URGENT! Boot from cd error

[RyanB18]

I am trying to boot from cd, I tried to install freebsd, but there was an error and now i cant format.
2 questions
1: how do i format?
2: There is an error that says: CDBOOT: Cannot boot form CD - Code 4
I am trying to boot windows xp, why wont this work?
This is urgent as i will not be able to work on this for a few weeks after tonight. please help!

 

[managerdan]

If you go into your bios, you can change it so your system will boot from the CD instead of the hard drive. With my computer, I press the "del" key when first starting up which will get me into the bios. I presume your computer will recognize your CD. If by some chance you can't get your computer to boot from your CD, you could try the following.

An alternative is to boot up from a floppy like an old startup disk from like WinME. A startup disk can perform the basic DOS commands like Format, Fdisk, etc. Simply put your floppy disk in the "A" drive and turn on the computer. Once your floppy disk has booted up to the "A" drive type, format :c and then hit the enter key. You really don't know about the format command?

The same startup floppy disk can also install XP for you. So after you're done formating, put XP in your CD which might be drive letter D.
You would type, D: and then the enter key.
Next type, cd I386 and then enter key.
Next type, winnt.exe and then the enter key.
You should then follow the prompts where XP will install for you.

Before you attempt any of this, I would recommend you have somebody with you that has some sort of computer experience to help out if needed.