i have tryed to re-install windows xp pro with the installation cd that came with it but when i press 'any key to boot from cd' it then says that it can't find a hard disk connected to the pc so what can i do?, my desktop has all diffrent problems with it so i need to re-install windows help please !!!

welcome to dal the online computer help forum

firstly have you been inside your computer and accidently unpluuged the ide cable that connects your hard disk by any chance if not when you start up does your hard disk actually start as well when you boot up your pc

Thanks for helping, i havent been inside my pc though?, it has always loaded up fine its just when i try to re-install windows it just say's that it can't find it... can it unplug itself ?

no it should not be able to do that

one question i should have asked is why do you want to reinstall xp as this may be some help to know

well it just has'nt been working very well error messages keep apperaring and wanting me to send error reports and i could'nt open up the control panel ether

Is the hard drive detected in the BIOS?

Can you still boot into the old XP?

yes it can find it fine there its just when it wants to boot from the cd

Is this a full version XP CD? Or a recovery disk from the computer manufacturer?

If the former try inserting the disk while in windows & choose setup & choose upgrade & it should reboot itself.

If the latter what is the make & model of the computer?

You can also follow the instructions here if for some reason your CD just cannot boot:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994