Dell Optiplex GX240 BIOS doesn't read CD-ROM

Did you ever figure this out? I have exactly the same issue and it is driving me crazy. I lost my user password and am trying to run a cracker from my cd-rom, but it shows "uninstalled".

Any help would be great.

 

DLB'S suggestion, if the date keeps going back , and does not show the correct time, then I have known XP to stop installing, too.
So, check the bios date . If it is incorrect, then a new CMOS batteru looks the most likely start point.
If you have a laptop- I know Toshiba reckon leaving the laptop charging overnight /24 hours can revive the cmos- but I had limited success with doing that- if , on a laptop it is soldered in- then unless you are adept at miniture soldering- forget it. If it is a seperate entity , and plugs in (on the base of a recent Dell, for example, the cmos was really handy, under the ram cover, I think I remember, and it is easy to unplug, and fit new).

 

Some Optiplex's will not run from a CD-ROM drive. You can not force what the BIOS will not allow.
Have you checked the BIOS to see what the boot options are?
What are your choices?