It's OK if the XP CD starts from scratch. Just let it continue uuntil it brings up a screen with the option to hit R, for recovery console.

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i can get to recovery stage every time, but i formated 'c' partition theres nothing to recover. i get past this stage xp downloads files but the first time it needs to restart(first of many,as u know)it starts from scratch (does not continue with set up)

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When XP restarts, make sure you are not hitting any key(such as Enter) to boot from the CD. You do not want to boot from the XP CD at that point.

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done that but computer will not boot off harddrive its asks for proper boot media or to boot from cd and press enter tried to boot from harddrive will not boot when i put cd in it installs all files but wont boot and i have a genuine xp disc

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If you go into the Bios, does it recognize your hard drive ? Is the Bios set to boot from CD ROM first and then HDD 0 or something like that ? Did you format C as NTFS ?

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What the format of the drive/partition in question is "ought" to have no bearing here... If the drive is "not" detected and shown in the bios, then one needs first to establish why...? Going back to the initial problem/condition: that you were advised you had two OS files (or was really folders) that included c: as part of their path... XP has a dislike of sharing its partition with another OS; although it will genereally tolerate another version/copy (of XP) therein - and even '98/ME (occasionally)... I'm guessing that Vista is even less tolerant than XP and won't readily accept another OS in its partition (but then it may actually allow it if it's XP); and will flag up a warning/message to this effect... This may be why you got that mesage re' c: etc... I wouldn't have changed anything... If it was working OK with both OS in the same partition, then I'd have let it be. But your first issue to achieve drive recognition in the bios... Verify you have the drive properly connected - check both power/ribbon connections; verify you have set the bios to auto-detect the drive - a standard option in current bios? All this in spite of the fact you have no record/history of chaning anything in the bios area (re' hard drive) to date... Once the drive is established in the bios you can set about ensuring it configured correctly (partitioned and formatted). Then proceed with a standard XP installation? Presuming this a very current system, I doubt it has a floppy drive included? If by chance it does have one... then perhaps use a '98 bootdisk to view/check the drive partitioning etc...; That you appear to have used delpart or similar to erase the drive does allow you start afresh - for either XP or Vista only; and you have links for how to dual-boot the two... Incidentally is the XP CD a full version or a recovery disk? If it's a recovery disk then likely the actual first partition on the drive is a hidden one (used with/by the recovery CD) - and you may well be dealing with that issue when you attempt to boot/install XP... Either you restore XP as per a normal recovery routine... or totally wipe the drive (including losing/deleting that "hidden" partition) and then use a standard (full) version CD for XP installation. Or contact the vendor for your PC and ask them for the necessary "how to restore that hidden partition..." information. In this latter case they may offer a restoration solution, or offer/provide an full version XP CD. Personally I wouldn't bother Visat for a long while - at least two years; give it time to sort itself out. Also, is the kit you have actually OK for Vista anyway?

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Certainly you should check the Bios settings first, as trvlr suggests. Vista does readily accept XP in a dual boot situation. I'm currently doing a dual boot using Vista Boot Pro, which works quite well for the most part. Waiting to install Vista might not be a bad idea, though the machine I gave it ibstalled on only has a 1.8 GhZ Sempron CPU and 1 GB RAM and it seems to be working well for now. A '98 bootdisk probably will not let you "see" the C drive if it's partitioned as NTFS.

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"poly..." Will Vista tolerate another OS (XP in this case) in the same physical partition? Good point re' '98 Fdisk and ntfs partitions; it will indicate it as non-dos partition however...

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I have both operating systems installed on Disk 0, which is partitioned into C and D drives. When I boot into Vista, that's listed as the C drive and when I boot into XP, that's listed as the C drive. The curious thing is that I did the same thing on another computer, but in that case Vista is always listed as the E drive(D is the DVD drive). Even when I boot into Vista, the drive letter does not change to C. I'm not sure why that happened.

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With the earlier members of the NT family (NT/W2K/XP) if both OS are installed the same partition (c: in this/your case?), then they will both appear installed as c:\windows (or c:\folder - where folder = the name assigned during each OS installation). This will cause no problems for either OS when either boots up. The non-booted OS will merely be just another folder on the drive. BUT if both were to go (more correctly you attempted to install the second with same folder name as the current OS - the one already installed - it will likely flag up a message that may either, warn you of the conflict or, ask if you wish to proceed (and thus overwrite the current folder occupant...). This will occur if the second OS is to go into a partition where another OS already exists; but if the second OS goes into another partition then it can have the same folder name as the first OS (that's in another partition). It is VERY wise to be aware of the folder name of all OS installed in a given partition so as to avoid this possible conflict. "Usually" the (earlier) NT family of OS will automatically note the current OS folder name in the target partition (if an OS exists there) and proffer an alternative. Typically if winnt already exist therein it will proffer windows; and visa-versa... If both existed already (not impossible) then it will offer a variation on one or other of the above two folder names. I prseume Vista will do much the same - (I put Vista in as a distant cousin of the NT family...) but not having played with yet (and don't intend to for some time...) I'm not sure just how it behaves during installation etc - and sharing partitions etc... Perhaps it behaves a little differently; and being M$'s latest prodigy - who knows (only the Shadow...). As regards your Vista installation going in/showing up as in E: I'm surmising that Vista does indeed do things a little differently... - but quite what etc...???

