Cannot boot from xp cd-rom

You can try to run the recovery with startup disks. You can dounload the necessary files here:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm#a
If this works, you probably have a CD reader problem.

CD Option

If you wish to avoid a boot menu, you can still launch the Recovery Console from the Windows CD. If Windows fails to start, insert the Windows CD into your CD-ROM drive and restart the computer. Note that for this to work you may need to enable any BIOS settings that allow your computer to boot from a CD.

Follow the onscreen prompts, including the setup prompt to load the basic Windows startup files. Then at the Welcome To Setup screen, press R to launch the Recovery Console (for dual-boot systems, enter the number of the Windows installation to be accessed via the console).

When prompted, type the Administrator password. As we mentioned earlier, this is blank by default on the Windows XP Home Edition. So if there is no Administrator password, just hit ENTER to start the console

when c:\windows comes up on the screen, then type:

chkdsk /r

and press enter. At that command line prompt, you can do command-like actions. chkdsk /r is the old DOS command for check the hdd and repair anything that does not seem correct. It may take awhile to run, and it may cycle through percentages and go back to near start at times. Let it run until you come to a DOS prompt again, and then type:

exit

You system should then boot.

I replaced my cd-rom drive and was able to boot from xp cd-rom. Thanks.

This question was closed by the author

Carlos.nino@terra.es was correct and should get the points for the question. Thanks. MMN