boot from cd-rom issues?

Q: I'm trying to reformat my computer so i put my windows xp cd in and reboot but its like its not detecting it there is no boot from device option. just the loading screen and my option to boot in normal mode or with command prompt. but if i start it normally and then put the cd in it works like a charm

A: Computers are told in the BIOS Setup where they are supposed to look for bootable disks. It will boot off the first bootable disk in the list of disks it was told to check. Yours probably isn't set to check the CD drive at all or is set to check the hard disk first. Use whatever key your computer shows for getting into Setup as it first starts, probably one of F1, F2, F10 or Del. It isn't F8. Once you get in there, look for anything to do with boot devices. You need to make sure it knows to look at the CD drive and that it looks there before checking the hard disk.

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