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thank's for all the info, my hdd is recognised in bios, boot order is; 1 hdd 2cd/dvd 3 floppy......is this ok?? as i said before i first tried recovery on full xp disk,i tried to change bootcfg & may have disabled something in there!! what should these settings be??

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For XP installation although I seem to recall that cd will offer a cd boot option when it runs up - prior to actual installation starting... I'm inclined to preset the cd/dvd as first boot device, followed by HD; then run setup. When the first reboot ocurrs it can take a minute or three on some systems to continue; and meanwhile you do NOT remove the cd - unless prompted to do so... Once installation is successfully completed you "can" remove the cd; and allow system to boot as per norm. It will try the cd/dvd first, fail to find it and then go for the HD. Once you're happy that HD boots as second device you can either set it as first device, or leave it as second - wth either CD or floppy as first...; even set boot order so that it's floppy first, then cd, then HD. Common these days (with less floppy usage) is the cd first then HD...? The actual boot sequence is all a matter of personal preference overall - once all is working properly? See what happens if you set boot sequence - cd first, HD second, and run XP repair routine afresh? More this repair routine at: http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrep... Michael Stevens details the various angles/approaches clearly. If this fails then I suggest you totally wipe the drive afresh - delete "all" partitions - via '98 Fdisk routines, or delpart etc. Afterwhich reconfigure and re-run XP setup. If you do reconfigure the drive afresh (create partitions) create both a Primary and an Extended partition; Primary for OS/apps etc., and Extended for data etc. - only. And if you're intendeding to install both Visat and XP - put each in its own partition (or logcial-drive accordingly - depending on how you go about the dual-boot). You have already been given a couple of useful "how to dual-boot XP/Vista" links and they may take you through it all comfortably - but again reserve some space (in the Extended partition) for data only on the drive regardless...

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thank's again trvlr i will try wiping the whole drive, i've tried changing boot order in bios all ways but still after reboot it goes to disk & starts from scratch.i've installed xp many times and never had any problems.i always leave the disc in untill told to remove.ps i have formatted 'c' in fat & ntfs both do same

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back again!!! went into recovery on xp disk, c:\windows>enable/all it says; the system registry does not appear to have an active controlset key. the system registry may be damaged. CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ONE :(

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I didn't read everything above. But if you are trying to install a fresh (clean) XP, download and run DelPart. It will clean the drive. It was suggested earlier by Birdlegs. http://www.russelltexas.com/delpart...

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tried delpart on floppy & hard disk could not boot

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can i just say to everyone i can't,can not boot from floppy disk,or hard disk,apart from my genuine xp sp2 disk,i've downloaded everything suggested above and nothing works!! if anyone can suggest something that can get my registry sorted(even if it means deleting all data and files)so i can get xp back on it would be welcome thank's.i can't help feeling this could be fixed using recovery boot,,cfg,,fix stuff,i'm just 2 stupid!!!

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Is your HD IDE or SATA ? If IDE, make sure that the Bios isn't set for SATA.

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my bios are set for ide

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can you replace an active controlset key, and a missing start value key, to registry using xp repair ?? this is why i cant install xp, it will not boot from hard disk

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If you "simply" run a repair installation of XP (via a cd boot or the 6 floppies + the CD - if there is working floppy drive present) as in install itself over the current version - that will replace/renew any/all duff files... Similarly via the recovery console as in: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_... from a host of info at: http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/rep... you can restore a good copy of the registry... http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win... is more about using the recovery console... http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=... is the M$ KB that includes how to back up/restore the registry etc... Also if you run a standard (or repair) installation that ought to reset the mbr to XP version and enable the drive to boot. But it's so hard to know quite what is going here that you may be best to totally wipe the drive; reconfigure, reformat and re-install from scratch? But first see if the Recovery approach or a repair (an overwrite of current version) will do what's required? All of the above does naturally presume that you can see the HD in the bios; that you can also see the CD/dvd-rom in the bios (and it will boot if selected as first boot device; and that you have a working floppy-drive (if needed)...? And there is tutorial re' XP repair etc. (but you already have this reference earlier...) http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/X...

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