you can use pcmia install...slackware may be the best for this?
first you need a boot disk
http://www.slackware.com/install/bootdisk.php has instructions on how to make floppies
then a root disk
http://www.slackware.com/install/rootdisk.php
pcmcia.dsk is the name of the other disk you will need to enable network install
but sbootmgr.dsk can be used to re-enable faulty drivers? on you cdrom and you could try to do a cd install?
I am not saying this is guaranteed....but makes sense to try only the sboot floppy first instead of a boot then root floppy....because this floppy if it enables your cd...can maximise the number of install cds you can try.
2) pls check your bios for any option of bios boot order set to optical drive first....its sometimes forgotten by some people to check