I need to install Windows Xp over the current operating system this computer is using, Xubuntu xfce4. I have never really messed with Xubuntu before, so not really too sure how to get around on it (it is my Uncles computer) Anyway, I put in the Windows XP installation cd, and when it recognizes the cd, the folders and files come up on cdrom1 such as setup.exe, setupxp.exe, ect, but upon right clicking on the files, everything is open with such and such. There is no simple run command. Not sure if I should just format the harddrive or something and start from the beginning, because also in the booklet it showed a list of operating systems the cd would work from and none of which included this Xubuntu xfce4 thing I wasnt sure whether to put this in the Unix, Linux, or Windows XP forum, so I chose Windows Xp because I figure people monitor it more. Biostar P4m800-m4 Pentium 4 Prescott @ 3GHz 1GB Corsair PC3200 RAM Geforce 6200 AGP 2 80Gb Harddrives XP Home SP2

Do you know the brand name of the HDD? Use the manufacturer's software to partition & reformat the drive.

Are you opening WinXP from inside Xubuntu? Boot to the WinXP CD. You may need to delete the partition before WinXP can install.

And even deleting the partition (using XP/DOS) may not help. I've had several *nix drives still try to boot to the former OS after using multiple flavors of FDISK. Delpart seems to work better: http://russelltexas.com/delpart.htm

Are you sure your Uncle doen't mind? I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you peanut.

http://www.killdisk.com

Yep as OtheHill said, just boot from the CD. With the CD in the drive, reboot the PC. After the POST, the screen should say "Press any key to boot from CD..." That's when you push a key and Windows XP Setup begins. This will only happen if the boot order is correctly set in the BIOS to allow the CD to boot before the Hard Drive. Windows XP Setup has all you need to partition and format the hard drive.