[RESOLVED] problems installing software

Please help I have had this problem for a long time and have asked plenty of people with no success. I don't have a cd-rom icon under my computer and can't add software from cd's. The software I'm trying to add has installation programs and this doesn't work, also when I try to install from the start up menu the computer look for the software in my floppy A: drive! Another problem I have is my outlook express is driving me crazy. The message I get is:The host 'HTTP' could not be found. Please verify that you have entered the server name correctly. Account: 'HTTP', Server: 'HTTP', Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 11001, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D. Please help I am not computer literate so speak slowly and so I can understand, THANKS YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED.

Lets start with the cdrom. go My Computer-Control panel-System-device manager and tell us if there are any red or yellow marks(hit all the + signs to see everything). tell us the names of these devices and whether it is yellow or red.