i noticed this error when loading dsl on my old dell computer. Buffer I/O error on device fd0, logical block 0 it seems to run fine though, but i thought i should check here anyway. im new to linux and help is very much appreciated.

Something tries to write, or read from floppy`s zero track - normally bootloader resides there. In what context does error appear? Stuff that may produce it may range from BIOS trying to boot from floppy, bootloader on HDD MBR or something else.... Did you use floppies before?