Resolved [Unable to install Windows XP]

Some newer hardware isn't compatible with XP. You haven't provided enough information to address your question.

 

pg4323,
since no one else has made an attempt, I will.

I've never used Vista but have heard/read that the boot record is different compared to XP. Your situation indicates that it might have a bearing on this.

Your system information is limited, so, a few questions:

Does the computer have a floppy drive?

Is the hard disk partitioned or in a single partition [C:]?

Have you backed up all user data?

Your XP pro is not currently installed on another computer, right?

 

The cd itself could be bad.
Try copying the files to the hard drive, burn them to a new blank cd. Then download the xp boot floppies. Boot with the floppies and stick in cd when prompted.
How to obtain Windows XP Setup disks for a floppy boot installation

 

If Tony's suggestion doesn't work:

Download DELPART and add it to a bootable floppy (e.g. Windows 98 startup disk). Run DELPART and you will be able to "wipe the hard disk clean" of any and all previous installations and boot records. It does a better job than deleting and recreating a partition and has saved me on a few occasions. Maybe you can add it to a bootable CD or DVD?

 

Delpart isn't needed. A win 98 boot disk has fdisk on it and fdisk can get rid of ntfs partitions.

Also, you can use an alternate method instead of using the floppies. One can extract the boot sector of the xp cd and use it to make additional xp boot cds. I have a zip file at one of my sites with the boot sector already extracted and instructions on how to make the xp boot cd. Send a PM if want it.

 

I'm sure you are more experienced than I am ... ... but my observation is empirical: DELPART does "something" that the XP CD does not when deleting partitions.

This "something" has a bearing on the MBR and DELPART has worked for me when the XP CD has not. On one occasion, I reinstalled a malware infested XP computer. Deleting, recreating and formatting the partitions during the initial stages resulted in a subsequent hang (at some point that I remember as the first restart). I didn't try FDISK since I thought (and still do) that deleting the partitions using that utility is no different than from the XP CD but DELPART made it possible to reinstall XP.

 

AFAIK, I have used a later version of fdisk and never had any trouble using it. There was a version that came after win98.

 

You're welcome ... ... and good luck!