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..

[a p]

What happens is the cd-rom is in the bios so i set it to boot first....then when i restart my computer i get the error loading operating system message...so...i go back to my bios to check and the cd-rom is no longer there.........and when i try to use a boot disk i get the  Disk I/O error??

[merlin_2]

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000426.htm

[a p]

I think i figured it out...just to see what whould happen I disconected my hard drive and booted the computer up..and it worked...windows started to install...so i turned the computer off pluged the hard drive back in and got the OS error....and just to dobble chek I turned it on with out the hd conected and it worked again....so im gusing theres somthing wrong with my hd....

[merlin_2]

Sorry to beg to differ....but how did you get the pc to work without the hard drive!<windows>

[a p]

no clu??when its conected i get the error when its not windows starts to instal..kinda odd..

[merlin_2]

I think you meant.....the cdrive you disconnected? yes....and not the hard drive......check the  jumper settings.....

[a p]

nope..i disconected the hd..and my juper settings are correct(5th time i cheked em)

[merlin_2]

?

[Raptor]

What happens is the cd-rom is in the bios so i set it to boot first....then when i restart my computer i get the error loading operating system message...so...i go back to my bios to check and the cd-rom is no longer there.........and when i try to use a boot disk i get the  Disk I/O error??

Be certain that you press Exit and save changes.

Do not press escape on your keyboard as it may use the function Exit and discard changes.

Heed attention to the keys required for navigation by your BIOS, once settings are saved, they are saved and would not revert back to default status unless your CMOS battery is depleted or the CMOS chip damaged.