Linux install stalls with Mandrakelinux 10.1 AND Fedora Core 2

I have already installed Mandrakelinux 10.1 on one machine, but now am trying to install it on a new machine. Computer is Compaq Presario SR1560.

Any observations to move me forward would be most appreciated. Details as a result of my attempts and investigations are as follows:

Mandrakelinux:

Install boots from CD Initial install screen comes up After pressing ENTER it states "USB devises being detected" Next thing that comes up is

"Error No CDROM device found"

End of story!!

Fedora Core 2:

First part of install goes OK

Goes through USB devices detected OK

Message comes up "CD Found To begin testing the CD media before installation press OK"

Can then proceed on to graphical installation screens.

Can choose "Manually parbreastion with Disk Druid"

However: Pressing NEXT then results in an error box "No devices found. An error has occurred - no valid devices were found on which to create new file systems. Please check your hardware for the cause of this problem."

End of story!!

I then tried Red Hat 7.1 and went as far as looking at the disk set-up using fdisk (which ran fine).

Red Hat 7.1 fdisk reported:

Boot Start End Blocks ID System

hda1 1 832 6289888+ c win95 fat 32 (LBA) hda2 * 833 20672 149990400 7 HPFS-NTFS

As Red Hat 7.1 does not report looking for USB devices, does looking for, and finding them, by Mandrakelinux 10.1 and Fedora Core 2 cause the problem?

The Phoenix - award BIOs set-up screen reports:

First channel device 0 - None First channel device 1 - None Second channel device 0 - HP DVD Writer Second channel device 1 - None Third channel device 0 - Samsung SP1614C Third channel device 1 - None

Regards

Stephen