Can't Install Windows XP

For reasons I wont go into now, I removed an existing WinXP Pro using Fdisk. I now have about 9.5 gig of empty disk space of a 10 gig hard drive. I used a W98 startup disk for the fdisking. After I insert the Windows XP CD, the message I get:

Press any key to boot from CD
Invalid System disk
Replace the disk, and then press any key

From this point no matter what is done, I can't get the system to install. I need help. Than you.

 

There's a single-disk XP setup disk available for download here. It's the last on the list. I've downloaded it but haven't tried it yet. If it works, it's a lot handier than the 6-disk method.

 

Miz, TonyT

Thank you for your efforts to help.
Miz I didn't have any success with the one floppy method so I went to the site that TonyT suggested and made the six floppies. Everything went smoothly until at the sixth floppy I got the following message:

I thought that it wold be of some value to explore the Note 1 of the link that you gave but I did not know how to get to the CD rom, then into the \i386 directory to Run WINNT.EXE, and then to begin the install process. Anyone have futher suggestions?

 

Boot from a win98 startup disk choosing to start with cdrom support. If you watch the screen you'll be able to see what drive letter is assigned to cdrom. If you only have one hard drive with one partition it will be drive E. If you have one drive with 2 partitions it will be drive F. Keep an eye on the screen while it's booting. At the A: prompt type the following lines pressing enter after each one.

E:
cd i386
winnt

The first line changes to your cd drive and could be different depending on which drive letter your cdrom is assigned. If you get an error message with the second line, try F: etc.

 

Microsoft says:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=307848

NOTE*You'll need to copy win98's Smartdrv.exe to your startup disk in able to load and use this.

You may also find this page useful. It also has a link to zip file with smartdrv.exe in it.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

Zander and goddez1

All is well. By following the information that each of you supplied, Windows XP is happily situated in my computer and performing well. Zander's post condensed the Microsoft 307848 article into a few lines but I'll save your posts for the future. My thanks to each of you for your continued interest.