Glad you could get into the BIOS! :thumbsup: That's actually all there's needed... Don't read my post on the RMAing anymore...
Well yeah, if you're going to install Windows, make sure your CD/DVD-ROM is the first boot device, and your hard disk the second... third may be disabled even... save the BIOS settings...
Shut your computer down, and plug in all your drives and peripherals... (at least one optical drive that's a Master, the hard drive which you're going to install Win XP onto, mouse...) When you're booting now, go into your BIOS again and see if the mainboard recognizes what you have just plugged in (that should be the first tab, with the "standard CMOS features")... If it does, exit the BIOS, let the comp reboot, and you should be able to install Windows... Just follow the on-screen instructions... It's not hard at all...
If it doesn't, you have two options...
1. Go into the "standard CMOS features", and let the mobo "rescan" for them... (highlight the one you need... e.g. Primary Master for your HDD, enter the submenu, and there you choose "IDE HDD Auto Detection"...), if it finds them, no prob, save your BIOS, exit, and install Windows...
If it doesn't find them when you have "rescanned" (you can do this a couple of times, to be sure...) we're getting to step 2...
2. Shut your comp down, and make sure the jumpers are set correctly, the drives are connected to the PSU, the data cable is fitted in the right direction... (if there doesn't seem to be a right direction, just turn 'em around... If your dealing with standard ATA cables, the blue plug is always the one for your mobo FYI) After you double-checked everything, fire up your comp again, go into the BIOS, and check again if it finds them... If not, try "rescanning"... If it does now... bla bla bla...
If it still doesn't, you might have a faulty unit somewhere... If it's them, switch the optical drives or so... Or the hard drive if that's the one that can't be found... You'll see... Actually, you should not have read these two steps... Everything probably fired up from the start...
If Windows installation displays errors, that's most likely your RAM or your hard disk... But since the BIOS settings on your HDD are OK, it should almost be broken for errors to occur... Try installing it with some other RAM then (maybe the other stick, the RAM isn't important, you can install Win XP with even 64MB, if that would exist in DDR of course... )
It seems your DFI is picky too about the RAM, which is a pity, because your OCZ is already "more or less" certified by them, and still it doesn't work...
I think you'll be fine with my "little guide"... If not don't hesitate to ask!
Good Luck!