I have a dell workstation that HAD WIndows XP on it. I used RHEL 5 dvd to install and it encountered an error which forced a reboot. I NOT cannot boot to anything but the RHEL dvd. It ignores any other boot disk including xp, bart, erd disk, etc. I tried fdisk /dev/hda and removed all partitions and tried to create new dos partition but no success. ideas?

What exact model of Dell is this?

Do the other boot disks boot on another PC, if you have access to another box?

At what point did you get an error installing RHEL5?

it's a small Dell form factor. I'll check model when I get home. I have multiple laptops/machines I've used to build from these disks. Checked again when I first had the problem.
During the installation of RHEL 5 an error popped up while installing the packages and said to reboot. upon reboot I get the error EVERY time I try to install.

NO OTHER boot disk will work. I've tried every windows and linux version I can but only this redhat cd seems to boot.
It has to be something with the bootloader. I need to figure out how to do a low level format or something from the linux rescue cd or build cd I guess.

Is there something I need to wipe out on the hard drive so other OS's will boot from cd?

This is the first time anything like this has EVER happened to me.
The system was FINE and running windows XP at the time I decided to install RHEL 5 and wipe out the hard drive during the install.
NOW the system will ONLY boot to the RHEL cd and not to any other boot cd, only a flashing cursor.

There is CLEARLY something in grub or the bootloader on the hard drive that is NOT allowing the system to boot to a cd.
The BOOT ORDER in the bios is set to CD/FLOPPY/USB/NETWORK/IDE. So that's not the issue.

Can ANYONE chime in on the partition table or what screwy things exist OUTSIDE of what we discussed above.

Hmm, I'd disconnect the HD and then see if your other CD's boot. If they do then you know for sure that it's an HD issue.

The only time I've seen the HD affecting booting from CD's is if both the CDROM and HD are on the same channel or if the CD checks for the MBR on the HD and then does something different. (Ex: 2000/XP/2003 CD's will go straight to setup if no MBR is detected whereas if it does detect one then it asks you to press a key).

I think you're on the right track with your idea about the cd checking the HD. But I think some corruption on the HD causes the cd to NOT boot at all. I'll try booting to CD with NO HD connected.

It sounds like you deleted the Dell hidden partition that could hold information that allows the CD to boot properly? Some Dells have a hidden partition that holds bios information, as well. That is why I asked what system it was.

Do you try hitting the F12 key when the Dell splash screen comes up, which should give you the boot media options? You may need to hit it several times to catch the option, at the splash screen.

Seems to be general problem. You have not mentioned that what particular error u r facing. May I know that error details. And before you put Redhat DVD make sure that your first boot device is cdrom. Another things is that your workstation should have non dos partition. Then only u r able to install Redhat. So my concern is that just boot windows. Right click on the my computer-> go to manage->select disk management. Now see the entire hard disk partition type.
Best Regards