Disk I/O error

[A. P]

I recently put to gether a new computer with all new parts exept the floppy drive.  When I go to boot the computer from the floppy I get an error mesage saying..."Disk I/O error"....I also tryed to run utilities for my HD but I would ger an error syaing " cannot load DOS".....I have tried several diferent boot disks but I keep getting the same error...Please help me find some way to get the boot disks to work!!!
                       thanks in advance
P.S  i have an intel MOBO, P4 PROS 3.4 gHZ, and Western Digital HD

[Fed]

Do you have an OS?

[a p]

i will install windows xp once i get it to boot

[Fed]

Go into bios & set your cdrom as first boot then bootup with your xp disk in.
xp can do it all for you.  

[a p]

cd-rom is not an option

[a p]

nevermind...found it trying that now

[Fed]

Do you have a cdrom?
It will be hard to install xp without one.

[Fed]

Good luck with it.
Take your time & read every screen.

[A P]

Tried loading it that way but get an error saying "error loading operating system???any ideas??

[a p]

also the cd-rom is no longer an option in the bios......

[Fed]

There looks to be a million reasons for this.
Try this out http://whocares.de/archive/000682.php and let us know how you go.

[a p]

in my bios i found an option that says LBA/Large Mode then the only options were Auto and disabled i tried both options and still got the "error loading operating system" message..

[a p]

the bios is also not reconizing my cd-rom drive..why is that???

[Fed]

You will not get anywhere until your cdrom is working.
Has it ever worked? Check all your cable connections?

[Raptor]

You may simply need a bootdisk..