. I did copy over the files listed on the floppy disk to the C: directory and also made a DOS directory and copied them there as well.
Keep in mind, when I boot from the Floppy disk and ask for CD-ROM Support, verses non CD-ROM support-- it states these two things:
C:CD-ROM OAKCDROM.SYS
There is an error in line 10 of config.sys
Shortly after that post it reads:
File Not Found -- IF Bad Command or file name.
Just wondering, would a Windows XP DISK solve the problem somehow. In other words, can WIN XP load itself and Boot without the above mentioned? Keep in mind, I don't have the Dell C610 SRC Recovery CD-ROM.
Kindest regards,
AvengerM1

your copy of Win 2K an original? If it is an original it should boot up if the BIOS has been set to boot from CD. It looks to me that there is a problem with the CD Drive. If you are using a standard Win 98 boot disk to start the PC with CD Rom support and it can't find the CD to load the drivers it's a problem with the CD.
RE: Keep in mind, when I boot from the Floppy disk and ask for CD-ROM Support, verses non CD-ROM support-- it states these two things:
C:CD-ROM OAKCDROM.SYS
There is an error in line 10 of config.sys
It looks to me like you may have modifed your 98 Boot Disk. It shouldn't be looking at C for the drivers.
Go to http://www.bootdisk.com/
and download and create another boot disk.
Boot from it and then try to access the CD.
If it works your in luck.

it will always take drive, you need to change DIR to E: to access the files on the CD

Hi Tru,
Okay, went to bootdisk.com, got the drivers for Win 98, but when I tried to boot from the Win 2K disks I copied it takes all floppies except for #4. So, I did the Win 98 thingy and then do an FDISK, Format and then boot from the floppy. There's just one Win 98 floppy which I copied from the website. I take out the floppy drive from the bay and reinsert the CD-ROm drive. I do all the things you suggested i.e Bios F12 pushing the CD-ROM to the top and the things says:
Not vaild system disk, insert system disk and press Enter. Stick ranger hacked online. Of course, this didn't work with the Win 98 Disk or any other disk for that matter EXCEPT.... The Windos NT 4.0 disk that I happen to have. When I inserted the disk the sucker starts loading drivers and whirls away and takes me to a setup screen man! But the Dell C610 is to old to handle Win NT iy says I have (1024) cylinders and such so I can't install and it stops the process.
I went to Best Buy today and the Geek Squad dude says if I buy a new Win 2K or perhaps XP it should boot and work. If I want them to do a diagnostic that's $30.0 then to get the system loaded that's $130.00 and a new copy of XP is $199.00 . . . as they say on the Master Card commercial: Priceless!

you've enabled the BIOS to boot from cd and it is giving you that error message on the CD's maybe they arn't bootable. Are they Original or copies?

I have an original Win 98 and Win 95 disks, but the other Win 2K was burned. Remember the Win NT 4.0 Server disk that seems to load drivers . . . well that wss burned too yet the sucker still loads to a setup screen. My feeling is the CD-ROM drive is working, but maybe if I can get my hands on a Wind XP or 2K disk or even a Dell System disk this might get me to a system setup.
Also, did you ever hear of UBUNTU? A friend suggested tryin to burn UBUNTU and says it will load me into a setup environment where I can at least install Windows. Does this make sense to you? Thanks!

Tru,
I posted to someone who suggested buyong floppies . . . If you read my poat to them I have Win 98 Orignal OEM and Windows 95. Otheriwse the origianl Win 2k was burned because the other one cracked. It this point I just have the two mentioned and that good ole' Win NT server 4.0. Really kicks me that a burned copy of Win NT server will boot, but the other won't. Do you think the Geek Squad dude is right.. if I buy Win XP or 2K it will load? Thanks!

and try again.

that computer. It would most likely solve all the problems.