First thing is that if a computer can boot directly from the CD because that setting is available in the BIOS, it doesn't matter what condition the HD is or if it's there at all.
So, first question... can you set the boot order in the BIOS so that the CD ROM is first?
If not, then the next issue is... does this notebook have swapable floppy / CD ROM drives? If you can only have one in at a time, you're going to have to install Windows from another external source, so that'll take a bit of thinking.
Check the boot order first.
