[Cannot boot from XP CD + keyboard errors at F12 on Dell]

Hi all,

I'm trying to do a clean install of windows xp on my friends computer (Dell Optiplex GX260-stock) because it's screwing up.
It's doing the same thing as the computer in this post. Except XP will not start at all. Not even in safe mode. I can't boot from the XP CD and i'm getting keyboard errors but only if I press F12 at the dell logo screen. And my keyboard is never not working. I've read that keyboard failure can prevent the "to boot from CD..." message from appearing but couldn't find much more about it than that. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

Yes boot order is like it needs to be. And my keyboard is not broken. it's strange. when I press F12 it beeps and says keyboard failure then it just goes to the "We're Sorry. How do you want to start windows" screen where I can use the keyboard and it works.