Win XP Reinstall does not find CD Drive

I would like to reinstall Windows XP Media Center Edition on a Dell Dimension 8400.

I have the OS CD that came with the computer. I put it in the drive and it autoruns. I choose to install. Then I choose upgrade. It asks for the product key which I input successfully. Then the computer shuts down and restarts to a blue screen (not bsod) that says it cannot find a CD Drive, press f3 to quit.

The computer has a cd/dvd drive and a cd/dvd rw drive -- both functioning. No floppy.

I am reinstalling due to a problem where outlook express opens 61 IE windows when I click an email link. Have tried to resolve this issue from suggestions here and elsewhere without success.

How do I make the Win XP installation find the CD drive?

 

Is the cdrom the first boot device in bios?

 

Yes it is.

 

Just for a check. Unplug the hard drive from the computer, and then try to boot to the cdrom drive. Does it work?

Or, take the hard drive out of the boot order.

 

There has been success!
I made the harddrive not bootable.
I tried every option on each screen until I got the thing to go.
My settings were saved. Documents, programs intact.
61 IE windows problem is gone.
Thank you. Have a good weekend.

Now I have to go set the harddrive to bootable before I forget