Computer won't boot from CD

I have been unable to boot from a CD for some time now. I wanted to install Fedora and have a dual-boot system but the system always bypasses the CD and boots into Windows XP Pro.

I have set the bios to look for a CD first, followed by the hard drive. That results in a quick look at the CD and then booting from the hard drive. I also tried setting the bios to look only at a CD but that results in the message "Press F1 to retry. Press F2 to enter Setup ".

I have installed and removed various applications over the past year with no difficulty.

I am currently using Norton Internet Security (2007).

I have tried my boot discs in other computers and they work correctly. I am able to run programs and videos from the CD and am able to create my own CD's and DVD's using Nero and other disc creation programs.

I am running Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 2 in a Dell Pentium 4 (2.8 GHz) with 1 Gb (2.79GHz) ram. I have checked with the Dell website and I am running the latest bios version. There are no driver updates available for my PC at Dell.

 

Is this copy of Fedora burned from an ISO file? If so was it burned correctly?

 

Won't boot from CD

The Fedora disc was from an ISO image. However, I have tried booting with a disc from Ubuntu and it did not work. I have used the Ubuntu disc on another computer with no problem.

Regardless of whether or not my Fedora disc is "correct ", the computer will not boot from the CD using ANY bootable disc.

 

Check the IDE cable and drive using spare ones if you have any handy.